I've read a lot of Lynn Austin's books and loved them, this one did not disappoint.
Return To Me is set in the time of the Jew's return to Jerusalem, following their exile in Babylon, to rebuild the Temple. Iddo, a priest, is sure this is a sign of God's favor. Many have lost their faith, which is what sets them apart. His wife, Dinah, does not want to leave their home and children, whom are not ready to leave their comfortable lives.
Iddo's oldest grandson, Zechariah, goes with them. He feels torn between his family he left behind, and his grandfather's faith. But, he has a life changing encounter with The Holy One that changes him forever.
I have found that I love Biblical fiction. It really makes me think beyond the black/white we have in the Bible....in the sense of how did these people live, what did they have to go through? The day to day events that can shape you over time. Reading this book was no different. What it must have been like to have to live among people that really hated you, have to fear what would happen when you went to the well to retrieve water, or watched over your flocks? They return to the land given to them by God, but the Samaritans have taken over this land in the previous seventy years and are not happy, not willing to share. They also have the daunting task of rebuilding the Temple, which is in total ruins. What great faith they must have had to take the long journey from Babylon to Jerusalem, arrive to what has become a waste land filled with inhospitable neighbors, and to begin the rebuilding.
I believe this to be a must read, and look forward to more in this series!
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