The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story (44 page)

And what kind of man would want to marry a prostitute? In the book of Hosea, God
told
Hosea to marry a prostitute. We have no record of Salmon receiving a similar commission. So was Salmon drawn to Rahab’s beauty? Her character? Or something more?

One thing the writing of this book has taught me is this: faith is a gift we can’t earn, yet obedience accompanies true belief. I believe Rahab may have struggled with some of the laws of the God of Israel, which were so different from all she had known. But even in her struggles, she pledged her
allegiance to Israel and God rewarded her faith, giving her a place in His Book, a lasting legacy.

May God grant each of us faith to believe as Rahab did. Even amidst our doubts.

In His Grace,
Jill Eileen Smith

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A
s with every book, the ideas may be mine, but the help in fleshing them out and making them real on the page comes from many other people.
The
Crimson
Cord
would not be in your hands without the sacrifice and kindness of those friends and family.

I would like to publicly thank the Revell team—editorial, marketing, publicity, design. I thank God for each one of you! Special thanks to Lonnie Hull DuPont (editor extraordinaire and a woman I am privileged to call friend), Jessica English (I’m not sure I can write a book without your suggestions and support!), Michele Misiak (you are the best!), Cheryl Van Andel (your cover designs make the books come to life for me!), Claudia Marsh (great publicist and so much fun!), Twila Bennett (I love visiting Revell and chatting with you!), Jen Leep (thank you for your innovative ideas!), Robin, Lindsay, Janelle, and the rest of the team—thank you, every one of you!

My agent, Wendy Lawton—thank you for being a prayer warrior as well as a great business partner and friend.

To my two critique buds, Jill Stengl and Kathleen Fuller. I don’t know where this book would be without you! Dare I mention that you sent me back to the drawing board three times? But every comment helped me grow, and for that I sincerely thank you. I love you guys!

To the writing groups who allow me to remain among them and put up with too many prayer requests and a lot of questions! You girls have upheld me when my arms grew weak, and I felt your prayers when life took so many difficult turns during the writing of this book. I’m honored to call you friends.

To the readers who tell their friends about these books—I thank you!

To my forever friends—you know who you are.

To my guys and my girls—Jeff, Chris and Molly, Ryan and Carissa—I hope you know how much I love you! I love that we all love the arts in one form or another.

To Randy—how the years change our circumstances, but after nearly thirty-eight years together, the journey just grows richer. What a great God we serve, and I get to do so loving you forever!

Yahweh my Elohim—You are Elohim of heaven and earth. Thank You for giving us Rahab’s story and for saving her in one simple act of faith.

Jill Eileen Smith
is the bestselling author of the Wives of King David series, the Wives of the Patriarchs series, and the ebook novella
The Desert Princess
, first in the Loves of King Solomon series. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.

When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She can often be found reading, testing new recipes, grabbing lunch with friends, or snuggling Tiger, her little writing buddy who chews her fingers as she works. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan. She loves hearing from her readers.

Contact Jill at
[email protected]
, or visit her website:
http://www.jilleileensmith.com
.

Connect with Jill on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith

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Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2799806.Jill_Eileen_Smith

Books by Jill Eileen Smith

T
HE
W
IVES
OF
K
ING
D
AVID

Michal

Abigail

Bathsheba

W
IVES
OF
THE
P
ATRIARCHS

Sarai

Rebekah

Rachel

T
HE
L
OVES
OF
K
ING
S
OLOMON
(ebook series)

The Desert Princess

D
AUGHTERS
OF
THE
P
ROMISED
L
AND

The Crimson Cord

www.JillEileenSmith.com

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