Well, here we are, at the end of our 9-week study of Esther. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. I wanted to give a short summary of Mordecai's and Esther's lives to end our session.
Mordecai
Strengths and accomplishments:
* Exposed an assassination plot against the king
* Cared enough to adopt his cousin
* Refused to bow to anyone except God
* Took Haman's place as second-in-command under Xerxes
Lessons from his life:
* The opportunities we have are more important than the one we wish we had
* We can trust God to weave together the events of life for our best, even though we may not be able to see the overall pattern
* The rewards for doing right are sometimes delayed, but they are guaranteed by God Himself
Esther
Strengths and accomplishments:
* Her beauty and character won the heart of Persia's king
* She combined courage with careful planning
* She was open to advice and willing to act
* She was more concerned for others than for her own security
Lessons from her life:
* Serving God often demands that we risk our own security
* God has a purpose for the situations in which he places us
* Courage, while often vital, does not replace careful planning
Esther's risk confirmed that God was the source of her security. How much of our security lies in our possessions, position or reputation? God has not placed us in our present position for our own benefit. He put us here to serve Him. As in Esther's case, this may involve risking our security. Are we willing to let God be our ultimate security?
In the book of Esther, God blended both character and circumstances to accomplish great things. He has not changed the way He works. God is using the situations we face each day to weave a pattern of godliness into our character. We should pause and ask God to help us respond appropriately to the situation we find ourselves in today.
I look forward to being able to study God's Word with you again in our next study, beginning Monday, February 2nd ~ Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
New Bible Study
Monday, February 2nd, starts our new Bible Study, Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free. As mentioned in the blog last week, this book can be purchased at any Christian Book Store. There is also a companion guide that you can purchase if you like, but it is not necessary.
The companion guide divides the book up into a 10-week study and questions for each day. On Mondays, I will post what sections you should read for each day that week. For example, Monday pgs 15-27, Tuesday pgs 28-35, etc. Then I will post at least one question for each day. You are welcome to comment on any post during the week.
Also, something new I want to start next week is Bible Trivia. One day during the week, probably Wednesdays, I'll post a couple of random Bible trivia questions that may or may not deal with the current study. This will make this blog more interactive. Once you've read the trivia questions, please post your answers, even if someone has already answered it. Then on Fridays I'll post the answers along with the close of the Bible study.
I hope this wasn't too confusing. Don't forget to click on comment at the end of this post and post your name if you are participating in this new study. If you have any questions, please email me at rambusch@charter.net.
The companion guide divides the book up into a 10-week study and questions for each day. On Mondays, I will post what sections you should read for each day that week. For example, Monday pgs 15-27, Tuesday pgs 28-35, etc. Then I will post at least one question for each day. You are welcome to comment on any post during the week.
Also, something new I want to start next week is Bible Trivia. One day during the week, probably Wednesdays, I'll post a couple of random Bible trivia questions that may or may not deal with the current study. This will make this blog more interactive. Once you've read the trivia questions, please post your answers, even if someone has already answered it. Then on Fridays I'll post the answers along with the close of the Bible study.
I hope this wasn't too confusing. Don't forget to click on comment at the end of this post and post your name if you are participating in this new study. If you have any questions, please email me at rambusch@charter.net.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Week Nine - The Tables Turned
Here we are, on the last week of the study of Esther.
In today's lesson, we see the Jews defending themselves and their families. If you remember, the decree stated that the Jews could kill anyone who threatened them and plunder their property. The Jews did protect themselves, but did not take any property. When it was reported to the king that the Jews had killed 500 men, he asked Esther what she would like to have and he would grant it to her. She asked that the Jews be able to defend themselves for one more day. On the second day, they killed another 300 men. Why do you think Esther asked for a second day?
This lesson shows us again that at times when all feels hopeless, God will take care of us if we trust Him. Things may look impossible when we see them through our eyes, but "nothing is impossible when you put your trust in God". The Jews had been given a death sentence, but He used Esther and Mordecai to offer them a way of escape.
In the same way, He offers us a way of escape. He offers us escape from death through salvation, as well as escape from the many sins in our lives (pride, hatred, alcohol, drugs, abuse, selfishness, gossip, etc.). The list could go on forever. It's great to know that there is Someone who can take these things away from us and make us clean.
I will be posting the summary of Mordecai's and Esther's lives this week. As well, I will post information about the next study on Wednesday. Don't forget to be asking your friends to join us.
In today's lesson, we see the Jews defending themselves and their families. If you remember, the decree stated that the Jews could kill anyone who threatened them and plunder their property. The Jews did protect themselves, but did not take any property. When it was reported to the king that the Jews had killed 500 men, he asked Esther what she would like to have and he would grant it to her. She asked that the Jews be able to defend themselves for one more day. On the second day, they killed another 300 men. Why do you think Esther asked for a second day?
This lesson shows us again that at times when all feels hopeless, God will take care of us if we trust Him. Things may look impossible when we see them through our eyes, but "nothing is impossible when you put your trust in God". The Jews had been given a death sentence, but He used Esther and Mordecai to offer them a way of escape.
In the same way, He offers us a way of escape. He offers us escape from death through salvation, as well as escape from the many sins in our lives (pride, hatred, alcohol, drugs, abuse, selfishness, gossip, etc.). The list could go on forever. It's great to know that there is Someone who can take these things away from us and make us clean.
I will be posting the summary of Mordecai's and Esther's lives this week. As well, I will post information about the next study on Wednesday. Don't forget to be asking your friends to join us.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Week 8 - Closing
We're almost at the end of our study on Esther. I pray that God has used this study to touch your life, change you and open your heart to what He has for you.
This week's lesson was all about the Jews and how God changed what seemed hopeless in their lives and turned it into something good. The original decree that Haman had written in the king's name could not be reversed, but God used Esther and Mordecai. They came up with a 2nd decree that would allow the Jews to defend themselves. When someone came to threaten their life and the lives of their family, they were allowed to fight back.
In the same sense, this is our life. Satan is always trying to tempt and threaten us. God has allowed us to fight back and get rid of Satan in our lives. We do that by prayer and Bible study. God allowed the Jews to use weapons if they were threatened. He has given us a weapon, His two edged sword, the Bible, to fight the devil.
When we have our complete faith and trust in God and Satan throws something our way, God allows us to step over that thing and not be threatened by it. I'm not saying God will never let anything happen to us and being a Christian is the "easy life", but He gives us a sense of hope and peace when we are going through trials. He shows us the "light at the end of the tunnel" and it gives us the strength to keep moving. People around us see what we are going through, and hopefully they know we are a Christian. They are going to watch us closely to see how we react to what life throws at us. God will use us as a testimony for Him when we make it through a trial will our head held high, praising God, no matter what the outcome.
Let me encourage you to invite all of the women you know to join in our next Bible study, beginning February 2nd. Read my last post for all of the details.
This week's lesson was all about the Jews and how God changed what seemed hopeless in their lives and turned it into something good. The original decree that Haman had written in the king's name could not be reversed, but God used Esther and Mordecai. They came up with a 2nd decree that would allow the Jews to defend themselves. When someone came to threaten their life and the lives of their family, they were allowed to fight back.
In the same sense, this is our life. Satan is always trying to tempt and threaten us. God has allowed us to fight back and get rid of Satan in our lives. We do that by prayer and Bible study. God allowed the Jews to use weapons if they were threatened. He has given us a weapon, His two edged sword, the Bible, to fight the devil.
When we have our complete faith and trust in God and Satan throws something our way, God allows us to step over that thing and not be threatened by it. I'm not saying God will never let anything happen to us and being a Christian is the "easy life", but He gives us a sense of hope and peace when we are going through trials. He shows us the "light at the end of the tunnel" and it gives us the strength to keep moving. People around us see what we are going through, and hopefully they know we are a Christian. They are going to watch us closely to see how we react to what life throws at us. God will use us as a testimony for Him when we make it through a trial will our head held high, praising God, no matter what the outcome.
