In the book of Matthew, chapter 1 there is a record of the ancestors of Jesus. Starting with Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel to Mary the mother of Jesus. In this genealogy, of the 56 people mentioned only five women's names are recorded. I feel there are lessons to be learned from these five women because God has a purpose for everything that is written in the Bible.

Although they appear to be unlikely candidates for the family of our Savior, a closer look at each of these women reveals that they had what God needed and were willing to follow God's commands. Each is worth studying.

Francine Rivers' The Lineage of Grace series tells their stories.

The first woman in the record is Tamar. Francine Rivers' book Unveiled is her story. It must be remembered this book is a novel. It is Ms Rivers' interpretation of biblical facts, incorporating her knowledge of the customs of that time. We are not told, in the Bible, many things about Tamar and her life, however Unveiled is a probable account of her circumstances and how she must have felt and lived. That said, I thought the story gave great
insight into Tamar's struggles and victory. The book is a moving account of the oppression of women at that time in history and, unfortunately, that still lives on in some countries today. I must admit that parts of Tamar's story were disturbing but I think they accurately described the pagan customs and the laws that governed the Jewish people.

Unveiled is also a story of how the young woman, Tamar, raised in the pagan Canaanite beliefs came to trust in the God of her father-in-law Judah, even though Judah had wandered from his faith. through Tamar's, determination, Judah's line was assured and he came back to the teachings of his people. The lessons learned from Tamar and from Judah are biblical values that are as true today as when they were recorded.

Francine Rivers combined these elements into captivating and enjoyable reading. You won't be able to put it down.

At the end of the book there is a Bible study to help you get the facts from the Bible and apply them to your own life. This study gives you Judah's background and an over-view that shows how God orchestrates events in history to lead us to the culmination of His plan of salvation. The study is a valuable tool for either private or group use.