There are numerous puzzles of Esther. It is a very secular book, as the name of God is never used or referred to. And there is no mention of prayer or worship. It does explain the source of the Jewish celebration of Purim, but that is not a God-ordained feast from Leviticus 23. Mordecai and …
How will you use your authority? This decision can have lasting effects. In different stages of our lives, all of us can have authority over someone else. A young person could be a babysitter for a sibling or a child in the neighborhood. A parent has authority in a family where decisions are instrumental in …
Remembering God’s deliverance is something the Lord wants for all of us. Because, in doing so, we grow in thankfulness and praise for what He has done. There are several times in the Bible when God called people to remember. God delivered the Israelites from slavery from the Egyptians, and they were always to remember. …
Should I forgive or take vengeance? What are the results of each? Due to our sinful nature, we want to bring payback to people who have hurt us. But what would the Lord desire for us? One of the greatest stories in the Bible that explores this question is when Joseph was sold into slavery …
In an answer to a question from King Xerxes, Esther requested a second day for the Jews to defend themselves. Esther 9: 12 he (King Xerxes) called for Queen Esther. He said, “The Jews have killed 500 men in the fortress of Susa alone, as well as Haman’s ten sons. If they have done that here, …
Why are people wicked? I’ve asked this repeatedly. Every person is born sinful. Yet some choose to come to faith and serve God, and others pursue a path away from God. Unfortunately, the farther you run from God, the more likely you are to self-destruct. Jesus gives insight into the human heart. Mark 7:21 For from …
What does fear of the Jews mean in the story of Esther? The king had authorized a second decree which allowed the Jews to defend themselves against the destruction ordered by the first decree. This fear begins as the populace hears the terms of the second decree. Esther 8:17bAnd many of the people of the …
Praise God for what He has done. This is a repeated theme in the Bible. There is something about praising God that is uplifting. Psalm 9:1. 1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.[1] When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the shepherds returned …
A new edict and a new covenant have similarities. In Persia, an evil government official had deceived King Xerxes into signing a decree that would kill the Jews in the Persian empire. The Jewish people fasted and sought the Lord after learning of the edict because this decree brought death. Answering the people’s cries, the …
A message of life and death sounds extreme, yet we all must ponder this. Isn’t this the core of evangelism? We go from life to death as we place our faith in the good news of Jesus. John 5:I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent …