The Restoration Chronicles
Book Three
SUMMARY: Stone by Stone, the Wall Will Rise Once More Around God's City
When news reaches him that Jerusalem's wall is shattered and its gates burned with fire, a distraught Nehemiah seeks God's guidance in fasting and prayer. Granted an unexpected leave from his duty as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah sets out for Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall - never anticipating all the dangers that await him on his arrival.
The leaders of the surrounding nations become his fierce enemies, plotting to assassinate him and stop the wall's reconstruction forever. A drought, meanwhile, has left the country impoverished, with many families resorting to selling their children as bondservants just to keep from starving.
Capturing the rebuilding of the wall through the eyes of a number of characters, On This Foundation is the powerful conclusion to The Restoration Chronicles. This exploration of faith in the midst of oppression offers hope that, in spite of appearances, the gracious hand of God is upon those who believe.
REVIEW: Trusting God to follow through and trusting Him to be there during difficult times is the crux of this novel, even when it seems like He isn't listening and has turned His back. Nehemiah has to trust the Lord is leading him to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem against opposition by Israel's enemies and those inside Jerusalem determined to stop him from upsetting the new normal. Nava has stopped trusting God after she is forced to work as a bondservant to protect her family farm after years of drought and leave her childhood boyfriend, whom she was to marry. Chana doesn't know if she can trust Yahweh after her fiance' is killed by robbers just before their marriage. When she is pledged to another in marriage, she has to decide if God is with her after all or if she will turn her back on Him.
This novel is a wonderful wrap-up to the series about the Jewish nation's return to Israel after the Diaspora. The author shows how difficult life was in Jerusalem. But, when the people obeyed God's law, His provisions and blessing came in abundance. I like how the author showed Nehemiah's humanity and didn't put him on a pedestal. He wanted to become king, like some of the "prophets" claimed but knew it wasn't God's plan for him. Not everything was tied up in a neat little bow but the twists and turns the author placed kept me turning pages to see how situations would play out.
This book is wonderful. It ties the books of Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah together in a seamless way that is interesting and never dull. Check it out for yourself.
Lynn Austin is a bestselling author who has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live in Michigan. Learn more at www.lynnaustin.org.
REVIEW: Trusting God to follow through and trusting Him to be there during difficult times is the crux of this novel, even when it seems like He isn't listening and has turned His back. Nehemiah has to trust the Lord is leading him to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem against opposition by Israel's enemies and those inside Jerusalem determined to stop him from upsetting the new normal. Nava has stopped trusting God after she is forced to work as a bondservant to protect her family farm after years of drought and leave her childhood boyfriend, whom she was to marry. Chana doesn't know if she can trust Yahweh after her fiance' is killed by robbers just before their marriage. When she is pledged to another in marriage, she has to decide if God is with her after all or if she will turn her back on Him.
This novel is a wonderful wrap-up to the series about the Jewish nation's return to Israel after the Diaspora. The author shows how difficult life was in Jerusalem. But, when the people obeyed God's law, His provisions and blessing came in abundance. I like how the author showed Nehemiah's humanity and didn't put him on a pedestal. He wanted to become king, like some of the "prophets" claimed but knew it wasn't God's plan for him. Not everything was tied up in a neat little bow but the twists and turns the author placed kept me turning pages to see how situations would play out.
This book is wonderful. It ties the books of Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah together in a seamless way that is interesting and never dull. Check it out for yourself.
This book was provided by Bethany House for review without compensation.
Lynn Austin is a bestselling author who has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live in Michigan. Learn more at www.lynnaustin.org.
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