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Beauty's Surrender Sarah's Story
Beauty’s Sarah’s Story is book nine in the Extraordinary Women of the Bible historical fiction series.
Sarah dreams of her long-ago wedding ceremony with Abraham, but is startled awake when the bride in her dream transforms into her maidservant, Keturah. Along with that dream comes Sarah is reaching the end of her earthly life, and the dream was from her loving God, meant to prepare her family for what comes next. Abraham must marry Keturah. But there are many obstacles to overcome. Sarah must convince Abraham, their son, Isaac, and Keturah to fulfill the Lord’s request. With so many past scars and high emotions to contend with, it will take all of Sarah’s waning strength to save their future.
Sarah dreams of her long-ago wedding ceremony with Abraham, but is startled awake when the bride in her dream transforms into her maidservant, Keturah. Along with that dream comes Sarah is reaching the end of her earthly life, and the dream was from her loving God, meant to prepare her family for what comes next. Abraham must marry Keturah. But there are many obstacles to overcome. Sarah must convince Abraham, their son, Isaac, and Keturah to fulfill the Lord’s request. With so many past scars and high emotions to contend with, it will take all of Sarah’s waning strength to save their future.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2024
49 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Mesu Andrews
36 books1,930 followersMESU ANDREWS is the Christy Award-winning author of Isaiah’s Daughter whose deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for readers. Andrews lives in North Carolina with her husband Roy. She stays connected with readers through newsie emails, fun blog posts, and frequent short stories. For more information, visitMesuAndrews.com.
Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell, 2011, the story of Job) won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year for a Debut Author. Love’s Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) relates the poetic Song of Solomon in story form, and Love in a Broken Vessel(Revell, 2013) sets the story of Hosea and Gomer in biblical Israel. In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) displays God's sovereignty over Jezebel's daughter, Queen Athaliah. The Pharaoh's Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015), unveils Moses' early years, and Miriam (2016) introduces Yahweh's prophetess during the ten plagues and the Exodus. Isaiah’s Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2018) introduces readers to the prophet Isaiah's captivating daughter, and its sequel, Isaiah's Legacy (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2020) , provides the redemptive end to her life and her son Manasseh's reign. To follow Yahweh's progression toward the Messiah, By the Waters of Babylon (August 2018) continues the story of the prophets and kings through the exile, and Of Fire and Lions (Waterbrook/Multnomah 2019) tells Daniel's compelling story. And The Reluctant Rival: Leah's Story tells of Leah, Jacob's neglected wife, and how God used her to change the course of history. And when Joseph's brothers sell him into a life of slavery in Egypt, Jacob's favorite son encounters one of the Bible's most infamous bad girls in, Potiphar's Wife (Waterbrook/Multnomah 2022).
Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell, 2011, the story of Job) won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year for a Debut Author. Love’s Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) relates the poetic Song of Solomon in story form, and Love in a Broken Vessel(Revell, 2013) sets the story of Hosea and Gomer in biblical Israel. In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) displays God's sovereignty over Jezebel's daughter, Queen Athaliah. The Pharaoh's Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015), unveils Moses' early years, and Miriam (2016) introduces Yahweh's prophetess during the ten plagues and the Exodus. Isaiah’s Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2018) introduces readers to the prophet Isaiah's captivating daughter, and its sequel, Isaiah's Legacy (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2020) , provides the redemptive end to her life and her son Manasseh's reign. To follow Yahweh's progression toward the Messiah, By the Waters of Babylon (August 2018) continues the story of the prophets and kings through the exile, and Of Fire and Lions (Waterbrook/Multnomah 2019) tells Daniel's compelling story. And The Reluctant Rival: Leah's Story tells of Leah, Jacob's neglected wife, and how God used her to change the course of history. And when Joseph's brothers sell him into a life of slavery in Egypt, Jacob's favorite son encounters one of the Bible's most infamous bad girls in, Potiphar's Wife (Waterbrook/Multnomah 2022).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 27, 2024
Beauty's Surrender is, forgive the obvious, one of Mesu's most beautiful books. It might be her most beautiful yet, meaning it has a tender, probing beauty I rarely see in her full-length novels. Those are more rich, deep, and challenging. Beauty's Surrender has all those elements, but they're tempered with a warmer, more personal tone I loved.
