The Self Sacrificing Woman - Esther 1-3
Insight Into Scripture
Good Morning! Today we start a very interesting book; Esther. Interesting in the fact that some say Esther does not belong in our scriptures. Here is why some of the arguments; GOD's name is not once mentioned in this book, there are no references to spiritual service or prayer in the book, except a reference to fasting (4:15). So, one could see the argument....but GOD put the book of Esther in our Bible for a reason, it is our job to find the purpose.
Here are some other facts before we start this book; the author is unknown, some have suggested Esther or a younger contemporary of Mordecai.Esther was probably written in the middle of the fifth century.
King Xerxes reign was 486 - 464 BC, so the event of Esther took place between that time period.
Bringing the Bible Alive
The Bible is full of inspiring characters. Due to the time period that the Bible was written, it seems like there are more male characters than female characters written in it. That is why it is so nice to study a female Biblical character. I thought it would be nice to list a few of Esther's traits before we get started:
Woman of Beauty (2:7)
Self-denial and Heroism (4:16)
Tact (5:8)
Courage (7:8)
Patriotism (8:3-6)
Scripture
15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16 And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal palace in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign - Esther 2:15- 16
Thought For the Day
GOD is such an amazing being. HE is the most powerful being in the universe. When you read the Bible you see displays of this awesome power, the parting of the Red Sea, an angel destroying thousands of people, bringing the dead back to life, destroying cities with fires, holding back the oceans from swallowing up the earth, the list goes on and on.
Now, here is the thing that just makes my head spin, this force, this being, with all this power, could do ANYTHING, ANYTHING..... but, HE chooses to do HIS work in us. I am not talking about the well educated, the powerful, the highly religious, (Even though HE does use those types of people) HE uses ordinary, poor, weak, humble...... you and I.
Esther is a wonderful example of this, again. We just finished reading how he used Nehemiah to do something amazing..... just an ordinary guy. Esther is just an ordinary woman that GOD will use.
If you are following along, Esther in chapter 2 won the favor of the king. GOD was setting her up to do an extraordinary task. In chapter 3 the bad guy makes his plans known, Haman wanted to "Kill and annihilate ALL the Jews - young and old, women and little children (3:13)". Sounds like Hitler, does it not? We end with our readings there, but I am excited to see how the story lays out, and see how GOD uses this amazing woman.
The point of today's thought is...... you guessed it, GOD uses the ordinary. GOD wants to use you, to be honest, we are all pretty ordinary in the sight of GOD's presence. That is great news for all of us, this amazing being WANTS to use you, HE has a task that HE needs you to do. The problem is most of us never grasp this, we are too focused on what we need instead of what GOD needs.
If you want to fulfill your purpose in life, let GOD use you. Let GOD know that you want HIM to use you, tell HIM to lead and direct you, let HIM know that you are HIS servant and you will do whatever HE needs you to do. I will tell you again, to be used by GOD is the most amazing experience you will ever feel. I have seen things in my life..... that just should have not worked out or happened. I am sorry, I get all excited when I start talking about Jesus. :)
Have a very Blessed day, and I hope that you join me to see how the story develops. GOD BLESS!!
Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus
Thank You Father for convictions You place on my heart so that I know when You want me to move. I pray that I continue to seek You and to feel those little nudges You give me so that I can continue to be right by Your side. Father I pray for those that are struggling with the world and knowing how to follow You, I pray that they will have someone in their life come in and help them to see the beauty of You.
I love You and I pray In Jesus Name,
Amen.
4 comments:
Where are you Donna??
Well by now you can tell I am here. I have been working on Trivia off and on all morning.
This was a exceptionally hard week-end, BUT FUN.
With the usual, horse show preparation and building this week of a bagota carried by the pony on his back with our littlest Geisha carried under it and then Sunday a delayed birthday party for Jessie. Consisting of over 30 people, maybe even 40. The setting up of 3 tents and the preparation of entertainment by a Rodeo trick roper, bull whip and clown oh yes his side kick dogs.
