A Lineage of Grace - Francine Rivers

1 FRANCINERIVERS4`````$a Lineage of G ACEFive stories of unlikely women who changed eternityTyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, iii6/18/2009 1:49:25 PM6/18/2009 1:49:25 PMVisit Tyndale s exciting Web site at out the latest about Francine Rivers at and Tyndale s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Lineage of GraceUnveiled and unashamed copyright 2000 by Francine Rivers . All rights , Unspoken, and Unafraid copyright 2001 by Francine Rivers . All rights Lineage of Grace 2002 by Francine Rivers . All rights reserved. Seek and Find sections written by Peggy cover middle border pattern by Ela Kwasniewski/Shutterstock.

2 All rights cover top border pattern by Kira-N/Shutterstock. All rights cover bottom pattern by Igor Kisselev/Shutterstock. All rights illustrations copyright 2009 by Robert Papp. All rights photo copyright 1999 by John Teague. All rights by Jessie McGrathEdited by Kathryn S. OlsonScripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataRivers, Francine , date. A Lineage of Grace / Francine Rivers . p. cm. ISBN 978-0-8423-5632-9 (sc : alk.)

3 Paper) 1. Women in the Bible Fiction. 2. Christian fiction, American. I. Title. 2009 813 .54 dc22 2009014398 Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publishers, except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles or 14 13 12 11 10 097 6 5 4 3 2 iv6/18/2009 1:49:25 PM6/18/2009 1:49:25 PMUnveiled is dedicated to those who have been abusedand used and yearn for is dedicated to women who think a past of mistakes ruins any chance of a joy-filled future. Turn toJesus and experience the wonders He has waiting for is dedicated to my mother-in-law,Edith Rivers , whom I admire and is dedicated to women who feel they ve lost their reputation forever.

4 God can make beauty from is dedicated to Jane Jordan Browne, a woman of v6/18/2009 1:49:25 PM6/18/2009 1:49:25 PMcontentsForeword ixAcknowledgments xiUnveiled 1 unashamed 101 Unshaken 193 Unspoken 299 Unafraid 421 The Genealogy of Jesus the Christ 541 About the Author 543 Books by Francine Rivers vii6/18/2009 1:49:25 PM6/18/2009 1:49:25 PMforewordDear Reader,You are about to read five novellas on the women in the Lineage of Jesus Christ.

5 These were Eastern women who lived in ancient times, and yet their stories apply to our lives and the difficult issues we face in our world today. They were on the edge. They had courage. They took risks. They did the unexpected. They lived daring lives, and sometimes they made mistakes big mistakes. These women were not perfect, and yet God in His infinite mercy used them in His perfect plan to bring forth the Christ, the Savior of the live in desperate, troubled times when millions seek answers. These women point the way. The lessons we can learn from them are as applicable today as when they lived thousands of years is a woman of is a woman of is a woman of is a woman who received unlimited is a woman of are historical women who actually lived.

6 Their stories, as I have told them, are based on biblical accounts. Although some of their actions may seem disagreeable to us in our century, we need to consider these women in the context of their own is a work of historical fiction. The outline of the story is provided by the Bible, and I have started with the facts provided for us there. Build-ing on that foundation, I have created action, dialogue, internal motiva-tions, and in some cases, additional characters that I feel are consistent with the biblical record. I have attempted to remain true to the scriptural message in all points, adding only what is necessary to aid in our under standing of that the end of each novella, we have included a brief study section.

7 The ix6/18/2009 1:49:26 PM6/18/2009 1:49:26 PM X Francine Rivers ultimate authority on people of the Bible is the Bible itself. I encourage you to read it for greater under standing. And I pray that as you read the Bible, you will become aware of the continuity, the consistency, and the confirma-tion of God s plan for the ages a plan that includes x6/18/2009 1:49:26 PM6/18/2009 1:49:26 PMacknowledgmentsNo project is ever completed without the help of many people. I want to acknowledge my husband, Rick, who has supported and encouraged me from the beginning of my writing career.

8 Thank you for our prayer time and talks in the morning before the sun comes up. Those times are precious to me and set the tone for the rest of the day. Thank you also for sharing your office, building the fire on cold mornings, brewing the coffee, and pausing in your own hectic business schedule to spend time you, Ron Beers, for sharing your you, Jane Jordan Browne, for your constant encouragement and friendship through the years. I ve always been able to depend on thanks to you, Scott Mendel. I appreciate the historical informa-tion, resources, and insights you have shared with me. Thank you for your willingness to respond (quickly!)

9 To so many you, Kathy Olson, for your fine editing and passion for Scripture and for your willingness to dive in and challenge me. I would like to also extend my thanks to the entire Tyndale staff who have continued to follow Dr. Kenneth Taylor s mission of glorifying the Lord and who have encour-aged me as I strive to do likewise. I have felt blessed over the years to be part of your m also grateful to Liz Curtis Higgs and her husband, Bill, for sharing their extensive bibliography, and to Angela Elwell Hunt, my favorite super-woman. When I grow up, I want to be just like extend special thanks to Jim and Charlotte Henderson for their gra-cious Washington State style hospitality and to John and Merritt Atwood for the loan of their beautiful cottage on Whidbey Island for a brainstorm-ing session with my dear friend Peggy Lynch, who is writing the Seek and Find sections for these would also like to thank Peggy for her willingness to be part of this project and for making me dig deeper and deeper into Scripture to find xi6/18/2009 1:49:26 PM6/18/2009 1:49.

10 26 PM XII Francine RIVERSthe jewels waiting there. Peggy, you have been a blessing to me from the day I met you. You have always held up the lamp of God s Word. Your life is a living testimony of Essmann, thank you for sharing historical information, lists of resources, Web sites, and insights on extend special thanks to Rick Hahn, pastor of Sebastopol Christian Church. I always know whom to call when I can t find the Scripture passage rolling through my head. Thank you to Kitty Briggs for sharing materials about Mary. And special thanks to Gary and Patti LeDonne, who brain-stormed with me.