“The Reluctant General: A Novel About Ancient Israel” by Herb Sennett

The Right Place at the Right Time?

This is an expanded story of Barak along with prophetess and judge Deborah, who both appear in the Old Testament. Using the Biblical facts, the author, Dr. Herb Sennett, has filled in the story with fictionalized accounts of what might have been. While doing that, Dr. Sennett has stayed true to the account given in the book of Judges.

This story focuses on the attacks the people of Israel were suffering from the Canaanites, who at that time, had the largest army in the known world. One Israeli village after another was leveled to the ground. Everyone was killed in these attacks except the children. They were kept alive to be brought back as living sacrifices to be burnt to the idol worshipped by the Canaanites.

The Israelites were very outnumbered, and their defenders were not professional soldiers, but untrained farmers and herdsmen. One man, Barak, is chosen by God to lead this mismatched group against the entire Canaanite army. Barak does not do this willingly. Deborah, a Judge in Israel at that time, has to convince Barak that doing this is God’s will.

Before kings ruled the land, judges were selected by God to manage the people. They were spiritual leaders who handled disputes, problems and in this case, led the people in battle. During this time, Deborah had become a Judge in Israel, a title that was only held by seven people throughout history. The fact that a woman became a leader at a time when men were in charge of everything, makes Deborah a very interesting character in her own right–even more so because of the events of war she was a part of.

Ultimately it seems impossible that a ragtag group of quickly trained men will make a difference against an army that is a highly trained war machine. The situation comes down to whether or not the people will trust God to lead them to victory, despite the odds that are stacked against them. Will the men march into war and suffer overwhelming defeat, or will God perform a miracle that will allow them to win? Will the men of Israel be willing to let a woman lead them during a time of war?

Dr. Sennet really brings the story alive, and makes reading the facts in the Biblical account so much richer. This account reminded me of the great epic quests of good versus evil found in The Lord of the Rings books by Tolkien. I highly recommend this 5-star book to anyone who enjoys adventure tales, Biblical accounts or great stories.

I’d like to thank the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.

The Author’s Website:  http://www.herbsennett.com/

The Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/hsennett

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Reluctant-General/350828238266073