Let me encourage you to invite all of the women you know to join in our next Bible study, beginning February 2nd. Read my last post for all of the details.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Information on New Study
I want to challenge everyone who reads this blog to invite someone to join our next lesson. Here is what we are going to do. Today is Wednesday. I’m challenging you to invite everyone you know this next week. Next Wednesday, I’ll post another blog asking you to comment on who will join us. If you are serious about studying God’s Word with us, all I want you to do is log onto the blog, click post a comment and type your name.
If you have invited someone that wants to join us, have them do the same thing. I want to get a head count of who is participating. I’ve really enjoyed this online study, but we didn’t have but 2-3 people comment the entire time. If you are part of this study, I welcome you and thank you for reading this blog, but I encourage you to comment. PLEASE!!! We can all learn from each other.
I know there was some confusion at the beginning of the study of Esther. You DO NOT have to have Facebook to be a part of this study. I only used Facebook as a means of inviting a lot of people at once. All you need is internet access, which you have if you are reading this ;o), and log onto http://www.biblestudy-rambusch.blogspot.com/. It’s very simple, but if you have questions, please email me at rambusch@charter.net and I’ll do my best to answer them.
We will start the new lesson on Monday, February 2nd, Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free. You can purchase this book at any Christian Book Store. There is also a companion guide available, but it is not necessary that you purchase this. Again, if you are interested in this study, please let us know. I look forward to hearing from you.
God Bless!
If you have invited someone that wants to join us, have them do the same thing. I want to get a head count of who is participating. I’ve really enjoyed this online study, but we didn’t have but 2-3 people comment the entire time. If you are part of this study, I welcome you and thank you for reading this blog, but I encourage you to comment. PLEASE!!! We can all learn from each other.
I know there was some confusion at the beginning of the study of Esther. You DO NOT have to have Facebook to be a part of this study. I only used Facebook as a means of inviting a lot of people at once. All you need is internet access, which you have if you are reading this ;o), and log onto http://www.biblestudy-rambusch.blogspot.com/. It’s very simple, but if you have questions, please email me at rambusch@charter.net and I’ll do my best to answer them.
We will start the new lesson on Monday, February 2nd, Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free. You can purchase this book at any Christian Book Store. There is also a companion guide available, but it is not necessary that you purchase this. Again, if you are interested in this study, please let us know. I look forward to hearing from you.
God Bless!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Rick Warren
I received this email yesterday and thought it fitting to post today.
Rick Warren..... (REMEMBER HE WROTE 'PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE') and moderated the "first" McCain and Obama debate?)You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback Church inCalifornia.
In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren , Rick said:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.
I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.
God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.
I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.
Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.
No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.
And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.
If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is 'my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her.
It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.
You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.
Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.
It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.
So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72
First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?
Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, "God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better."
God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
Rick Warren..... (REMEMBER HE WROTE 'PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE') and moderated the "first" McCain and Obama debate?)You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback Church inCalifornia.
In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren , Rick said:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.
I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.
God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.
I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.
Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.
No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.
And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.
If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is 'my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her.
It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.
You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.
Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.
It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.
So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72
First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?
Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, "God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better."
God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
Week Eight - The Right to Be Ready
Here we are at the beginning of week eight. We are now going to see what life is like for the king and queen without Haman around. He's been in the picture since the beginning. Did you notice one of the first things the king does? He gives Esther Haman's estate. Then, Mordecai comes in to meet the king (after Esther finally told the king how they were related) and the king gives Mordecai his signet ring! Of course, we know Mordecai is honorable and is worthy of this responsibility, but the king had just met him. Then Esther passes Haman's estate over to Mordecai. Do you think the king should have given Mordecai the signet ring so soon? What are your thoughts on this?
