Esther 10-11.15.22

SCRIPTURE:

Esther 10:3

"Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, famous among the Jews, and highly popular with many of his relatives. He continued to seek good for his people and to speak for the welfare of all his descendants."

OBSERVATION:

In the book of Esther, we see how God intervened when Haman, a Persian high official began to hate Esther's legal guardian Mordecai, and arranged to have him and all the Jews exterminated. When Mordecai was targeted by the second most powerful person in the kingdom, the situation looked very bleak, but... Mordecai trusted God.

When Esther seemed to be the only hope for the survival of herself and her whole nation, she risked her life for the sake of God's people. God honored both their faith and their human efforts. Esther modeled living as a godly woman in a pagan culture, complying with local cultural practices where they didn't conflict with godly morals and ethics. Mordecai refused to give a man the kind of worship that only God deserves. Persecution was the inevitable result of living in a pagan environment, but Esther and Mordecai trusted that God would bring justice in the end!" (Life Essentials Study Bible by Gene Getz).

UNDERSTANDING:

No matter how evil the world becomes, we are to put our faith in God's sovereign promise that someday Jesus will deliver all true believers from this evil world.

LIFE APPLICATION:

It takes a great amount of wisdom to live in a non-believing world. In a setting which is for the most part hostile to Christianity, I pray we will rely on the Lord's wisdom and depend on His guidance and strength. I pray we will give respect to what is true and good as we humbly stand against what is wrong.

I thank God that He has promised to guide and defend the ones who have put their trust in Him.

Thank You Lord that You are able to save us from the evil of this world and deliver us from sin and death. I pray we will keep our hope and trust in You, and not fear what people may say or do to us, instead, I pray we will be confident in knowing that You are the sovereign, powerful God, Who is in control of history.

-Robin Orefice