A book by By Cynthia Koelker
A heart healing experience.
I myself have often wondered about the grief and pain Job’s wife must have also suffered through during Job’s days surviving the Accuser. Job was not the only one who lost that day the 4 messengers came running. And Job’s wife also had to watch helplessly as her husband suffered. She had good reason to fear her future with no family, and no finances or status. She herself could have stood up and cried out to God with the same anguish as Job did when he was ready to die.
The Legacy of Job’s Wife, by author Cynthia Koelker, is a delicately written and biblically considerate novel that reveals a very plausible heart of Job’s wife amid her tragic loss at the prime of their relationship together.
The melodic poetry and prose is written as one who understands the anguish of loss, while the dialogue within the story asks the questions of God that any human heart, looking for understanding from their Creator, would stand up and ask when we face loss and destruction.
Exploring the possible nature of their relationship from childhood to Job’s elderly death, the author explores the world of, life given and life taken. From pets to still born siblings, the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
This book explores the need for acceptance of those with disabilities, whether born with one, or receiving one through tragic accidents. These life lessons, where Ix’ises and Job receive with love several supporting characters into their lives, allow the same characters to interact with Job and His wife who become their understanding encouragers in the healing journey after their tragic losses.
There are appropriate moments of tenderness and love making between Job and his wife Ix’ises which are written with great respect and beauty. It is written appropriately enough for a mature young adult to manage from a biblical perspective.
It is a book with violence. But it is also written in a biblically respectable manner and necessary to the story.
There are descriptions of the lamb sacrifices made to God for atonement.
Depiction of human birth and a necessary surgery from a farm accident are a part of the storyline.
There are also the messengers to Job, describing the destructive and violent way his servants were killed, his livestock stolen, and his children’s deaths in the crumbled house. The description of Ix’Ises searching for her children in the rubble, being found and buried as they grieve, should grab your heart with fear.
The musician within me couldn’t help but feel emotion for Ix’ises, as she tells her husband “I’m done with singing, Job. My music died with my children.” ( p262).
So carefully written, I myself shed a few tears for the strong covering Ix’ises had placed on her heart to keep her from feeling her loss, grief, and immense pain that no parent could believe they should ever survive.
Comparable imagery and writing style to the book “The Red Tent”, this book did not leave my heart broken for the state of man. As a biblical believer, it was a beautiful read that leaves you wanting to believe in a merciful God who believes in us and our faith, as much as He wants us to believe in Him.