I am excited to review a book by one of my favorite Christian authors, Lynn Austin. Return to Me is the first book in The Restoration Chronicles series.
I devoured this book in a couple evenings, staying up too late and having a “book hangover” in the morning. While I didn’t develop a love for any of the characters like I have with her other books, I love the theme and plot of this one.
It really hit home for me.
This book is set in Babylon and covers the return of the Jews to rebuild the temple. Families are torn apart as some decide to stay where they’ve built successful businesses and others decide to heed God and return to Jerusalem and struggle to rebuild His temple. It’s a longer and more arduous process than they thought, with opposition from the leftovers from before the captivity. They intermarried and resort to pagan ways. Some regret leaving Babylon and long to return to comfort, similar to the Exodus story and the grumbling then.
“But who wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice everything they have now for their children’ future?” the main character, Iddo, admonishes his sons and neighbors.
Sadly, many neighbors and his sons chose to remain in Babylon, where they felt safe and secure. Sadly, many of us choose to stay where we are safe and secure, rather than go into the unknown, seeking God, obeying, receiving His blessing. And sadder still, many choose hardened hearts and comfort knowns rather than venture out in faith to what God has planned.
The tradition of Shabbat is a theme in the book. I love Iddo’s recollection of his mother:
“She didn’t have to cook or clean or wash anything for entire day. She could rest and play with us, sing to us.”
I pray that my children will remember me as kindly, that I took time each day to play, rest, sing.
As I researched the Festival of Booths, Sukkot, and prayed how to incorporate its lessons into our Christian studies and prayer lives…I loved this quote: “The booths remind us of how temporary our lives are…How we are strangers and sojourners in this world. And they remind us how very much we depend on the Almighty One for all our needs.” We need to be ever grateful, ever remembering that God provides all.
Another theme was the strife between the newly returned Jews and the Jews who were left behind when they were taken into captivity. They try for a compromised peace, even though the people living in the valley have become pagan and do detestable practices against Jewish law and tradition. How often do we compromise with the world and call it making peace? It may not be sacrificing children (but our society condones abortion), witchcraft (but Christians post their astrology horoscopes in their Facebook feeds) or polygamy (how many Christians think the Bible’s teachings on sex are for a simpler time?), but compromise is still sin. We don’t glorify God by compromising with the world.
Some of the characters were flatter than I would like. I didn’t have much sympathy for Dinah. But it may be my life right now. I look forward to the rest of the series! The details are stunning and I want to travel to Israel!
Hardcover: $19.99
Paperback: $14.99
eBook: $14.99
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