Esther, though she may have been flattered by the estate and Mordecai getting Haman's job, still hadn't received what she wanted - the Jews saved from destruction. So, she pleads and begs with the king to save her life, her family's life and all of the Jews. The king was posed with a problem. He loved Esther, but couldn't grant her her request. Have you ever been in this situation? You love someone, but you can't agree with their request or what they are doing? It could be because they are obviously doing wrong and you don't approve, or it could just be because you are physically not capable of helping them. In this situation, the problem was that any law signed and stamped with the king's ring could not be reversed.
As we go through this week, we'll see how the king and Esther deal with this situation. In the end, it all happens just like God planned. Which reminds me, even though we may be in a situation where we feel there is no hope, God knows how it will end. He will take us step-by-step to the other side of the situation. After it's all said and done, we will be able to look back and see where God guided us every step of the way.
This week I am going to do two extra posts. I have something I would like to post tomorrow, in light of the inauguration. I'll also post some information about the new study coming up (since we are on week 8 of 9) on Wednesday. Invite your friends to take a look at the blog tomorrow and Wednesday.
Esther, though she may have been flattered by the estate and Mordecai getting Haman's job, still hadn't received what she wanted - the Jews saved from destruction. So, she pleads and begs with the king to save her life, her family's life and all of the Jews. The king was posed with a problem. He loved Esther, but couldn't grant her her request. Have you ever been in this situation? You love someone, but you can't agree with their request or what they are doing? It could be because they are obviously doing wrong and you don't approve, or it could just be because you are physically not capable of helping them. In this situation, the problem was that any law signed and stamped with the king's ring could not be reversed.
As we go through this week, we'll see how the king and Esther deal with this situation. In the end, it all happens just like God planned. Which reminds me, even though we may be in a situation where we feel there is no hope, God knows how it will end. He will take us step-by-step to the other side of the situation. After it's all said and done, we will be able to look back and see where God guided us every step of the way.
This week I am going to do two extra posts. I have something I would like to post tomorrow, in light of the inauguration. I'll also post some information about the new study coming up (since we are on week 8 of 9) on Wednesday. Invite your friends to take a look at the blog tomorrow and Wednesday.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Week 7 - Closing
Last week's lesson was all about exposing Haman's plan to kill Mordecai and the Jews. This week, we learn how that plot was revealed and see Haman die. The Life Application Bible that I use to study this lesson has a summary of Haman's life, his strengths, weaknesses and lessons we can learn from him. I'm going to copy that summary for you to read.
"The most arrogant people are often those who must measure their self-worth by the power or influence they think they have over others. Haman was an extremely arrogant leader. He recognized the king as a superior, but could not accept anyone as an equal. When one man, Mordecai, refused to bow in submission to him, Haman wanted to destroy him. He became consumed with hatred for Mordecai. He was already filled with racial hatred for all the Jewish people because of the long-standing hatred between the Jews and Haman's ancestors, the Amalekites. Mordecai's dedication to God and his refusal to give homage to any human person challenged Haman's self-centered religion. Haman saw the Jews as a threat to his power, and he decided to kill them all.
God was preparing Haman's downfall and the protection of His people long before Haman came to power under Xerxes. Esther, a Jew, became queen, and Mordecai's role in exposing an assassination plot indebted the king to him. Not only was Haman prevented from killing Mordecai, he also had to suffer the humiliation of publicly honoring him. Within hours, Haman died on the gallows he had built to hang Mordecai, and his plan to wipe out the Jews was thwarted. In contrast to Esther, who risked everything for God and won, Haman risked everything for an evil purpose and lost.
Our initial response to the story about Haman is to say that he got was he deserved. But the Bible leads us to ask deeper questions: "How much of Haman is in me?" "Do I desire to control others?" "Am I threatened when others don't appreciate me as I think they should?" "Do I want revenge when my pride is attacked?" Confess these attitudes to God, and ask him to replace them with an attitude of forgiveness. Otherwise, God's justice will settle the matter."