First off though, I want to commend Mesu's bravery in writing Sarah's story the way she did. Mesu is a brave writer, period. She tackles "blank spaces" of Scripture all the time, such as King Saul's reign or the Mount Sinai years. Within that, she delves into the lives of people the Bible mentions but doesn't tell readers much about, or creates characters who likely existed in Scripture but don't have a background. She does it all while staying faithful to Scripture, which again, is incredibly brave for a writer.
But in Beauty's Surrender, she pulled off what might be the bravest coup I've seen from her. Beauty's Surrender is very much Sarah's story, in that she is a major character and she drives much of the action and motivations. But really, Keturah, Abraham's would-be second bride, is the "protagonist" here. Keturah is the one who must make life-changing decisions. She's the one who must decide what her relationship with Yahweh is and what it's going to look like when the structure of the only family she's ever known changes for good--when her world implodes. That, when coupled with Sarah's heartrending journey toward the ultimate destination, is the kind of story that leaves rare, gut-level impact.
Outside of the impact itself, Mesu did these Biblical characters justice as only she can. These characters not only pop off the page. As I like to say, they sparkle, as only the best-developed characters do. Those who love and follow Yahweh do so faithfully yes, but they are 100% human. They don't belong on pedestals. Sarah, for instance, believes in Yahweh, and believes Him, with all her being. She possesses a hard-won, bone-deep faith worth emulating. And she's also stubborn, bossy, and full of "oldest daughter energy" (ahem, Jesus, You're on my sandal again! It's okay, though). Abraham's faith reveals how long he has spent becoming God's friend--a friend who also neglects the earthly people who need and love him. Isaac dreams big and loves deeply and well--while still struggling with the weaknesses of a deeply loved, yet spoiled "mama's boy." You get the idea.
As for some of the shadier or outright villainous characters, they were of course a risk because they're not in Scripture per se. For instance, having Sarah cultivate such a close relationship with another man, and the chief of a rival tribe, no less, could've gone all kinds of sideways. However, the threads concerning these antagonists actually worked well within the story. They ramped up the tension without crossing into unfaithfulness territory, and they gave Mesu a chance to show off how dedicated she is to her "homework" when it comes to pre-Mosaic culture. The scenes with Sarah's wedding veil, for instance, are nothing short of raw and touching. And the scene of Keturah's flight, then her rescue, lend some great depth to both her character and the final decision regarding her and Abraham's relationship.
Mesu's plot in general, in fact, is wonderful. It's unusually intense and meaty for such a short book, which I love. (Yes, I know 275 pages is not *that* short, but I usually go for novels of at least 300 pages, so that's why I call this one short). Mesu manages to balance the development of some of the Bible's most well-known people with a plot containing everything from a decades-long romance, to the "growing pains" of a brand new nation, to the emotional and spiritual pain and growth of one family, plus a bit of mystery and suspense. Again, it's daring, and as an author, I certainly wouldn't try it. But Mesu pulls it off with aplomb.
Finally, I want to give Mesu kudos on the presence of God and the spiritual threads in Beauty's Surrender. Many of them are difficult; a lot of the "spiritual" scenes involve Sarah, Abraham, Keturah, or others arguing over what Yahweh really meant, or flat-out ignoring or disobeying what He wants them to do. But others are challenging in a gentle way, while still others are breathtakingly encouraging. In other words, these threads encapsulate what it means to have a relationship with God, and what it means to maintain honesty with the God of the Universe, Who is always right and perfect when we humans--are not. I could've come away from Beauty's Surrender feeling small, condemned, or even scared, as in, would God put me through what He put Sarah through to make a point or because He had enough of me? But looking back, I see once again that He is not at all what I expect Him to be, and that "beauty's surrender" is not what I expected, either.
I have read all of the Ordinary Women of the Bible series and am now working my way through the Extraordinary Women series. I have rarely met a book in either one I did not love, and this one is no exception. However, I can safely say Mesu Andrews wrote a standout, and I hope she has more.
