Title: God Meets the World
Author: Batya Shemesh
Publisher: Toplink Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 1949169316
Pages: 376
Genre: Religion
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel
Pacific Book Review
God Meets the World uses Bible verses and clairvoyance for an in depth look at how the Ten Commandments and how they factor into today’s world, exploring questions about God’s rules for justice and what God really thinks about our world. Author Batya Shemesh delves into the importance of the commandments while taking a look at God’s ideas of right and wrong through the lens of the commandments and their place in today’s society. The goal is to better understand the Bible and use this understanding towards real life situations.
Shemesh has a well-organized style that breaks down the Ten Commandments into chapters, with each chapter diving further into each commandment. The information is incredibly thorough, and the passion for the topic is clear by the sheer amount of detail in each chapter. Shemesh makes it easy to understand the evolution of each commandment so each chapter feels as if it is a new lesson. The tone remains explanatory and thoughtful throughout, posing questions and answers; successfully getting you to open up to a new perspective on the commandments. A few personal examples from Shemesh’s own experiences are used in support which show the place of commandments in a present day real-life situation and how to use these lessons to work through negativity.
As God Meets the World delves further down into each commandment, Shemesh shows how they’ve changed throughout history due to situations becoming more gray over time. Various serious topics are covered which include suicide, pregnancy, and adultery which are broken down under the commandments. Shemesh addresses various standout moments throughout that showcase the lessons and history, gaining an understanding at the Bible and religion, and opening up meanings behind wellknown aspects of religion such as the meaning of Friday and Sunday. Shemesh drills into the daily situations we face in life and in religion on a deeper level and offers a wellsupported meaning. God Meets the World reads as a Bible study with several lessons throughout drawn from various biblical stories as examples, including Joseph, Moses, Noah, and Abraham.
Inclusions of songs and poems add a personal touch and showcase ways to remember biblical lessons such as being brave, personal feelings for Shabbat, and help from Hashem through verse. These help maintain a thoughtful tone and to achieve the goal to explore how God views our world by opening up the flaws in our world and how these commandments operate under these flaws. A majority of the focus is on how the commandments play into relationships and help ease one out of the negativity that can cause damage to one’s health and life. Shemesh opens up the perspective on how positive attitudes and peace can help maintain good health and how one’s life can change by following these principles to have an uplifting life and seek out the good.
God Meets the World is the perfect biblical study guide for someone looking to find a new perspective to gain a deeper understanding, and to get a chance to study the commandments more in-depth.
