Title: The Winds of Ruach
Author: D. M. Griffin
Major Themes: Prophets, Ancient Israel, Assyria
Synopsis: What might life have been like for five of the Minor Prophets, as they lived through days when their nation was falling apart, both spiritually and physically?
The cover first caught my eye when I saw Winds of Ruach offered for review. I tend to look for books that are not straight-up romance, and those are fairly easy to spot most of the time, just from the cover. With this one, it was easy to see that it was historical, so I read the description. That really caught my attention, so I signed up for it. When I sign up for tours with CelebrateLit, they send me a digital copy of the book, as well as a physical copy; the print book is sent to my mom because it costs too much to send it here. Mom holds the books for me until there is a way to get them to us in someone’s suitcase. When this book arrived, she texted me that it was quite big. Just my kind of book! I was a little apprehensive about what she would have to say about it, since she reads all the books I have sent to her, and I really didn’t know if she would enjoy this one. What a relief when I talked to her after she had read the first two novellas and enjoyed them! That made me think I would like this book, as well.
Publisher’s description:
Winds of Ruach is a compilation of five novellas fictionally traversing a period in Israel’s history that spans three hundred years. God used the prophets to speak to His people during a tumultuous time when faith was challenged and spiritual discipline necessary. Five prophets, considered minor because of the shortness of their recorded work, lived out the message of God in a way that girded their faith and inspired those who truly listened to God’s voice. Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Obadiah, and Malachi were God’s chosen spokesmen.
Book One: Jonah felt he had every right to be angry when tragedy struck his household. He would soon learn that anger was a barrier to a right relationship with God no matter how justified the source of that anger. What happens when Jonah realizes that his deep-seated anger might cost him everything? Will he learn to embrace his forgiving God?
Book Two: Nahum was a victim of God’s wrath as it fell on the land of rebellious Israel. Intimidated for the majority of his life with little memory as to his origin, Nahum struggles to trust God to vindicate him. Grappling to understand why everything keeps going wrong, will Nahum surrender to the only One who can truly defend him?
Book Three: Habakkuk didn’t start his life fearing the Lord with paralyzing doubt. When he was a child, his faith was pure and unadulterated. As a priest serving in the Temple, Habakkuk realizes that something is keeping him from experiencing the fullness of faith. He doesn’t truly trust God’s heart toward him. Will he learn to be brave despite the circumstances that threaten the very existence of the Temple?
Book Four: Obadiah lived in two worlds while feeling as if he spiritually belonged to one. Born to an Edomite father and Jewish mother, he was constantly at war with his brother. How long would it take for Obadiah to learn that the Lord was with him in the battle? Even if he lost it all, would having God be enough?
Book Five: Malachi wrestles with what he knows to be true about God and how his life is unfolding. What does it mean to worship with a pure heart, not with ulterior motives? As God has the final say with His people, will they listen and faithfully wait for the promised future of redemption?
Explore the themes woven into the books of the minor prophets through these fictional journeys that reveal how mighty the Winds of Ruach (Spirit) truly are as they blow across history into today.
My thoughts:
I really appreciated D. M. Griffin’s imagination of what life may have been like for five men whom we know next to nothing about. She has obviously done a lot of research into life in ancient Israel; almost everything rang true to what I have read from other sources. Human nature being as it is, I can sure see those prophets acting the way she portrays them—I especially saw myself in Jonah and his struggle to obey God! I think that one and the one about Habakkuk were my favorites. The story about Obadiah struck me as rather melodramatic (my mom called it anachronistic), and the way the major conflict was resolved in the story of Malachi felt too perfect. Otherwise, though, I loved his story and how he tried to maintain pure worship of God in an apostate culture.
I will have to mention, though, that some of the word choices in Winds of Ruach jarred me a bit. Several times, guards would “parole” an area, and there were a few other words here and there, sometimes repeatedly, that sounded wrong.
There were, however, so many gems in the story that I loved it despite its need for more proofreading. In the section about Jonah, an Assyrian soldier is quoted as saying, “Yours is a God who extends an invitation to life while our gods only threaten and taunt with death.” Wow! What a contrast. Or a couple of chapters on, Jonah is admonished, “Jonah, do not love God for what He gives you. Love Him for who He is.” Then there is the passage in Nahum’s story: “Yahweh didn’t understand His people’s pressing concern. If Yahweh knew the details, then His Word would be adjusted. If Yahweh knew what was happening now, He would see the foolishness of council given in the past.” Ouch! I know I tend to think that way at times. Wrong! How about this sentence, from the part about Habakkuk? “The Lord owed them nothing. They owed Him everything.” Good reminder!
In almost every chapter, throughout the book, are quotes from various parts of the Bible. Most of them, of course, are from the Old Testament, but some are from the New. All are footnoted. At the end of the book are group discussion questions for all the stories. I found these helpful for thinking more deeply about each story and how it relates to my life. Winds of Ruach would be a good book for a group to read and discuss together. There is so much in each chapter about God and how He wants a relationship with us!
I recently read all eight of Lynn Austin’s books about Hezekiah and his son Manasseh, and the return to Jerusalem after the captivity and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and Winds of Ruach felt like a great companion to those books. I would say that both men and women would enjoy this book; I’ll recommend that my sons listen to it if there is an audiobook of it.
WARNING: Jonah—Prologue: Woman brutally killed by Assyrians. Chapter 1: Woman dismembered, baby killed, man’s leg cut off. Chapter 3: Man going after women, caught with a married woman. Nahum—Chapter 1: Prostitute tries to get a man to be with her. Chapter 3: Man beaten up. Chapter 5: Attempted rape, man knocked out, kiss. Chapter 6: Man knocked out, beaten up. Chapter 8: Man knocked out. Obadiah—Chapter 4: Woman bitten by snake. Chapter 9: People shot with arrows. Malachi—Chapter 5: Man beaten up.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults
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