First off though, I want to commend Mesu's bravery in writing Sarah's story the way she did. Mesu is a brave writer, period. She tackles "blank spaces" of Scripture all the time, such as King Saul's reign or the Mount Sinai years. Within that, she delves into the lives of people the Bible mentions but doesn't tell readers much about, or creates characters who likely existed in Scripture but don't have a background. She does it all while staying faithful to Scripture, which again, is incredibly brave for a writer.
But in Beauty's Surrender, she pulled off what might be the bravest coup I've seen from her. Beauty's Surrender is very much Sarah's story, in that she is a major character and she drives much of the action and motivations. But really, Keturah, Abraham's would-be second bride, is the "protagonist" here. Keturah is the one who must make life-changing decisions. She's the one who must decide what her relationship with Yahweh is and what it's going to look like when the structure of the only family she's ever known changes for good--when her world implodes. That, when coupled with Sarah's heartrending journey toward the ultimate destination, is the kind of story that leaves rare, gut-level impact.
Outside of the impact itself, Mesu did these Biblical characters justice as only she can. These characters not only pop off the page. As I like to say, they sparkle, as only the best-developed characters do. Those who love and follow Yahweh do so faithfully yes, but they are 100% human. They don't belong on pedestals. Sarah, for instance, believes in Yahweh, and believes Him, with all her being. She possesses a hard-won, bone-deep faith worth emulating. And she's also stubborn, bossy, and full of "oldest daughter energy" (ahem, Jesus, You're on my sandal again! It's okay, though). Abraham's faith reveals how long he has spent becoming God's friend--a friend who also neglects the earthly people who need and love him. Isaac dreams big and loves deeply and well--while still struggling with the weaknesses of a deeply loved, yet spoiled "mama's boy." You get the idea.
As for some of the shadier or outright villainous characters, they were of course a risk because they're not in Scripture per se. For instance, having Sarah cultivate such a close relationship with another man, and the chief of a rival tribe, no less, could've gone all kinds of sideways. However, the threads concerning these antagonists actually worked well within the story. They ramped up the tension without crossing into unfaithfulness territory, and they gave Mesu a chance to show off how dedicated she is to her "homework" when it comes to pre-Mosaic culture. The scenes with Sarah's wedding veil, for instance, are nothing short of raw and touching. And the scene of Keturah's flight, then her rescue, lend some great depth to both her character and the final decision regarding her and Abraham's relationship.
Mesu's plot in general, in fact, is wonderful. It's unusually intense and meaty for such a short book, which I love. (Yes, I know 275 pages is not *that* short, but I usually go for novels of at least 300 pages, so that's why I call this one short). Mesu manages to balance the development of some of the Bible's most well-known people with a plot containing everything from a decades-long romance, to the "growing pains" of a brand new nation, to the emotional and spiritual pain and growth of one family, plus a bit of mystery and suspense. Again, it's daring, and as an author, I certainly wouldn't try it. But Mesu pulls it off with aplomb.
Finally, I want to give Mesu kudos on the presence of God and the spiritual threads in Beauty's Surrender. Many of them are difficult; a lot of the "spiritual" scenes involve Sarah, Abraham, Keturah, or others arguing over what Yahweh really meant, or flat-out ignoring or disobeying what He wants them to do. But others are challenging in a gentle way, while still others are breathtakingly encouraging. In other words, these threads encapsulate what it means to have a relationship with God, and what it means to maintain honesty with the God of the Universe, Who is always right and perfect when we humans--are not. I could've come away from Beauty's Surrender feeling small, condemned, or even scared, as in, would God put me through what He put Sarah through to make a point or because He had enough of me? But looking back, I see once again that He is not at all what I expect Him to be, and that "beauty's surrender" is not what I expected, either.
I have read all of the Ordinary Women of the Bible series and am now working my way through the Extraordinary Women series. I have rarely met a book in either one I did not love, and this one is no exception. However, I can safely say Mesu Andrews wrote a standout, and I hope she has more.
November 8, 2025
Beauty is Fleeting
Even the beauty of Sarah that is an isolated description given to her alone in scripture, is not her most important feature. It was her obedience. She obeyed her husband who heard from God even when God was silent to her. That is a difficult thing to do.
I don't believe obedience comes natural to any of us since we are all born with a sin nature. This makes us more inclined to lust for selfish pleasure and greedy gain while thinking more highly of ourselves than others.
