Rescued Heart (The Matriarchs)
This is the first book in Hunt’s The Matriarchs series. It retells the Old Testament story of Sarah (Sarai) and Abraham (Abram). The author adds depth to the characters and uses historical resources other than the Bible to enrich the story.
Sarai has been intended for Abram since childhood, and she eventually marries him in the city called Ur of the Chaldeans. Her paganism versus Abram’s belief in Adonai, the one true God, is a problem. When God dramatically saves Abram’s life, Sarai chooses to follow Him, too. Abram and Sarai leave Ur, and travel to different areas—Haran, Syria, Egypt, Canaan—with their flocks, tents, and some family members. God has promised Abram that he will have innumerable descendants, but Sarai does not conceive, and she and Abram are becoming very old. Eventually they do have progeny, but Abram faces a heartbreaking command from Adonai that tests his and his son’s faith to the limits.
Life in Biblical times could definitely do you in, and this story reads as a riveting adventure tale as well as an inspirational book about faith’s rewards. Nimrod’s fiery furnace, Egypt’s predatory pharaoh, wars, famine, people turned into pillars of salt—and God speaking to people personally! It doesn’t get any more exciting than that. I suppose the waiting for Sarai to conceive drags a bit, but that is, after all, a huge part of the plot. This is an entertaining read, whether you are religious or not. There are also Q&A pages with the author, a 30-item reference list, and a teaser for the sequel, coming out next year.
