The Bronze Bow

Peter Mills

1/19/2011

In the book, The Bronze Bow, written by Elizabeth Speare, the protagonist is a young man named Daniel. Daniel faced three great challenges. The first was to stop hating the Romans, even though they killed his parents. The second was to overcome his headstrong nature and trust in Jesus. His third challenge was to be patient with his sister who was afraid of everything. How can Daniel overcome the obstacles in his life? Taking place in Galilee during the life of Jesus, the Bronze Bow is a riveting story of a young man making some life-changing decisions.

To stop hating the Romans was Daniel’s first challenge. After the Romans killed his parents, Daniel, slowly, surely, and stealthily, determined to wreak vengeance against them. Patiently, Jesus of Nazareth told him that hating the Romans would do no good; Daniel refused to listen. When his friends tried to help, he rebuked them, and continued fighting. His hatred of the Romans knew limitless bounds.

Daniel’s second challenge was to trust in Jesus. At first Daniel thought that Jesus was a Zealot, and would fight against the Romans, but he was dead wrong. Jesus told him to stop hating the Romans, because the only thing stronger than hate is love. Extremely confused by the turn of events, Daniel stopped trusting everyone, and made himself miserable. Only when he could bring himself to trust Jesus could he find the peace he deeply and desperately desired.

Daniel’s third challenge was to exercise patience with his sister. When her parents died, Leah, Daniel’s sister, lingered at the site where they had been killed. When she returned home, she was partially possessed by demons. She became afraid of everyone, except Daniel and her friend Malthace. Accidentally, Daniel discovered that she had been talking to a Roman, and he lost his temper. Leah became dreadfully afraid of him. Realizing what he had done and that Leah was dying, Daniel became miserable. What could Daniel do to help her? When Jesus came to heal her, Daniel knew that if he wanted Leah to live, he would have to stop hating the Romans and be more patient with his sister.

Eventually these challenges led Daniel to encounter Christ. Once Daniel stopped hating the Romans, Jesus healed Leah, and Daniel invited Leah’s Roman friend to stay with them. Daniel’s first challenge to stop hating the Romans would have been impossible if Jesus had not helped him. His second and most important challenge, to trust in Jesus, was accomplished as he let go of his hatred for the Romans. Trusting Christ allowed him to replace hatred with love and gave him greater compassion. Daniel was able to accomplish his third challenge, to be more patient with his sister, once he had the love of Christ in his heart. Compared to Daniel’s challenges, mine are insignificant, and I should practice more patience and love toward the people that I deal with daily. Love one another. Trust Christ. Show compassion. In The Bronze Bow, Elizabeth Speare paints a realistic portrait of a young man who faced great challenges and overcame them by a genuine encounter with Christ.