“Maybe the idols and spirits weren’t so bad after all.”

Biblical fiction author, Jill Eileen Smith, explores one of the major themes of the bible, challenging God’s sovereignty, and highlights the dangers of putting our hope in anything that we allow to take the place of God.

None of us would admit to idolatry, but Satan has veiled it as attention to self, security, approval, success, relationships, and wealth. When we give these things more attention than they deserve, we are making them idols. The children at the beginning of this book find idols when they are playing at the seaside and although one of them knows that it’s wrong to play with them or bring them home, the other convinces her that it’s ok. What someone discarded carelessly instead of destroying became the downfall of someone else…the ripple effects were astounding. There’s a lesson in that for all of us.

At first, the plan is to seemingly play with these idols as if they were dolls, but the real reason for the attachment is rooted in a feeling of lack of control. One of the characters is driven to have power over her circumstances and it almost leads to her downfall…had she not met Jesus.

There’s so little in the Bible about Mary Magdalene but we do know that Jesus cast out of her seven demons and that she followed him faithfully. Smith has reimagined this biblical story to give us insight into how those demons found a home in Mary and show us the dangers of allowing them access to our hearts.

Smith capably placed me in Mary Magdalene’s shoes and I felt her fear before she met Jesus, her relief as he cleansed her and the joy that arose from fear as he died and was risen again. I had a better understanding of how fear operates and appreciated a little more how the Pharisees' lies originated from fear and from something they couldn’t control.

Smith showed us a radically transformed life; one that was free from what was holding her back. She also showed us a faithful follower who was ready and waiting. But, what spoke to me most was the uncomfortable chapters where the ‘spirits’ were in control. I realized the danger of building walls and of my human desire for control. I don’t think I’ll forget the above quote anytime soon.

This spectacular book isn’t just a Bible story; it’s applicable today and offers a solution to our fears.

I was gifted this copy by Revell and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.