Among the Gods

Title: Among the Gods
Author: Lynn Austin
Series: Chronicles of the Kings, book 5
Major Themes: Jerusalem, Egypt, Ancient Israel, Assyria, Babylon
Synopsis: As he builds a new life in Egypt, Joshua finds himself still consumed with hatred for wicked King Manasseh, but is there anything he can do about it?

I made it through the Chronicles of the Kings series. I read the first book many years ago. About four years ago, my daughter bought print copies of the entire five-book series, and I’ve been intending to read them. A year or so ago I re-read the first book, and a few months ago started working my way through the others. Now, I had the time yesterday to read book five, Among the Gods. I have learned that this series is one that I should really only read when I have time to finish a book in one day! That usually means a Sunday afternoon when we’re home, with no visitors. 

Among the Gods begins where Faith of My Fathers ended. Manasseh is on the throne of Judah and has turned the nation to the worship of false gods, and all the priests snuck out of Jerusalem at the end of Passover Week. Now they are in Egypt, along with Joshua’s family and Prince Amariah, petitioning Pharoah to let the refugees live in his land. Soon, they begin to build a new life in a foreign country. Joshua can’t get past his anger at Manasseh, though, and the desire for revenge builds up in his heart.

After a couple of years, Joshua has the chance to go back to Judah and assassinate Manasseh. How could he pass this up? When disaster follows, and Joshua suddenly realizes he is also going to lose the only person he really loves, he pleads with God for His intervention. Back in Egypt, he decides he will lay aside his anger and hatred and move on with his life. But, has he really dealt with it and forgiven Manasseh—or will hidden anger continue to fester in his heart and destroy him?

I did not enjoy Among the Gods as much as the other books in the series. I think that is because it was based less on the account in the Bible than the others were. The part that was based directly on the Biblical account was quite satisfying, though. I did like the way Lynn Austin showed what anger and unforgiveness do to a person. This book was quite a vivid example of the way those sins will eat away at a person and destroy him from within. I really liked Miriam in this book, too, and the way she supported Joshua and kept him from disappearing within himself. This book is a great picture of the effects of sin (one quote that stood out was, People don’t want a leader whose purity puts them to shame. They want someone like themselves, maybe a little worse than themselves.), and what God can do when a person or nation turns back to Him.

WARNING: Chapter 1: Description of a horrific execution. Chapter 2: Talk about sorcery. Chapter 3: Instructions about how to kill a man. Chapter 4: Child sacrifice, religious prostitution, torture. Chapter 10: Fight between man and woman, man killed. Chapter 16: Man kissing woman, miscarriage, fight between boys. Chapter 18: Boy is flogged. Chapter 19: Description of orgy. Chapter 22: Battle with the Assyrians. Chapter 24: Man taken prisoner by Assyrians in a cruel manner, man dying.

——————
Related posts:

Song of Redemption The Strength of His Hand Faith of My Fathers Gods and Kings