HOW GOD LOOKS AFTER HIS PEOPLE.
"How God Looks After His People" is based on the
book of Esther written about 460 B.C. Verse
references and our comments are in brackets.
Quotes are from the N.I.V. Bible.
(You become one of God's people by believing
that He, as Jesus Christ, had to die on a cross
so you could find total wholeness and wanting
Him to run your life instead of yourself. If you
genuinely want to do that just tell Him in a
prayer. For more details see our book - "How to
Meet With God at Home.").
King Xerxes of Susa gave a banquet for all his
nobles and officials. On the 7th day of
banqueting, the king "in high spirits from wine"
(as full as a boot), commanded his wife Vashti
to parade her beauty. She refused, and the
furious king kicked her out.
(Chapter 1)
So the king looked for a replacement. There was
a Jew named Mordecai in Susa. (He had been
exiled from Jerusalem when it was destroyed
because the Jews persistently refused to live
God's way). His cousin Esther's parents had
died, so he brought her up. Being beautiful, the
king chose her as his next queen. But she didn't
tell him she was a Jew (Mordecai had forbidden
it and he kept a close eye on how she was
faring).
Mordecai uncovered a plot to kill the king. He
told Esther who tipped the king off giving the
credit to Mordecai.
(Chapter 2)
King Xerxes had a high official called Haman.
Everyone, except Mordecai, knelt in honour as he
passed by. Knowing he was a Jew, Haman persuaded
the king to kill all the Jews in his kingdom and
plunder their goods on one particular day.
(Chapter 3)
Mordecai urged Esther to speak to the king. But
she replied that she risked death by approaching
him without being summoned. Mordecai said "If
you remain silent --- deliverance for the Jews
will arise from another place but you and your
father's family will perish. And who knows but
that you have come to the royal position for
such a time as this."
Esther asked Mordecai to get all the Jews in
Susa to fast for three days while she did the
same. Then she said "I will go to the king, even
though it's against the law. And if I perish, I
perish."
(Chapter 4)
The king welcomed Esther and asked what she
wanted. She replied that the king and Haman were
invited to a banquet she'd prepared that day. At
the banquet the king asked again what she
wanted. She replied that they come to another
banquet the next day.
Haman was elated, but when Mordecai wouldn't bow
to him he was enraged. At home he boasted of his
wealth, influence and banquet invitation. But,
he said "All this gives me no satisfaction as
long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the
king's gate." His wife and friends advised a 75'
high gallows be built and the king's permission
to hang Mordecai be asked next day. "Then go
with the king to the dinner and be happy."
Delighted, Haman did this.
(Chapter 5)
The king could not sleep that night. He had the
record of his reign read to him.He was reminded
how Mordecai had saved his life. He found that
no reward had been given him. Just then Haman
arrived to get the king's okay to hang Mordecai.
But before he could ask, the king asked him what
should be done for the man the king delights to
honour. Haman thought the king meant him, so he
said "Have them bring a royal robe the king has
worn and a horse the king has ridden" clothe the
man, put him on the horse and have a noble
prince lead them through the city proclaiming
"this is done for the man the king delights to
honour."
Right, said the king, you do this for Mordecai
immediately. He did, then rushed home with his
head covered in grief. While telling his wife
and friends, the king's eunuchs arrived and
hurried him away to the banquet with the king
and Esther.
(Chapter 6)
There the king again asked Esther what she
wanted. She replied my life and the lives of my
people who have been sold for destruction and
slaughter and annihilation. The king asked
"Who dared to do such a thing?" Esther said
"This vile Haman." In a rage, the king went out
to the palace garden. Terrified, Haman fell on
the couch where Esther was reclining to beg for
mercy. The king walked in and thought Haman was
molesting the queen. An attendant told the king
of the gallows Haman had ready for Mordecai. So
the king said "Hang him on it." And they did.
So that was the end of Haman.
(Chapter 7)
The king gave Haman's estate to Esther and
Esther appointed Mordecai as overseer. Esther
asked the king to revoke Haman's death warrant
against the Jews. The king asked Mordecai to
organise this. He did and left the king's
presence wearing royal garments and a large gold
crown. It was a time of happiness and joy for
the Jews. "And many people of other
nationalities became Jews because fear of the
Jews had seized them."
(Chapter 8)
On the day Haman's edict against the Jews was to
be carried out "the tables were turned and they
got the upper hand over those who hated them."
They killed them but "did not lay hands on their
plunder." Mordecai organised that the days of
deliverance should "never cease to be celebrated
by the Jews."
(Chapter 9)
Mordecai was second in rank only to King Xerxes
and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews,
because he worked for the good of his people and
spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
(Chapter 10)
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM ESTHER:
1. Perfect justice will be done.
Undeserved favour (grace) love and justice
are three of God's key attributes. Perfect
justice will be done, either in this life
(as in Haman's case) or at God's judgement
of everyone after they die. And the only way
to avoid an unfavourable verdict on that
day is through turning from your sin
(running life your way instead of God's
way) and trusting in God's Son, Jesus
Christ, who has already taken your
unfavourable verdict - (death) by standing
in for you (on a Roman execution stake in
that empire).
2. There's no such thing (for God's people) as
an impossible situation.
God's (and your) implacable enemy in the
world is Satan. All evil is instigated by
him. He may "land a few punches" and up
close, even con you into thinking he is
winning but always remember that God HAS
WON the main event. On a Roman cross, only
26 lifetimes ago. So be encouraged, an
"impossible" situation can be COMPLETELY
REVERSED by God in an instant. Remember
Haman.
3. Exercise 100% trust in God.
Against "impossible" odds Mordecai KNEW his
people would be saved. So to solve any
problem, focus on God who has the solution.
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