A Lineage of Grace - Hardcover

Rivers, Francine

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1496434293 ISBN 13: 9781496434296

Verlag: TYNDALE HOUSE PUBL, 2018

Alle Exemplare dieser ISBN-Ausgabe

3 Gebraucht

Von EUR 8,90

1 Neu

Von EUR 33,46

A beautiful hardcover gift edition of this biblical historical fiction compilation by the New York Times bestselling author of Redeeming Love and A Voice in the Wind. This beloved book with gold foil embossing on a rich purple linen cover makes a lovely gift. The Bible is filled with inspiring stories of unlikely candidates God chose to change eternity. This bestselling compilation in one volume contains five novellas about such people—women in the family tree of Jesus Christ. Tamar. Rahab. Ruth. Bathsheba. Mary. Each was faced with extraordinary—even scandalous—challenges. But they had courage. They lived daring lives. Sometimes they made mistakes—big mistakes. And yet God, in His infinite mercy, used them to bring forth the Christ, the Savior of the world. Their stories still hold great meaning and inspiration for us today. Tamar risked her life and her reputation to be the woman she was called to be. See how God uses our circumstances and our steps toward Him, however faltering, to fulfill His plan. Rahab was exploited by men who saw only her beauty, yet she held fast to her faith in God and was rewarded. Discover how God seeks and finds those whose hearts are tender toward Him, no matter how far away they are. Ruth’s loyalty, especially toward her mother-in-law Naomi, helped her to persevere in the face of tragedy, and God gave her a second chance at love. Be encouraged that God will provide even when all hope seems lost. Bathsheba’s scandalous affair with David did not end in one night. Learn that God is willing to restore those lost in the depths of despair who call out to Him. Mary is one of the most revered women in history. But first, she was an ordinary woman striving to please God in the same way that women still do today. When God spoke, Mary responded in obedience which changed the world forever. Each novella includes an in-depth Bible study perfect for personal reflection or group discussion.

Die Inhaltsangabe kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.

Von der hinteren Coverseite

Five unlikely women whom God chose to change eternity.

Tamar.
Rahab.
Ruth.
Bathsheba.
Mary.

Each was faced with extraordinary—even scandalous—challenges. But they had courage. They lived daring lives. Sometimes they made mistakes—big mistakes. And yet God, in His infinite mercy, used them to bring forth the Christ, the Savior of the world. Meet these biblical women in a whole new way as you step into their stories.

Each novella includes an in-depth Bible study, perfect for personal reflection or group discussion.

Auszug. � Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

A Lineage of Grace

By Francine Rivers, Kathryn S. Olson

Tyndale House Publishers

FOREWORD, IX, 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, XI, 
UNVEILED, 1, 
UNASHAMED, 101, 
UNSHAKEN, 193, 
UNSPOKEN, 299, 
UNAFRAID, 421, 
THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS THE CHRIST, 541, 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, 543, 
BOOKS BY FRANCINE RIVERS, 547,

CHAPTER 1

When Tamar saw Judah leading a donkey burdened with sacks and a fine rug, she took her hoe and ran to the farthest border of her father's land. Sick with dread, she worked with her back to the house, hoping he would pass by and seek some other girl for his son. When her nurse called her, Tamar pretended not to hear and hacked harder at the earth with her hoe. Tears blinded her.

"Tamar!" Acsah puffed as she reached her. "Didn't you see Judah? You must return to the house with me now. Your mother is about to send your brothers after you, and they'll not take kindly to your delay." Acsah grimaced. "Don't look at me like that, child. This isn't of my doing. Would you prefer a marriage with one of those Ishmaelite traders on his way to Egypt?"

"You've heard about Judah's son just as I have."

"I've heard." She held out her hand, and Tamar reluctantly relinquished the hoe. "Perhaps it will not be as bad as you think."

But Tamar saw in her nurse's eyes that Acsah had her own grave doubts.

Tamar's mother met them and grabbed Tamar by the arm. "If I had time, I would beat you for running off!" She pulled Tamar inside the house and into the women's quarters.

No sooner was Tamar through the doorway than her sisters laid hands upon her and tugged at her clothing. Tamar gasped in pain as one yanked the cover carelessly from her head, pulling her hair as well. "Stop it!" She raised her hands to ward them off, but her mother stepped in.

"Stand still, Tamar! Since it took Acsah so long to fetch you, we must hurry."

The girls were all talking at once, excited, eager.

"Mother, let me go just as I am!"

"Straight from the fields? You will not! You will be presented in the finest we have. Judah has brought gifts with him. And don't you dare shame us with tears, Tamar."

