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4.5
This riveting Biblical historical novel (see “From the Author”) is a fascinating account of what the wise men could have been like and how they may have studied to find Jesus when the glorious star announcing His birth rose. Scripture doesn’t confirm how many wise men there were, or even if they were kings or men who worked for kings. We do learn more about what the wise men, or astrologers, did and what their journey may have been like to see the King of Kings. The author has a keen insight into the minds and hearts of the people of that time, and extensive knowledge of scripture and Middle Eastern history. The characters are well-defined through realistic conversations and actions.Michel has always been a dreamer and adventurer who could trace his Jewish lineage to Daniel. At 35, he is an advisor to the king along with Yasib, Dushatra, and Kumar. He has a lovely wife, Meira, and a father who had been his childhood hero but time and years of feeling abandoned has brought a distance that is much more than physical from him. The dream Michel currently nurtures and believes the Lord put on his heart is to purchase the Garden of Eden. He wants to restore it and draw all men to it, especially those who worship idols. It will be the place where God will walk on the earth again and talk with His children.Michel is desperate to purchase the Garden of Eden from the current owner. Unable to get anyone to invest in it, such as his closest co-workers or his father, Michel sells huge estate, losing his wife in the process. On his return trip from purchasing the land and hiring people to drain the water from it, he sees an explosion of light in the western sky, a new star, larger than he has ever seen. It is a brilliant white, with a tail that points to – something. Centered on his dream and desires, Michel wonders if it is Jehovah nodding his approval of Michel’s purchase.Upon return to the palace, he learns that the king and other wise men have seen the star before it disappeared. The king wants to know what the star indicates. It is generally believed that it announces the birth of a new king, and his king wants to know what happened to the newly-born ruler. Their king banishes them until and unless they find the truth. Kumar suggests they travel the great libraries of the world until they find who this recently-born king is. They search through ancient writings of many religions but ignore Michel’s suggestion to pore over the holy writings of Judaism. Starting out as four magi traveling the world, five more join to their number, other astrologers from the palace. Michel in the meantime is very unhappy with the interruption the star has put in his plans for Eden. Is it so wrong to want a place for the Lord Himself to walk among men?This is an enlightening novel with characters worth cheering for, bringing life to the first century A.D. We find spiritual lessons, concern for others to know the one true God, and learning more about the world our Savior was born into. This isn’t a non-fiction read, nor is it meant to add to or change what is in scripture. Rather, it is a Christian novel that captures the imagination and shows us a bit of how the Lord works in our lives. I highly recommend it.
