Joseph, a Story

By Terri L. Fivash

This is the first in what will be a regular glimpse into the treasure house of books in our church library. Hopefully, these brief book reviews will whet your appetite and urge you to check out—literally!—our library.

For a bookworm, choosing the first book to feature is kind of like asking a mom which of her kids is her favorite. But I had to start somewhere, so I chose Joseph by Terri L. Fivash. It’s the story of Jacob’s son, Joseph, told biblically accurately but fleshed out. I felt as I was reading this fascinating look into Joseph’s life that I could see, smell, and taste Egypt.

“Sometimes the ways of God seem like hieroglyphics. Sold by his brothers into slavery in a strange land, the pain in Joseph’s ankles matched the pain in his heart. Where now was El Shaddai? But Mishma, the Ishmaelite merchant, saw something special in him. By prayerful diligence Joseph worked his way into the confidence of his new owner, Potiphar. ‘At this rate you’ll be running the entire country before you are done,’ teased a scribe. Soon slaves were scrambling to meet his needs as he had for others.

“Based upon meticulous research, Fivash paints a compelling panorama of Egyptian society, with authentic Egyptian names, clothing, and customs, and draws us deeply into Joseph’s world.” (from the back cover copy of the book)