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New in the Lions of
Judah
series, THE GATE OF HEAVEN brings to life the drama of Jacob’s
transformation from Deceiver to Prince of God.
When Jacob and his
twin brother, Esau, are born, everyone knows there is something
different about the twins. Never before has the second child come out
with his hand on his brother’s heel. Jacob’s mother, Rebecca, knows
Jacob is special. God spoke to her and said that the older son will
serve the younger. That was uncommon in that day.
As Jacob and Esau
grow, the fighting continues. Esau has a terrible temper and he doesn’t
miss any opportunity to pick a fight with his more intellectual and
quiet twin. The fighting comes to a head when Jacob tricks Esau into
trading his birthright for a bowl of soup. Esau knows he has been
tricked, but he figures he doesn’t have to worry about it unless their
parents heard. When Jacob is determined to get the blessings due the
firstborn, he and his mother trick their almost blind father into
believing he’s Esau. But now, Esau is furious and threatening to kill
Jacob. Forced to leave home, he goes to the homeland of his mother’s
people. Will Jacob ever be able to return home again?
In THE GATE OF
HEAVEN, Gilbert Morris takes an old Bible story, familiar to most of us
from Sunday School days, and retells it in a dramatic and compelling
manner. Even though I knew the story from start to finish, I was unable
to put this book down. Gilbert Morris is a master storyteller, and THE
GATE OF HEAVEN is superbly done. Even though it is third in the Lions
of Judah series, THE GATE OF HEAVEN easily stands alone, but serious
fans will want to pick up HEART OF A LION and NO WOMAN SO FAIR and read
them first. THE GATE OF HEAVEN, and this exciting series, are books for
the keeper shelf. You’ll want to collect them all. 320 pages, $12.99.
Reviewed by Laura V.
Hilton for The Road to Romance
January 8, 2004 |