Strength and accomplishment:
* Achieved great power, second in rank to Persia's King Xerxes
Weaknesses and mistakes:
* The desire to control others and receive honor was his highest goal
* Was blinded by arrogance and self-importance
* Planned to murder Mordecai and built a gallows for him
* Orchestrated the plan to slaughter God's people throughout the empire
Lessons from his life:
* Hatred will be punished
* God has an amazing record for making evil plans backfire on the planners
* Pride and self-importance will be punished
* An insatiable thirst for power and prestige is self-destructive
I also have summaries on the lives of Xerxes and Esther, which I will post within the next 2 weeks. The reason I shared this is because I want us to look at our lives and think how our lives would be described in this summary. What are our strengths and accomplishments? What are our weakness and mistakes? What lessons can others learn from our lives?
At the end of our life, will others say we've chosen to follow God and that we were an example of faithfulness, or did we chose to live life for the status and possessions we could gain?
"The most arrogant people are often those who must measure their self-worth by the power or influence they think they have over others. Haman was an extremely arrogant leader. He recognized the king as a superior, but could not accept anyone as an equal. When one man, Mordecai, refused to bow in submission to him, Haman wanted to destroy him. He became consumed with hatred for Mordecai. He was already filled with racial hatred for all the Jewish people because of the long-standing hatred between the Jews and Haman's ancestors, the Amalekites. Mordecai's dedication to God and his refusal to give homage to any human person challenged Haman's self-centered religion. Haman saw the Jews as a threat to his power, and he decided to kill them all.
God was preparing Haman's downfall and the protection of His people long before Haman came to power under Xerxes. Esther, a Jew, became queen, and Mordecai's role in exposing an assassination plot indebted the king to him. Not only was Haman prevented from killing Mordecai, he also had to suffer the humiliation of publicly honoring him. Within hours, Haman died on the gallows he had built to hang Mordecai, and his plan to wipe out the Jews was thwarted. In contrast to Esther, who risked everything for God and won, Haman risked everything for an evil purpose and lost.
Our initial response to the story about Haman is to say that he got was he deserved. But the Bible leads us to ask deeper questions: "How much of Haman is in me?" "Do I desire to control others?" "Am I threatened when others don't appreciate me as I think they should?" "Do I want revenge when my pride is attacked?" Confess these attitudes to God, and ask him to replace them with an attitude of forgiveness. Otherwise, God's justice will settle the matter."
Strength and accomplishment:
* Achieved great power, second in rank to Persia's King Xerxes
Weaknesses and mistakes:
* The desire to control others and receive honor was his highest goal
* Was blinded by arrogance and self-importance
* Planned to murder Mordecai and built a gallows for him
* Orchestrated the plan to slaughter God's people throughout the empire
Lessons from his life:
* Hatred will be punished
* God has an amazing record for making evil plans backfire on the planners
* Pride and self-importance will be punished
* An insatiable thirst for power and prestige is self-destructive
I also have summaries on the lives of Xerxes and Esther, which I will post within the next 2 weeks. The reason I shared this is because I want us to look at our lives and think how our lives would be described in this summary. What are our strengths and accomplishments? What are our weakness and mistakes? What lessons can others learn from our lives?
At the end of our life, will others say we've chosen to follow God and that we were an example of faithfulness, or did we chose to live life for the status and possessions we could gain?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Week Seven - Where Is the Man?
This week starts with a lesson that keeps us on the edge of our seats. Imagine this. Esther, Xerxes and Haman are at the second banquet that Esther has prepared. Finally, at the end of the banquet Xerxes speaks up and asks Esther what it was she wanted to ask him. Let's stop here for a minute. How do you think Esther felt during this banquet? Could she even eat anything because she was so nervous? Then when he finally asked her what she wanted, did she want to crawl under the table and forget the whole thing? I'm just thinking, what if that were me, how would I be feeling.