So, how do we become obedient like Abraham and Sarah? One choice at a time. We know from their story that their lives had faced many disappointments just within their family alone.
Their father's disobedience to God.
Their childlessness.
Their fear from Sarah's beauty.
The trials of Sarah being given to two different powerful men with powerful armies.
The delay in God's promise of a son
Their attempt to fulfill what God had promised to them in their own power.
The willingness to sacrifice their promised son.
Each step of Faith proved God's faithfulness to them despite their repeated failures of their faithfulness.
The thing I have learned to be true in my life is that faithfulness to God does in fact become second nature, done without thinking, the more you practice it. Are any of us perfect in our faith? Of course not! But growing in our faithfulness is always possible.
This beautiful fictional story gives us this reassurance in such a beautiful way that reveals the beauty of Sarah's surrendered obedience to her husband as if surrendered to God Himself. It is a very human struggle filled with the promise of hope God gives to each of us willing to humble ourselves and obey His will and not our own.
God is sovereign!
Even the beauty of Sarah that is an isolated description given to her alone in scripture, is not her most important feature. It was her obedience. She obeyed her husband who heard from God even when God was silent to her. That is a difficult thing to do.
I don't believe obedience comes natural to any of us since we are all born with a sin nature. This makes us more inclined to lust for selfish pleasure and greedy gain while thinking more highly of ourselves than others.
So, how do we become obedient like Abraham and Sarah? One choice at a time. We know from their story that their lives had faced many disappointments just within their family alone.
Their father's disobedience to God.
Their childlessness.
Their fear from Sarah's beauty.
The trials of Sarah being given to two different powerful men with powerful armies.
The delay in God's promise of a son
Their attempt to fulfill what God had promised to them in their own power.
The willingness to sacrifice their promised son.
Each step of Faith proved God's faithfulness to them despite their repeated failures of their faithfulness.
The thing I have learned to be true in my life is that faithfulness to God does in fact become second nature, done without thinking, the more you practice it. Are any of us perfect in our faith? Of course not! But growing in our faithfulness is always possible.
This beautiful fictional story gives us this reassurance in such a beautiful way that reveals the beauty of Sarah's surrendered obedience to her husband as if surrendered to God Himself. It is a very human struggle filled with the promise of hope God gives to each of us willing to humble ourselves and obey His will and not our own.
God is sovereign!
September 16, 2024
Beauty’s Surrender, by Mesu Andrews, imagines the story of Sarah’s last days on earth. Andrews explores the dynamics of Abraham and Sarah’s relationship. Biblical research and a heart for God’s voice and guidance lead Andrews to consider implications beyond the moment when Abraham and Isaac climb Mount Moriah to make a sacrifice. They each bring a different perspective, father and son, to the event. Throughout the novel, Sarah learns to surrender day by day in new ways to God’s plans for her life and the lives of those she loves. This fictional story provides insight into a well-known Bible story, as well as application for readers to consider.
November 13, 2024
beautiful story
Amazing writer Mesu Andrew’s is. I love all her books.
This one was one of my favorites. I did not want to stop reading. She brings all her Bible characters to life. Thank you so much for blessing me again !
Amazing writer Mesu Andrew’s is. I love all her books.
This one was one of my favorites. I did not want to stop reading. She brings all her Bible characters to life. Thank you so much for blessing me again !
March 3, 2025
Bible Stories
This book took a complete fiction look at Sarah, with a little Bible thrown in. It was a nice story, I just wish that it had a little bit more Bible content in it!
Thanks for the fictional account.
This book took a complete fiction look at Sarah, with a little Bible thrown in. It was a nice story, I just wish that it had a little bit more Bible content in it!
Thanks for the fictional account.
June 12, 2025
wonderful story of Sarah
Beautiful retelling of the story of Sarah’s last years as the wife of Abraham.
I’ve loved all Mesu Andrew’s Novels
Beautiful retelling of the story of Sarah’s last years as the wife of Abraham.
I’ve loved all Mesu Andrew’s Novels
February 16, 2025
I loved the original approach to a familiar story. The depth of the characters makes them relatable, so much more than before! One of my favorite authors, Mesu never disappoints!!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews