By the Waters of Kadesh by Carole Towriss
Book Description:
A displaced soldier anticipates only empty tomorrows. A young widow knows nothing but yesterdays filled with abuse and neglect. A spy sees only a today he can manipulate to gain the power he craves. Will they allow Yahweh to give them what they need? Kamose, once Egypt’s most trusted soldier, no longer has a country to serve or king to protect. Moses insists God has a plan for him, but Kamose is not so sure. Tirzah’s cruel husband died shortly after they left Egypt. She escaped his brutality, but now she’s alone, and once they reach their new land, how will she survive? Gaddiel, Tirzah’s brother-in-law, is chosen as one of the twelve spies sent to scout out Canaan. He’s supposed to go in, get information and come back, but all he really wants is to bring down Joshua.
My Review:
🙂🙂🙂🙂☺ – 4 ½ Smiles!
This will be the last time we’ll talk about Moses for a while because for the next few months, we’ll live in Jezebel’s world. But believe me—you’ll be glad we lingered By the Waters of Kadesh before leaving Moses behind.
When I find a biblical novelist who is both a stickler for good research AND tells a great story, I choose her/his book over a warm bath or chocolate cake. Carole is one of those authors. As I mentioned in my blog post last Friday, she creates an accurate and compelling “atmosphere” for familiar biblical events but doesn’t tell me an exact story already described in Scripture. Instead, she weaves biblical facts, characters, places, and events into a beautifully-phrased spiritual journey.
Carole masterfully describes how the Israelites gained access to thousands of tents and military supplies—while breaking my heart for a widowed mother of twin little girls, who must raise and lower her own tent each time Yahweh’s cloud moves.
And who were the elders of Israel, called to the Tabernacle by Moses and Aaron when Yahweh spoke? You probably don’t care, right? Well, you’ll care a little more when you realize each one had a story, and you’ll care deeply about one of the twelve spies whose decisions affect our harried widow and her precious girls.
If you read Carole’s first novel, In the Shadow of Sinai, you’ll absolutely LOVE the continuation of those characters’ stories, watching them live the lives Yahweh has blessed. If you didn’t read the first book in this series—of course, it’s always better to read the books in order, but—you won’t be lost without it. By the Waters of Kadesh stands on its own, with a cast of characters and a storyline that will capture your heart, stir your imagination, and send you back to God’s Word with a hunger to hear His whisper.
If you feel displaced or uncertain about your future—let the Lord minister to your insecurity. If you feel like an outcast or alone in a crowded life—let the Lord minister to your isolation. And if you feel God doesn’t know your name or feel bent beneath His discipline—let the Lord minister to you personally through the story of By the Waters of Kadesh.
I hope you had time to read the Author Interview with Carole Towriss on my blog last Friday. In it, she gave us insights into her personal journey that enabled her to write this poignant story. (If you missed the interview, CLICK HERE to read it now.)