Back to the banquet. Esther finally tells Xerxes that she and her people have been sold for destruction, slaughter and annihilation; and she wants the king to save them. What a relief! Imagine carrying that load around and what it would feel like to finally get it out in the open. I would imagine it feels the same as when we came to Christ and asked him to save us and take the burden of sin from us. What a relief!
What really surprised me when Esther presented her request, was that the king had no idea what she was talking about. His response was "Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?" We know it was Haman's idea, but the king played a part in it as well. He was a pawn in Haman's game. Do you think she wanted to scream "YOU"? In my flesh, I probably would have wanted to say that, but wouldn't just to save my own life.
What do you think Haman was thinking once Esther made her request? He may have not even known that she was a Jew. Once he hears the request, he knows his name is coming. What is thinking during this moment?
Isn't it funny (not really), how close the comparison is between Haman and Satan? Can you list some comparisons between them? I encourage you to take the time to comment on the blog this week. The questions are just to help you think about the situation in more detail.
Over the next week or two, I will be posting a couple of extra blogs, probably on Wednesdays. We are preparing the next Bible Study and I'll announce that in the coming weeks.
I'm looking forward to reading your comments this week!
Back to the banquet. Esther finally tells Xerxes that she and her people have been sold for destruction, slaughter and annihilation; and she wants the king to save them. What a relief! Imagine carrying that load around and what it would feel like to finally get it out in the open. I would imagine it feels the same as when we came to Christ and asked him to save us and take the burden of sin from us. What a relief!
What really surprised me when Esther presented her request, was that the king had no idea what she was talking about. His response was "Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?" We know it was Haman's idea, but the king played a part in it as well. He was a pawn in Haman's game. Do you think she wanted to scream "YOU"? In my flesh, I probably would have wanted to say that, but wouldn't just to save my own life.
What do you think Haman was thinking once Esther made her request? He may have not even known that she was a Jew. Once he hears the request, he knows his name is coming. What is thinking during this moment?
Isn't it funny (not really), how close the comparison is between Haman and Satan? Can you list some comparisons between them? I encourage you to take the time to comment on the blog this week. The questions are just to help you think about the situation in more detail.
Over the next week or two, I will be posting a couple of extra blogs, probably on Wednesdays. We are preparing the next Bible Study and I'll announce that in the coming weeks.
I'm looking forward to reading your comments this week!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Week 6 - Closing
We're at the end of another week and the title of this week's lesson couldn't be more fitting, "What Goes Around". This week we studied Haman in depth. I would venture to say that most of us saw ourselves in Haman, even if we don't like to admit it.
Reading over the questions at the beginning of the lesson, they are a quick overview of the week. Why, after 5 years, did God remind King Xerxes that he never repaid Mordecai for saving his life? Why had Haman come to the king's court the night Xerxes couldn't sleep? What suggestions did Haman present to King Xerxes (when he thought he was going to be honored)?
These questions remind me that God knows everything we have done in the past, are doing right now and what we will do in the future. He knew that Haman would try to kill Mordecai, so He waited for the right time to remind the king that he should honor Mordecai.
Haman was a self-righteous, self-centered person, selfish, full of pride and thinking he was God's gift to mankind. Do we ever act that way? Unfortunately, most of us will have at least of these characteristics TODAY, even after we've studied this lesson! We need to ask God for help daily in controlling ourselves and these sins in our lives.
Haman gave the king a list of things he should do for the person the king wanted to honor. Of course, Haman thought he would be the one receiving the honor. Isn't it funny how fast Haman came up with this list? He'd been thinking, maybe daydreaming, about this event for a long time. He had been waiting for the time when the king would see what a wonderful person he was and honor him in front of the whole kingdom. We never think like that, do we?
Isn't it enough that God loves us and sent His Son to die for us? Do we really need the applause of men to feel important?
Reading over the questions at the beginning of the lesson, they are a quick overview of the week. Why, after 5 years, did God remind King Xerxes that he never repaid Mordecai for saving his life? Why had Haman come to the king's court the night Xerxes couldn't sleep? What suggestions did Haman present to King Xerxes (when he thought he was going to be honored)?
