Free. They were free! Jarah could hardly believe it! Here she was traveling, with friends and family around her, toward the Promised Land. Yahweh was with them, guiding them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

But Jarah soon discovers that freedom from the Egyptians is not freedom from danger, pain, or sorrow.

The Egyptians pursue them with chariots. The humid trek leaves them without food and water. Surprise attacks from another nation devastate the Israelites and send their men to war. And a strong tension between their parents leaves Jarah and all her siblings on edge.

Where is Yahweh now? Where is He leading them? Jarah struggles to keep trusting Him. She barely knows Him and now she needs to trust Him with all the people she loves most and in the most difficult circumstances.

Then, they arrive at the mountain of God. Jarah realizes that soon, very soon, she is going to have to stand up for her faith in Yahweh. Not only for her, but for her family, as well.

But, after all they have been through, who shall be willing to take A Stand at Sinai?

This is A Stand at Sinai (book two of the Promised Land series) by Hope Auer. With the same attention to Biblical and historical accuracy, Hope weaves the next part of Exodus as seen through the eyes of Jarah, Eitan, Ezra, and others.

I found this one very detail-oriented – she packed a chunk of history into this volume! There are several harrowing moments – near death experiences, Israelites shot with arrows, characters severely wounded. It also tactfully brings the animal sacrifices into light.

I enjoyed the traditional twists, such as the Israelite wedding and Jarah’s birthday gift.

The dynamics between the characters shift bit by bit through the story, some for the worse and others for the better. Jarah’s blooming friendship with her cousin and growing dependence on Eitan are among my favorite developments! I also love the new strength her older sister discovers!

The telling invites us to experience the magnitude of the Israelite camp as it operates like a moving village and the people form new identities.

We face the same questions Jarah has. How can Yahweh be the great God who dwells in clouds and thick darkness, fire and smoke, and terrifies all in His presence? Yet, be the great God who gives mercy, cleansing and forgiving their sin by the blood of innocent animals, so they can live before Him? How can we wrap our minds around the righteous, holy, and just God, who is also the loving, merciful, and good Father?

If we cannot reconcile the attributes of this great God we serve, how can we trust Him? After all, sometimes God does things we see as loving – like bringing water from a rock – and sometimes God does things we see as unloving –like a plague to destroy the unrepentant. Ultimately, it comes to this: will we allow doubt or God’s grace to overcome us?

I’m raising a Hallelu Yah! “For we have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that nor further word be spoken to them…But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speak a better word than the blood of Abel… Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” (Hebrews 12:18-20a, 22-24, 28-29.) Hallelu Yah!

Hope’s previous book ended on a joyful note as the Israelites are freed from slavery and leaving for the glorious Promised Land with Yahweh to guide them. This one, however, ends with a lilt of hope in the midst of deep sorrow and turmoil.

What will follow A Stand at Sinai?