The Self Sacrificing Woman - Esther 4-7 Insight Into Scripture
Good Morning! This is a neat story, is it not? OK, to bring everyone up to speed, Mordecai (Esther's adoptive father) finds out the evil plans of Haman. If you remember, Haman paid to have ALL the Jews murdered, including Mordecai. Haman has a special hatred towards Mordecai.
Mordecai tells Esther of Haman's plan and asks for her help as Queen. In verse 4:15-17 we witness Queen Esther's quick thinking and the willingness to risk her own life. GOD worked with Queen Esther's bravery and tactfulness to save Mordecai, and terminate Haman. There is more to the story, but, I do not want to spoil the entire story for you!
Bringing the Bible Alive
This is a drawing of Queen Esther when she risked her life. No one was allowed to approach the king. If they approached the king without being invited, he had the right to have them killed. The king could over-rule this death sentence by extending his scepter, which he did for Queen Esther. The person would then reach out and touch the scepter. (4:11)
As we have learned before, placing ashes and dust was the sign of mourning (4:1). The custom of ashes and dust came from remembrance of the deceased person, hence the dust and ashes.
Scripture
5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, "Moreover, the gallows[a] that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits[b] high." 10 And the king said, "Hang him on that." So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.
1 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. - Esther 3:5-6, 7:9-10, 6:1-2
Thought For the Day
There are two thoughts today, that I thought worth noting. The first has to do with racism. Racism will destroy you. Hating a person, religion, race, culture, goes against all of Jesus' teaching and mission. Left unchecked it will eat you up and destroy you.
Haman's sin and hatred started with the sin of pride. He was angry that Mordecai did not bow down to him, so, instead of letting that anger go, it ate him up to the point of wanting to destroy not only Mordecai, but his heritage (3:6). Haman's hatred/racism was out of control to the point of destroying innocent women, children, young and old (3:13-14).
If you are harboring any feelings of racism or hate, it has to go. There is NO ROOM in your life for these feelings. They will grow into something very ugly. This is a wall that will effect your relationship with Christ. Racism stands for everything Christ is against. Christ is LOVE. If you have these feelings you need to ask Christ to take them from you, then give them to Him.
One point before we move on, there is only one way to GOD/Heaven. Instead of hating other religions, or people that are stuck in sin, an example of a person that is stuck in Homosexual activity, we must LOVE them and lead them to Christ. Hate will get us NOWHERE!
The second thought that I wanted to point out to you is GOD working behind the scenes. Whatever task GOD has put in your heart, HE will not leave you, NEVER!
Let us take a look at verses 6:1-4, the king, on that night just happened not to be able to sleep. Then, he just happened to read the book of chronicles, then, he just happened to read about Mordecai? Right. That event has GOD written all over it. This is a great example of GOD's involvement in human life and changing history.
Because of this event the destruction of Haman was set in motion. Please know GOD is always with you, fighting your battles and you may never know it. Just as Esther may have never known that the king read the book of chronicles, which played a large part in her success.
Wednesday we finish looking at this amazing woman, I hope that you will join me. May GOD Bless your day! - Jim
Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus
Father of so much grace and mercy, thank You for the people You place in my life everyday. I truly need You there by my side at all times to say and do the right things through my daily routine. I know that I can only show love with You deep inside my heart, thanl You for that. Father I pray for those overseas and here fighting this war for us, and I pray with a heavy heart for our president that has such a burden on his shoulders, I pray that he is able to stay focused on You and Your will.
I love You Father and I pray,
Amen.
9 comments:
Bible Trivia
Hagar was:
a) A Handmaid
b) An Egyptian
c) The Mother of Ishmael as a Result of Sarah's Decision
d) All of the Above
ANSWER: D) all of the above
Genesis 16:1-11
Hagar: is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "forsaken". Biblical: Hagar is the handmaid of Abraham's wife Sarah. A similar Muslim name is Hajar, and the same Hagar is considered the mother of the Arabic race.
Sarah: while most name books list the meaning of Sarah as "princess", sometimes translated as Goddess; the literal translation of the name is "princess of all". Sarah's previous name of Sarai means simply "princess".
Biblical: originally called Sarai.
IN CHRIST
Ecc.3
Donna
Awww..... I thought that might stump you. :)
Just More
Hagar, according to Paul, may symbolize the synagogue, which produces only slaves (Law), Sarah that of a (free) - the offspring following the condition of the mother according to (Galatians 4:24)
Galatians 4:24:
24. Which things are an allegory.
Though literally true, the facts had an allegorical interpretation. The two women and their children were types showing the two covenants.