These questions remind me that God knows everything we have done in the past, are doing right now and what we will do in the future. He knew that Haman would try to kill Mordecai, so He waited for the right time to remind the king that he should honor Mordecai.
Haman was a self-righteous, self-centered person, selfish, full of pride and thinking he was God's gift to mankind. Do we ever act that way? Unfortunately, most of us will have at least of these characteristics TODAY, even after we've studied this lesson! We need to ask God for help daily in controlling ourselves and these sins in our lives.
Haman gave the king a list of things he should do for the person the king wanted to honor. Of course, Haman thought he would be the one receiving the honor. Isn't it funny how fast Haman came up with this list? He'd been thinking, maybe daydreaming, about this event for a long time. He had been waiting for the time when the king would see what a wonderful person he was and honor him in front of the whole kingdom. We never think like that, do we?
Isn't it enough that God loves us and sent His Son to die for us? Do we really need the applause of men to feel important?
Monday, January 5, 2009
Week Six - What Goes Around
Here we are, at the start of another week. I can't believe how fast this study has gone. Only a few more weeks and we will be choosing the next study.
Today's lesson really opened my eyes. Reminding me that God is faithful and He cannot break His promises. Sometimes in the normal routine of life, we forget that God is there with us; but He never forgets us. He can use normal situations, like a sleepless night, to get our attention. Maybe He's orchestrated some events that you cannot ignore and you know without a shadow of a doubt that they were from God, showing you what you need to do.
Just like He caused Xerxes to lose sleep and desire to read over the chronicles of his reign, reminding Xerxes that he never honored Mordecai for saving his life. God didn't forget Mordecai or the Jews. He was getting ready to use Xerxes to save them.
We need to open our eyes to the circumstances around us. As His children, we are important to God. As Beth Moore puts it, "Just to know we are significant to God and He's willing to orchestrate a holy set-up to speak to us is monumental to every woman who ever feared she was invisible or unremarkable."
Today's lesson really opened my eyes. Reminding me that God is faithful and He cannot break His promises. Sometimes in the normal routine of life, we forget that God is there with us; but He never forgets us. He can use normal situations, like a sleepless night, to get our attention. Maybe He's orchestrated some events that you cannot ignore and you know without a shadow of a doubt that they were from God, showing you what you need to do.
Just like He caused Xerxes to lose sleep and desire to read over the chronicles of his reign, reminding Xerxes that he never honored Mordecai for saving his life. God didn't forget Mordecai or the Jews. He was getting ready to use Xerxes to save them.
We need to open our eyes to the circumstances around us. As His children, we are important to God. As Beth Moore puts it, "Just to know we are significant to God and He's willing to orchestrate a holy set-up to speak to us is monumental to every woman who ever feared she was invisible or unremarkable."
Friday, January 2, 2009
Week 5 - Closing
Well, we are over half way through our lesson on Esther. Each week you never know what lesson can be learned. This week's lessons seemed to be the most practical by far (for me), dealing with pride, selfishness, resentment. Things that everyone, no matter who they are, have dealt with at some point in their lives.
What we have to continue to remember every day is that God can take those sins and remove them from us. We just have to be willing to let Him do it. We have to want to be selfless and without pride and resentment.
We read this story and see how evil Haman was. Unfortunately, there is a little of Haman in everyone of us. My prayer is that we allow God to take control of "our Haman" and live a life that is pleasing to God.
Let me encourage you to post your comments. If you are uncertain of what to write, just take a look at past lessons to see what others have posted.
What we have to continue to remember every day is that God can take those sins and remove them from us. We just have to be willing to let Him do it. We have to want to be selfless and without pride and resentment.
We read this story and see how evil Haman was. Unfortunately, there is a little of Haman in everyone of us. My prayer is that we allow God to take control of "our Haman" and live a life that is pleasing to God.
Let me encourage you to post your comments. If you are uncertain of what to write, just take a look at past lessons to see what others have posted.
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