Book Review... No Graven Image: A Novel by Elisabeth Elliot

Earlier this week Elizabeth Elliot passed away. Though I never met this hero of the faith, my heart twinged with sadness. Only if something or someone was truly cherished in life are we capable of experiencing grief in its loss. And I cherished this woman's words, her stories, her wisdom, her ability to fill my heart with a longing for more of Christ. I rejoice as well that she has now heard the words "well done, thy good and faithful servant" and is face to face with her Savior in glory. Even in her death, she draws my heart to long for the day I too am with our King.

In her memory numerous articles have been posted this week about her and written by her. Only a month ago I finished Elliot's novel, No Graven Image, so I was most intrigued by the Christianity Today repost of an article she first published in that magazine in 1970 in which Elliot wrestles with disappointment in Jesus. In the article she writes

"A woman who had come to my house for lunch one summer day went away with the determination to read some of my books. She started, unfortunately, with a novel (the only novel I’ve written), and later wrote me a very nice note thanking me for the lunch and saying she had read the book but would like to have more “added on” to it. She thought it should end, she said, with a “deeper understanding, and no disappointment in Jesus.” 

I felt exactly as this woman did. I was so disappointed with the ending; really I was disappointed with Elliot. Because of JI Packer's foreword, I knew there was going to be a surprise where "the end will blow your mind" and that she was going to "say some hard things," but I still preceded with high hopes because come on it was Elisabeth Elliot after all! After finishing, I literally thought in my head I'm glad I got this one from the library because I probably won't read it again. 

Then I began journaling my concluding thoughts on this read. As I wrote and attempted to quickly pin down the climax, what Elliot was wanting me to feel in the story, and what she was saying about life; I began to wonder if I had missed something. Maybe it was the Holy Spirit whispering in my heart because I still can't believe it...I read the whole book again! This time I couldn't put it down, and I filled up over a dozen pages of questions, character sketches, thoughts and quotes. I didn't read it; I lived in it. And to be honest, I can't remember the last time a book moved me to experience it at such depths. 

Without giving too much away, one major theme touched at the heart of the way people view ministry and the way we define or even narrow what we believe are our God given tasks so that we can measure results or fruit. Yet the author's climatic conclusion seems to be that Jesus told us to do what is true regardless of results. If you read the book, watch for that phrase! Toward the end of the novel the main character, Margaret Sparhawk, says, 

"I can no longer arrange my life in an orderly succession of projects with realizable goals and demonstrable effects. I cannot designate this activity as 'useful' and that one as 'useless' for often the categories are reversed and more often I am at a loss to apply either label, for the work, in the end, as well as the labeling, is God's.

I also caught her theme verse the second go round. It appears over and over in different circumstances and even different seasons of her life as she reflects back.

"Fear not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God." Isaiah 41:10

And I get it now. I get why she chose that verse for the theme of the book. At the conclusion, I felt not just disappointment but if I really examine my heart some anger and fear too. In real life disappointments can lend to anger and fear. That verse promises me not a life of no disappointment but a life where God is God and He is with me. And amen, as I believe Sparhawk realizes, indeed that is enough.

Do I recommend this book? Only if you're ready to wrestle and experience with the main character the growth of your soul and what it means to rest in the sovereignty of God. Oh and if you proceed, Packer is right. Be ready for the ending to blow your mind!