The Ark and the Dove (The Story of Noah's Wife) by Jill Eileen Smith Reviewed

 

About the book:

Title: The Ark and the Dove (The Story of Noah's Wife)

Author: Jill Eileen Smith

Genre: Historical Biblical Christian Fiction

Zara and Noah have walked together with the Creator for their entire lives, and they have done their best in an increasingly wicked and defiant world to raise their three sons to follow in their footsteps. It has been a challenge--and it's about to get much, much harder.

When the Creator tells her husband to build an ark to escape the coming wrath against the sins of humankind, Zara steps out with him in faith. But the derision and sabotage directed their way from both friends and extended family are difficult to bear, as is knowing that everyone she interacts with beyond her husband, her sons, and their wives is doomed to destruction. And when the ark is finally finished and the animals have been shut up inside, Zara and her family embark on an adventure that will test their patience and their faith as they await deliverance and dry ground.

Experience the story of Noah and the flood like you never have before. With bestselling and award-winning author Jill Eileen Smith as your guide, you'll never look at a rainbow the same way again.

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My Thoughts:

Close your eyes and imagine watching animals walking up a ramp two by two into an ark that can not only hold elephants, giraffes, hippos, and lions; but also your family. 

We've heard and read the story of Noah and the ark, there was even a toy ark with animals when my girls were kids, but we've never heard the story of Noah's wife; now we have one.

With her amazing research and imaginative skill for the first time, we have a story about the woman who stood by Noah during the heckling he received while building the ark and endured the time spent on the ark. 

Ms. Smith takes us both inside the ark and the family dynamics of Noah's family. And boy were there a lot of family dynamics; mainly between the wives of Shem, Japheth, and Ham.

Reading about the ark's interior with not only sleeping and eating quarters but pens for the animals, feeding, and waste management systems was absolutely fascinating.

I felt Zara's frustration with her three daughters-in-law and her sons. Being a Mama is hard at times and we see her struggle.

I love biblical fiction for a lot of reasons, the main reason is I am always pulled back to the Bible story. Last night as I was finishing I re-read the passage in Genesis 6:20-29 where Ham humiliates his father. I never really understood that, but Ms. Smith wrote it beautifully. It was sad as well.

Bottom Line:

This is a beautiful story about Zara, Noah's wife, and her children. The struggle is everyone's struggle. Learning to walk by faith is not new and we see that in this beautiful story.

A couple of my favorite quotes:

"I should not doubt. The Creator may not speak to us in an audible voice or fill our dreams with visions, but He speaks in His creation. He speaks to our conscience what is true and good and what is a lie and evil. If we seek Him, we will not be easily deceived."

"To think that the Creator is not able to do something different than what has always been done is arrogant because it puts us above Him." 

About Jill Eileen Smith

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King and Star of Persia: Esther's Story. She is also the author of the nonfiction books When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreamsand She Walked Before Us. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

You can learn more about Jill at her website and follow her on the following social media platforms. Facebook || Instagram || Twitter