Not sure what the weather is like in your part of the world but here is record breaking temps and humidity, humidity, humidity and more humidity. Has made the days harsh and with much of show preparation outside it takes the mornings inside to prepare for the rest of the day.
Oh I do have to share. My daughter who has never ran barrels before in her life got brave and hopped on Jess horse Saturday night and she ran in 18.??? sec. She ran in a ladies event which was 18 yrs and older. She took 4th at our arena, if she had ran the week end before she would have taken 1st with that time. Jess got her time to what WE had set for a goal to be able to ride in State Show, Aug. 31- Sept. 2nd, that time was UNDER 20 sec. So we will be off to State, I will get to spend my b'day there, that will be fun, tiring but fun.
Well, Thanks for asking where I am. I have read each morning but had no energy to post till this mornning.
I send my Love to ya'll and will complete this one sometime today.
IN CHRIST
Ecc.3
Donna
I am glad that you are OK. Sounds like you had a fun weekend. The weather here is rainny.... we are actually ready for some warmer temps.... but they say we have indian summers here.
Bible Trivia:
Genesis 29:13-25
What woman was Jacob tricked into marrying by his devious uncle Laban?
ANSWER: Leah
Leah, Unwanted and Unloved
Laban had two daughters, the older was Leah, the younger was Rachel. The scriptures say that Leah had weak/tender eyes, not factually known what this is but could be what we call lazy eye. Rachel was seen by all lovely in form, and so beautiful.
Facts:
Leah was the daughter of Laban and Rachel's older sister.
She gave birth to six of Jacob's twelve sons; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
Two other sons were conceived from her maidservant: Zilpah and Jacob.
Her last child was a daughter named Dinah.
THOUGHTS:
After stealing his brother's blessing, Jacob escapes his brother's wrath by going to live with his Uncle Laban (Read Genesis 27:1-45).
Jacob made an agreement with Laban to work seven years in return for Rachel. After seven years, Jacob was ready to marry the love of his life. Laban invited people from
and prepared a great wedding feast. Jacob and his new bride went to their tent. In the morning, Jacob's found, his bride was not Rachel, but Leah.
Jacob confronted Laban and was told it was not traditional for the younger daughter to marry before the older daughter. Jacob worked another seven years so he could marry Rachel.
After a second 7yrs, Laban gave Jacob his daughter Rachel to be his wife.
Gen.29:30-31:
"...and he loved Rachel more than Leah...When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
We can sympathize with Leah. It must have been difficult being constantly overlooked and feeling unwanted and unloved. Laban used her to get seven more years of free labor from Jacob possibly to get both daughters married.
To make thing worse for Leah, she was stuck in a marriage where her husband loved her younger, prettier sister. Leah like most women, probably dreamed about marrying the love of her life. Since she was considered her father's property, she was forced to marry who her father chose. Notice after each of her sons were born, Leah hoped this would earn Jacob's love, even her sons' name reflected her desire to be loved:
LEAH'S SONS & SCRIPTURE
Reuben- "Surely my husband will love me now" (Gen. 29:32).
Simeon- "Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too" (Gen. 29:33).
Levi- "Now at last my husband will become attached to me" (Gen. 29:34).
Judah- "This time I will praise the Lord" (Gen. 29:35)
Issachar- "God has rewarded mefor giving my maidservant to my husband" (Gen. 30:18).
Zebulun- "This time my husband will treat me with honor" (Gen. 30:20)"
God had an important purpose for Leah that is sometimes overlooked. She bore half of the twelve tribes of Israel. Even more importantly the "Messiah" would descend from her son Judah. Do not waste time and energy on trying to earn the love of a person or people who do not love you. Instead concentrate your efforts on seeking God's will in your life and fulfilling your purpose.
Closing with some Scriptures:
"The Lord does not look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." -- 1 Samuel 16:7
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. -- Romans 8:28
God demonstrates his own LOVE for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -- Romans 5:8
Greater LOVE has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. -- John 15:13
IN CHRIST
Ecc.3
Donna
Post a Comment