Esther 1-2
Lesson 1
"The Power of One Encounter!"
Oh, what a story! A simple peasant Jewish girl, taken from her home, put within a palace, groomed for her one encounter before the king. We tend to look at this almost from a fairytale perspective, but if we are not careful, we will miss God within the pages of the story. I have often wished I could travel back in time and observe history as it unfolds. We need to put ourselves in Esther "high heels" and really think about what she might tell us about her "bath and body works" experience. Would she tell us how she felt God's favor in all of this? I can only speak from my viewpoint, but I do not believe we would find her jumping for joy in this circumstance. We need to remember, they were still captives in a foreign land; the Persians were still ruling a vast empire. Esther was taken from the only family she had; there was no carriage with horsemen nor any glass slippers to try on! Yet, as we step back and view this vignette as it fits into God's huge story, we can see God's favor, favor, favor! God's hesed - His lovingkindness, mercy, benefit, favor - just because He chooses to, not because He is obligated to!
This lesson so impacted me that I could not go to sleep Wednesday night, and then God awakened me at 4:30am. I know what you are thinking, that's not God, that's hormones! Oh no, dear one, I know the difference. I could not get this Hebrew word, hesed, off my mine. Remember, as we studied Nehemiah, how we saw God stir hearts and minds to do His will? I told you about Old man Hankins, and how I saw God's stirring of his heart, and how it impacted my life, receiving a full paid scholarship to attend Louisiana College. As God spoke to me in the early morning hours, I sensed His revealing more to my encounter with Mr Hankins. Years ago, as I sat in Mr. Hankins living room, God not only stirred Mr. Hankins heart to give, but I received God's hesed - His favor, His mercy, His grace, His lovingkindness. I asked Him, 'Lord, why would you do such a thing for a little girl from nowhere - without even a zipcode? He spoke and still speaks as I write this, "Because I can, because I choose to!" I can't even type this without tears of joy running down my face, as I reflect back at the power of one encounter.
Oh, dear one, don't you see it? Even in exile, even in captivity, even in a pit, even in a trial, even in "Podunkville," even in our utmost horrid circumstances, WE CAN RECEIVE HIS FAVOR! When you think about it, are we not all exiles? We were brought out of captivity when Jesus saved us, but we are still aliens on this earth? It says in Heb. 11:13, "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth" If this is true, and were are simply sojourners in this world, what are we to be doing? It tells us in Jeremiah 29:1-11:
A Letter to the Exiles
1 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 3 He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:
4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD.
10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
In a nutshell - Pray for your country and government, submit to the authority that God has placed you under, get married, have children, LIVE LIFE! And as you do that, never underestimate the power of one encounter. Be prepared and know that favor happens when preparation meets opportunity. God is large and in charge, but you have to do your part. He has plans for you, plans for your future. He stirs the heart and He gives the favor, but you have to go to the interview to receive the scholarship!
All powerful, all knowing Elohim, thank you for Your favor, Your hesed on my life! Just because You can - just because You love me! Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Ps. 139:6
Laboring with you and through Him,
Phil 1:6
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
Day 42: Step back and take a look at your life; what would you say was your greatest accomplishment? Did it come easy or was it through some difficulty? I would dare to guess it had some type of conflict surrounding it. Nehemiah's wall was built in 52 days, but there was conflict from the time he returned home until the day it was finished. Yet, many of us have the mind set that conflict means we are not in the will of God. I am starting to realize that conflict should absolutely be expected if I am involved in a great work for the Lord. Hence, the people pleaser side of me must change her thought processes and accept the fact that everyone will not be in agreement with what you are doing. Remember, if a mountain was smooth, you could not climb it!
ReplyDeleteDay 43: After the dedication of the wall, men were appointed over the chambers for storage of the contributions, tithes, and first fruits. These men were the priests and the Levites and is says, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites that served. (12:44b) Do you rejoice over those that serve your church, or do you grumble and complain about them? The role of the pastor and elders/deacon is a calling from God, and they serve us and the house of God as shepherds. When was the last time you sent your Pastor or church staffer an encouraging card of thankfulness? Stop today, thanking God for the leaders that serve in your local church.
ReplyDeleteDay 45: When Nehemaih heard the distressing news, he prayed, mourned, and fasted. Fasting was a common practice in the Old Testament for many reasons, such as: sin, war, sickness, death, confession, or introspection. The Hebrew word is tsuwm, and it means to abstain from food, but the primary idea is to keep the mouth shut. Isaiah 58:1-12 gives great insight into this practice noting what God would want from a true fast: to humble oneself before God, to break the yoke of wickedness, feed the poor, practice justice, and care for the widow and the orphan. In other words, be obedient and DO righteousness, NOT just FAST! What good is to fast and yet treat others unfairly? Fasting should lead us to righteousness, not keep us from it. We could certainly benefit from the above definition if we would "keep our mouths shut," and then go extend mercy and kindness to others, as we bow our heads like a reed before our God.
ReplyDeleteDay 46: After the wall was finished, in the 7th month, Nehemiah had Ezra read from the Book of the Law , before the square in front of the Water Gate from early morning to midday,... and all the people were attentive to the book of the Law." Does God's Word get your attention? This world yearns for truth, and it needs willing Levites to read and explain it to them. Can you do that? In 2 Tim 2:15 it says, Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. May we all give attention to His Word and handle it well, as we carry it to a world that desperately needs a light shining in a dark place.
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