Israel's Hope and Expectation

by Rudolf van Reest

Genres: Fiction

331 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Adriana]

I learned a lot of history about the time surrounding Christs birth from this story. Some parts of the story seemed quite stilted as though the author wanted to insert extra quotes directly from scripture. Many of them seemed forced and I still can’t decide if I agree that many laymen of the time would’ve had such a profound grasp of who the Messiah would be. Some of these issues might just be due to translation.

[Leslie Johnson]

The story of people around the time of Christ's birth. Fiction but interesting.

[Rebecca]

With a name like Israel's Hope and Expectation I was thinking this book would have to do with Christ, and His people. Instead, it's more of a picture of the times and people in the years before and shortly after His birth. There is fiction, but only as much as needed to illustrate the people, the way they thought, they way they believed (or not) about God, the way they lived, the way the viewed their world. The narrative skips around between groups of people to show current events and what their hope and expectation of the Messiah was. We see Herod and the deadly political intrigue in the palaces; Herod is interested in Messiah only to make sure whoever He is, is not a threat to Herod's kingship. Herod must be the only king of the Jews. There are the Hellenized Jewish people who see the promise of Messiah as an old fable, a part of the outdated Hebrew beliefs. The religious leaders of the day are sure that if the Messiah comes, He will arise from their midst and throw off the hated yoke of Rome. Then there are the few, Anna, Zachariah and Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary, the common people, the shepherds, the wise men of the East, the outcast crippled beggars. They watch and wait and hope for a Messiah from the Lord, Who will be a sacrifice for sins, and end the stream of blood from the Temple. I enjoyed the insight into the times, the human heart, and the ways of God.

[Shannon]

As fiction set within the Bible narrative goes, I appreciate this author's knowledge and restraint. Knowledge of theology and events and people of history, restraint in his making them come alive without ridiculous embellishment. Hope and expectation, the reason for celebrating advent, are clearly brought out. The horror of the time, hypocrisy of many of "God's" people,and the irony of events surrounding Jesus' birth are vividly painted. At times, though, the story suffers from too much commentary, too many familiar phrases of the church, and too much passive voice. I still enjoyed the story, but wonder if the original language avoided these flaws. Worth bringing alive the meaning of advent and Christmas.