Johanna van Wijk-Bos: Making Wise the Simple
In summary, Van Wijk-Bos’ emphasis upon the motif of the stranger acts as the cement to her book. Israel was a foreigner in both its Egyptian and later Babylonian periods of servitude. She links this concept to how the apostle Paul argues that Gentiles, who were once strangers and foreigners to the things of God, have now become part of the covenantal family of God. Readers will welcome this emphasis, though many will question her application of the “stranger” motif to the status of homosexuals in traditional Western societies (p. 227). In regards to the impact of contemporary feminist readings of Scripture, this reader finds Van Wijk-Bos’ feminist orientation to be balanced and not excessive. Her discussion of female aspects of torah is both sensitive and insightful (see pp. 219-223 for a woman’s view of laws dealing with purity and menstruation).
As a Pentecostal, this reviewer would have liked a discussion on the relationship of the Holy Spirit and torah. Moses’ cry, “Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets [and] that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them,” in Numbers 11:29 would be a starting point for this discussion. But a writer’s purpose should always be the measure of their success. In light of her aim I would judge this book to be a helpful contribution to understanding how torah relates to believers today.
Reviewed by Malcolm R. Brubaker
Publisher’s page: http://www.eerdmans.com/Products/0990/making-wise-the-simple.aspx
Preview Making Wise the Simple: http://books.google.com/books?id=aHBG2W_whKMC
Category: Living the Faith, Spring 2007
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