About Esther
God is right where He has always been. No matter what, God is still on His throne. God knows best
God is NO WHERE or NOW HERE. A difference in one letter shift
The complete absence of God from the text is the genius of the book
- Karen Jobes -
The first 2 chapters main casts are :
King Xerxes & Queen Vashti
# much focus on superficial values and outward beauty
# possessions and power do not bring real fulfillment
# great display of prestige and pride, but disharmony at home
Esther & Mordecai
# Esther's selection as queen was not just based on her beauty
- In the plan of God, God look beyond her beauty and preparing Esther for a specific task ahead.
# the replacement seems ordinary but it is more than ordinary
- it is not by chance but God divine providence that Esther has been chosen.
# Mordecai's discovery of the plot to assassinate the king was not a coincidence
- seems to be an ordinary event happened by chance but it is not by chance. God placed Mordecai there.
The book of Esther helps us to see events through the lenses of God eyes
Few things we can learned from this story :
# God is ever present though He seems to be silent or absent
# God is working behind the scenes long before His purpose is fulfilled
# God often works out His purposes, not through miraculous intervention, but through completely ordinary events.
Perspective view of life :
1. Chaotic view of life
2. Fatalistic view of life
3. Tstick view of life (God's view)
If I cannot trace his hand, I can always trust his heart
- Charles Spurgeon -
1. Turn to God and not away from God when life doesn't make sense.
- from time to time, we will wonder and question why. When we are not careful we will allow these events to cause us to lose heart. We need to learn to clung on, hold on to God. The truth is that God still with us. He is always the God who goes ahead of us. No matter how we feel, always believe that God will deliver us in His time
2. Learn to put on our spiritual antenna as we see different events unfolding our lives
- we need to see things from God's perspective. Pray to God to open our spiritual eyes, to see things from heavenly perspective. God is weaving His divine purposes in our lives. What we are focusing is important. We always see the messy and rough side of our lives. But often times we don't see that God is carefully designing our lives.
3. Always affirm the faithfulness of God and that all things work together for good
Romans 8:28
4. Adopt a posture to trust in His sovereign wisdom.
- when times are good or bad, God is sovereign.He is good and He is working His divine purposes in us.
The replacement of queen Vashti did not happened by chance because ultimately the replacement became a redemption in God plan for His people.
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