KIRKUS REVIEW
In his debut, Jacob takes readers on a journey through six Old Testament books—and nearly 80 pages of questions—to find the answer to the question of whether they follow the ways of God or the ways of men.
Jacob bases this work on the teachings found in the biblical books 1 and 2 Chronicles, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings. Over the course of 45 “lessons,” his topics range from questions about families to life lessons to setting new goals, among others. (He also includes a warning chapter entitled, “Learn and Turn or Fail to Learn and Burn.”) All along the way he demonstrates how he believes God sets up learning opportunities for every person. Each chapter provides highly focused lesson plans that begin with a short introduction, followed by up to 20 questions and numerous biblical references under the headings of “Consider It,” “Comprehend It,” and, finally, “Connect It.” The author also includes plenty of space for readers to write their own answers in an easy-to-follow format. Although each question is very specific, there’s no grading scale or answer sheet; readers are largely left to their own interpretations. Of particular note is Lesson 29, A Tale of Two Nation[s], featuring an exercise in which the reader examines the kings of Israel and Judah; the intense lesson addresses the kings’ relationships with God. One overarching motif of the book is its examination of various Bible characters and the specific characteristics of each; readers can ponder the highlighted characteristics and compare them to those in their own lives.
A wonderful tool for spiritual self-examination.