Swallowing convulsively, Tamar fought for self-control. She had no choice but to submit to her mother and sisters' ministrations. They were using the best garments and perfume for her appearance before Judah, the Hebrew. The man had three sons. If she pleased him, it would be the firstborn, Er, who would become her husband. Last harvest, when Judah and his sons had brought their flocks to graze in the harvested fields, her father had commanded her to work nearby. She knew what he hoped to accomplish. Now, it seemed he had.

"Mother, please. I need another year or two before I'm ready to enter a household of my own."

"Your father decides when you're old enough." Her mother wouldn't look her in the eyes. "It's not your right to question his judgment." Tamar's sisters chattered like magpies, making her want to scream. Her mother clapped her hands. "Enough! Help me get Tamar ready!"

Clenching her jaw, Tamar closed her eyes and decided she must resign herself to her fate. She had known that one day she would marry. She had also known her father would choose her husband. Her one solace was the ten-month betrothal period. At least she would have time to prepare her mind and heart for the life looming before her.

Acsah touched her shoulder. "Try to relax." She untied Tamar's hair and began to brush it with long, firm strokes. "Think soothing thoughts, dear one."

She felt like an animal her father was preparing for sale. Ah, wasn't she? Anger and despair filled her. Why did life have to be so cruel and unfair?

"Petra, bring the scented oil and rub her skin with it. She mustn't smell like a field slave!"

"Better if she smelled of sheep and goats," Acsah said. "The Hebrew would like that."

The girls laughed in spite of their mother's reprimand. "You're not making things better, Acsah. Now, hush!"

Tamar grasped her mother's skirt. "Please, Mother. Couldn't you speak to Father for my sake? This boy is ... is evil!" Tears came in a rush before she could stop them. "Please, I don't want to marry Er."

Her mother's mouth jerked, but she did not weaken. She pried Tamar's hand from the folds of her skirt and held it tightly between her own. "You know I can't alter your father's plans, Tamar. What good would come of my saying anything against this match now other than to bring shame upon us all? Judah is here."

Tamar drew in a ragged sob, fear flooding her veins.

Her mother gripped her chin and forced her head up. "I've prepared you for this day. You're of no use to us if you don't marry Er. See this for what it is: good fortune for your father's house. You will build a bridge between Zimran and Judah. We will have the assurance of peace."

"There are more of us than there are of them, Mother."

"Numbers don't always matter. You're no longer a child, Tamar. You have more courage than this."

"More courage than Father?"

Her mother's eyes darkened with anger. She released Tamar abruptly. "You will do as you're told or bear the full consequences of your disobedience."

Defeated, Tamar said no more. All she had done was to bring humiliation upon herself. She wanted to scream at her sisters to stop their silly prattling. How could they rejoice over her misfortune? What did it matter if Er was handsome? Hadn't they heard of his cruelty? Didn't they know of his arrogance? Er was said to cause trouble wherever he went!

"More kohl, Acsah. It will make her look older."

Tamar could not calm the wild beating of her heart. The palms of her hands grew damp. If all went as her father hoped, her future would be settled today.

This is a good thing, Tamar told herself, a good thing. Her throat was hot and tight with tears.

"Stand, Tamar," her mother said. "Let me have a look at you."

Tamar obeyed. Her mother sighed heavily and tugged at the folds of the red dress, redraping the front. "We must conceal her lack of curves, Acsah, or Zimran will be hard-pressed to convince Judah she is old enough to conceive."

"I can show him the cloth, my lady."

"Good. Have it ready in case it's requested."

Tamar felt the heat flood her face. Was nothing private? Did everyone have to discuss the most personal events in her life? Her first show of blood had proclaimed her womanhood and her usefulness as a bargaining tool for her father. She was a commodity to be sold, a tool to forge an alliance between two clans, a sacrifice for an assured peace. She had hoped to be overlooked for another year or two. Fourteen seemed too young to draw a man's interest.

This is a good thing, Tamar told herself again. Even while other thoughts crowded in, tightening her stomach with fear, she repeated the words over and over, trying to convince herself. This is a good thing.

Perhaps if she hadn't heard the stories ...

For as long as Tamar could remember, her father had been afraid of Judah and his people. She'd heard the stories about the power of the God of the Hebrews, a god who had turned Sodom and Gomorrah to rubble beneath a storm of fire and brimstone, leaving a wasteland of white sands and a growing salten sea behind. No Canaanite god had ever shown such power!

And there were the stories of what the Hebrews had done to the town of Shechem, stories of mayhem ...

"Why must it be this way, Mother? Have...

��ber diesen Titel� kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.