She has prayed for deliverance from Egypt.
But perhaps the greatest liberation happens within the heart.
From the very beginning, Miriam has lived in her younger brother's shadow.
Thrust into the role of protective older sister before Moses was even born, she
will grow up into a woman who not only keeps her family's secret but bears the
burden of leading a new nation.
In her mind, she knows that she is serving both her God and her people. But in
her heart, Miriam yearns for more. She longs to experience the privileges Moses
has--to talk with God face-to-face. But when God finally does speak directly to
her, the outcome is not at all what she expects.
With her impeccable research and keen eye for detail, bestselling author Jill
Eileen Smith offers this epic novel to fill in the gaps in Miriam's story,
following her from childhood to motherhood, obscurity to notoriety, and
yearning to fulfillment as she learns that what God promises He provides--in
His own perfect timing.
My Thoughts:
Miriam plays an important place in Bible history, but we do not really know much about her life except where Moses is concerned. Author Smith gives us a fictional account of what may have transpired for Miriam and her family.
Here we start Miriam's story before Moses is even born. We watch her as a little girl as she witnesses the cruelty of the Egyptians in the slaughter of innocent Hebrew baby boys. We watch as her family keeps her baby brother's birth a secret and tries to hide him from their slave masters. We go with her as she acts as guardian for him until he is found by the princess and until he must live at the palace permanently and all the way to when the spies are about to enter the Promise Land.
I was brought into the story of Miriam's life, her young one, as a wife, as a mother, and eventually as a continual helper to her brothers. I watched her grieve, rejoice, pray, and most of all to wait. That stood out to me the most, how even when she felt like giving up, she continued to pray for deliverance. Even though God remained silent through the 400 years of their slavery and her faith sometimes waivered she continued to trust in the God of her ancestors.
I have read author Mesu Andrews work on Miriam and the Pharaoh's daughter that had me going back and researching history. Author Smith takes a different direction on who Pharaoh's daughter was and I found that intriguing as well. There is also some poetic license taken on who was Miriam's children. We do get to see the events as they unfold through the other women's eyes, and I found that a great help to see from different perspectives.
I did enjoy this book and found the weaving of Author Smith's research into the Biblical account interesting. I did receive a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
About the Author:
Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King and Star of Persia: Esther's Story. She is also the author of the nonfiction books When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams and She Walked Before Us. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan. Learn more at www.jilleileensmith.com.
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