Heidi Reads...: Review & Giveaway: The Moses Chronicles: Exodus by H.B. Moore

Heidi Reads... The Moses Chronicles: Exodus by H.B. Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

https://deseretbook.com/p/moses-chronicles-v2-deliverance?autocomplete=true&variant_id=131887-paperback

Synopsis

Let my people go...

A plea has been made in behalf of the children of Israel. Now comes the epic climax years in the making—the final showdown between two of the most powerful men in history—one fueled by pride, the other guided by the world of God. Moses has received an extraordinary call from the Lord: he is to lead the exodus of the Hebrew people out of Egypt, ending generations of bondage. And he must return to the land of his birth to boldly petition a man he does not want to challenge ... or lose to: Ramses—pharaoh of Egypt. Ramses, harboring years of feeling betrayed by his best friend, is determined to stop Moses no matter the cost. He will not yield, even as a dark veil of plaques and pestilence descends over the land of Egypt.

What follows is a powerful chronicle of the struggles of the children of Israel as they traverse uncharted territory, both physically and spiritually. Amid the horrific catastrophes devastating their land and through the dramatic evens that follow, the Hebrews must face their fears and their faltering faith. For even in the darkest of times, there are manifestations of the Lord's constant care to inspire their hope for a bright future.

My Review

Once again, I was captivated by the way Heather B. Moore entwines the personal emotions of Moses and his family members with the intense, epic nature of the well-known Biblical account. Exodus definitely reads as a sequel to me- the majority of the character development is in the first two books, and this third book is the ultimate climax of all that has been building up. While the author subtly catches us up with where things stand with the main characters, I think the overall reading experience is richer for knowing the details of Moses' relationship with Ramses and his adoptive mother, Miriam and Aaron's struggles as slaves, the exile of Moses, and his romance with Zipporah.

Exodus is a successful example of a story told from multiple perspectives; the author avoided repetition and the various points of view deepened my understanding of how both Egyptians and Hebrews were affected by the politics, plagues, and the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt, the only home they have ever known, into a dangerous wilderness. It was interesting to see Moses portrayed as an outsider and not initially perceived by the people of Israel as their leader, but as time progresses they accept his stewardship over them. Aaron's role as his brother and spokesperson is significant, and I didn't realize the hand he had in executing some of the miracles (time for a visit to my Old Testament...). I appreciated the continuing story of Moses' Egyptian mother Bithiah and Mered, one of the Hebrew scribes in the palace and the one who told her about the Lord, the God of Israel. The action doesn't stop after they leave Egypt, and it was a nice wrap-up to include some of the early experiences in the desert. I HIGHLY recommend this entire series!!! It is definitely one I will be reading again and keeping in my personal library.

(Thank you to Covenant Communications for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

I highly recommend the first two books in The Moses Chronicles, Bondage and Deliverance!