Goodreads blurb:
My Review: 5 stars
The thought of a god of compassion did something to her heart. A longing came upon her that almost brought her to tears. A longing for someone to look upon her suffering and care enough to rescue her.
It felt like I was witnessing a miracle unfolding- the way the Lord took her stony heart and turned it into a heart of flesh, on fire for Him. Salmone, her husband is seen as a loyal, protective leader of the tribe of Judah. He struggled to welcome Rahab and her family and deemed her past to be unforgivable. For Salmone, it didn't seem believable for Rahab to change so much. Surely she would still go back to her ways and shame Israel! How could Joshua allow such a thing? It was beautiful to see the way he transitioned from looking through his eyes to looking through God's. Rahab and Salmone's story teaches us the power of forgiveness, kindness, and acceptance. It brings to light how hard it is for us as humans, to let go of our views and how there is power in surrendering to His will. I loved the way how Tessa didn't just knit together a happily ever after and call it quits. The story continues even after their marriage. With complicated pasts, judgments, and suppressed fears, Rahab and Salmone work together to put aside differences and yield to divine wisdom.
As he started to pray, a picture of Jericho rose up in his mind. The walls of Jericho— enormous, daunting, ancient—filled his mind with unusual clarity. This is Rahab, he thought. She is bound up in so many walls—walls of fear, of rejection, of loneliness, of unworthiness.
Tessa's writing once again reminded me that no matter how haunting my past may be, the walls will seamlessly crumble the moment He commands peace. God spared me like He did Rahab from my sins. His light has paved paths that I never knew existed. Tessa's book beautifully illustrated the force of Joshua's army, the fall of Jericho, and the battle of Ai. Every page and every chapter manifested how merciful and gracious Yahweh is. Pearl in the Sand contained many valuable lessons, and to name them all would be another post in itself. On a side note, I absolutely loved how she used a pearl to symbolise Rahab's story! A pearl is used to denote great suffering or loss which fits right in with Rahab's experiences. I highly recommend this book and it is deserving of all 5 stars and more!
Age rating: 16+ Due to the nature of Rahab's past, there is some mature content. However, it has been dealt with gracefully and respectfully.