One, the bondwoman, represents the covenant given at Sinai, the covenant of bondage.
The other, the freewoman, represents the covenant of Christ, the gospel
Are you trying to be tricky and it did not work. I so sorry buddy....
Ok you come back and tell me something simple
Who is Hagar related to and How? and
How many times was she forsaken?
and
By Whom?
I was just fixing to do some posting on these but How bout you doing it....
Oh No..... a challenge.... let me get working on it :)
Jim, I feel I need to say that you are not going to find the answer
Who is Hagar related to and How? In the Bible. I am being to Tricky to you but it was an honesst trick....I knew it from just studies and forgot that it was not substantuated in Bible. It comes from Genesis 16:1 and commentaries on it also from Rashi, a leading Jewish Commentator on the Torah and from the Jewish Sages.....Sorry But if want to find what I was going to post look in the above...
Heh Heh Heh.... Thanks!
To continue what I started here.
There is teaching found in reputable commentaries,ex. Gill, that states that Hagar could have been actually a daughter to the Pharoah.
As I said I had forgot that this was not substantuated in the Bible.
This came from my studies of Jewish teachings. I am going to follow this by posting a communication that I had with a Rabbi yesterday after I started this with You Jim, so that it can be read what an actual Orthodox Rabbi states:
Rabbi Levin: Hello
2b4god: Hello, I know that there is reference to the fact that Hagar Sarah_s handmaiden could have been the daughter to the Pharoah. I wonder could you give me a reference and a thought on this...?
Rabbi Levin: Sure, just a moment please
2b4god: no problem
Rabbi Levin: It is mentioned by Rashi, the foremost commentator on the Torah
2b4god: Ok so your thought would be that it is very possible.....
Rabbi Levin: Yes, it was said by the sages that she was, indded the daughter of Pharoah
Rabbi Levin: It is said that she preferred to be the handmaid of Sarah -- than to live in the palace!
2b4god: Ok cause I am about to state this. You remember I am a Christian, right?
Rabbi Levin: Sure. the source is Rashi on Genesis 16:1
2b4god: Also I had read in some lesson that her father the Pharoah thought it better cause he came to respect Abrams/Abrahams family
2b4god: Yes that is where I came off from
Rabbi Levin: I'm sorry, I don't understand.
2b4god: Oh sorry
2b4god: In trying to substantuate this today I found this teaching in a Christian Commentary but it came back to say that it was doubtful that she was Pharoahs daughter. This is what led me to come to you for the Jewish side
Rabbi Levin: I understand. The Jewish Sages do, in fact, mention this.
2b4god: Thanks I will go and explain this to another Christian.... that is going to be lost cause I sent them on a chase. They will be looking for this in the Bible and I forgot I knew this just from reading Jewish teachings... Thanks again
2b4god: Be Blessed and Good bye
Rabbi Levin: take care
Remember the meaning of Hagars name means FORSAKEN
If you include the teaching of the Sages and Rashi commentary we could consider Hagar forsaken 3 times.... By her own Father, Then By Sarah, and then by Abraham.
BY SARAH and ABRAHAM
Genesis 16:5 -
And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
GENESIS 16:6 -
But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
In the passage above we see Sarah turning against Hagar and by the mere fact that Abraham turned Hagar to the anger of Sarah he to Forsook Hagar. The next passage below are interesting:
Genesis 17:5 -
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Genesis 16:10
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
God has spoken to Abraham that he would be Father of many nations and to Hagar was spoken that her SEED would be exceedingly numbered.
FOR WHAT THE ANGEL SPOKE TO HAGAR TO COME TO PASS LOOK AT WHAT WAS REQUIRED OF HER:
Genesis 16:9 -
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
CLOSE WITH THIS:
For the teaching of Pharoahs daughter. Besides by IM with Rabbi Levin will attempt to get and post from Rashi and the Sages later.
COPIED FROM:
The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible
...and she (Sarah) had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name [was] Hagar; no doubt she had many, but this was a principal one, that might be over others, and was chiefly entrusted with the care and management of family affairs under her mistress; she might be the daughter of an Egyptian, born in Abram's house, as Eliezer was the son of a Syrian of Damascus, born there also; or she might be one of the maidservants Pharaoh, king of Egypt, gave to Abram, (Genesis 12:16) the Jews have a tradition, that she was a daughter of Pharaoh, who, when he saw the wonders done for Sarai, said, it is better that my daughter should be a handmaid in this house, than a mistress in another, and therefore gave her to Sarai; others say she was a daughter of his by a concubine,
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