Esther's 7 Powerful Truths (and Useful Wisdom for Today) (2023)

König Xerxeshe reigned in power in his palace at Susa in Persia. He had banished Queen Vashti from her presence when she refused to obey his orders. Thus, the search for another queen swept the region.

Estershe was taken from her home and lived in the palace along with many other harem girls. She was Jewish, but she never revealed her nationality or her family background, as Mordecai had advised. God granted her great favor among everyone there and she soon became queen.

Mordecaihe was Jewish and Esther's older cousin. He adopted her and raised her after she lost her parents. He continued to advise Esther and check on her safety even after she was taken to the king's palace. As a government official, he reported an assassination attempt on the king and saved his life, which later drew the king's attention to his loyalty and devotion.

ammanHe was a descendant of King Agag, an enemy of the Jews. She received a place of honor from the king, butStolzand the lust for power led him to hate anyone who did not bow down to him. When Mordecai refused, he plotted revenge against all of God's people by plotting to kill the Jews.

7 Powerful Truths from the Story of Esther:

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Never doubt that he is capable of this. Nothing is impossible with him. This story has his wonderful handiwork and power everywhere, in every chapter, in every word. There is a constant thread of redemption in the story of Esther that speaks to our lives even today.

Things in life didn't turn out like Esther did. We often read this story thinking that Esther is beautiful and has the royal position of queen. But we forget where she came from. She was orphaned. She suffered great losses from a very young age. Then they took her out of her house, her family, her people and everything she knew; and she was taken to the king's palace in the great expectation of success. However, even endowed with such a royal position, there were still incredible difficulties. Her people faced great tragedy and destruction. She must have felt very lonely. She endured trial after trial throughout her life, but we see hope woven into every part of the story. And she really is the most powerful piece in the whole book.

God is always at work, even when we can't see the whole story. Although it seems uncertain. And he sets the stage for great things."...And who knows at a time like this you've achieved a royal position?"Ester 4:14.

God's blessings are greater than our worries. Ever. Your goodness will shine. It just works like that.

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We can choose to live with grace and kindness. We can choose to stay engaged, have a voice, get involved, and make a difference in our nation and the world.

Mordecai knew that his voice was important. Esther knew that her actions mattered. And by the wisdom and obedience of these two, God saved the people from him. Mordecai believed that even if Esther did not help them, God would send help in another way, so much did he trust in the Lord's power. He understood that our positions in life were not about us, but about what God could do through these powerful places.

"Because if you remain silent during this time, help and salvation will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's family will die..."Ester 4:14.

May God help us to be willing to pray, fast, wait for his direction, and then act on the wisdom he gives us. Let us always be faithful in praying for all the authorities, for those who need someone to defend them, for those who are being oppressed or persecuted. May we have the courage to speak with wisdom and discernment and live these days with hearts full of compassion and love. May we be strong in following God's voice, even if it is not the most popular option in our culture. Because sometimes He works with it and surprises everyone.

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Obedience to his call is vital. It may even have the power to affect an entire generation of people. We may never fully realize how powerful our actions and faithfulness to His voice are for those around us. We don't need to stay in fear. We don't need to shy away from His leadership even when we feel incredibly unprepared or inadequate for the job. He will equip us for every task and prepare the way for us to walk in his power, giving us grace at every step and covering us from behind.

Queen Esther had a choice. When Mordecai told her about the great danger facing her people, she could have simply tried to save herself from it. She could have stayed calm, simply hoping for the best, or turned around. But she and Mordecai knew that God had given him a great destiny in her position. She was wise; She made a plan and didn't get caught up in fear or worry. She prayed and fasted and asked her people to do the same. She was willing to act, follow God's leading, and save the lives of her people, even if it meant losing her life.

“Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘Go, gather all the Jews who are in Shushan and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my servants will fast like you. When this is over, I will go to the king, even if it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish'"Ester 4:15-16.

While our current situation may seem different than the one Esther faced, we may still be dealing with a lot of fear or uncertainty. The future may look bleak. A difficult diagnosis or a recent loss may have sent us into a tailspin. But often with great intentions, God places us in positions of influence or strategic locations. The places we find ourselves in are often not just about us. It's about him. This is the great plan of his.

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And many times, when it does, we will undoubtedly feel hostility from others. If we live as salt and light in a dark world, we can be sure that there will be attacks against us. We will face fights and fights that sometimes we did not expect. But in all of that there is this incredible protection and covering of God's favor and blessings upon our lives. So strong that the darkness cannot penetrate.

From the moment Esther was in the king's palace, she received protection and favor. The Bible even says that she won the favor of everyone around her and God greatly blessed her and allowed her to become queen. This is important because, without much favor from the king, Esther could have been executed simply for asking to be in her presence without her asking.

“On the third day, Esther dressed in her royal garments and stood in the palace courtyard in front of the king's hall... Seeing Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, he was glad for her and held out the scepter to her. of gold that was in his hand Then Esther came near and touched the tip of the scepter. Then the king asked: "What is Queen Esther? What is your request? She will be given to you up to half the kingdom."Ester 5:1-3.

Due to a great favor, Esther was allowed to carry out the plan that would save her people. The king was ready to come not once but twice to the banquet prepared for Haman and himself. God's purposes were established; Haman would soon meet his death and the Jews would be saved. When we belong to God through Christ, we have a protection that the world around us may never understand. This does not mean that we will not face trials. We certainly will, but as we do so, the power and blessings of it will become even more apparent.

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He is faithful forever and this story is a great proof of that. He sometimes tells us to wait. Other times He will tell you to move quickly. We need to be sufficiently in tune with his leadership and Spirit within us so that we can discern what He is saying. Your timing is always perfect. Even if it's not our time. Even when things seem "off" or we feel forgotten. God is at work, often in ways we cannot fully see. His timing pinpoints every crucial plan at just the right time. It is never random or combined. It is intimately intertwined with the stories and purposes of all of our lives.

As Queen Esther and Mordecai spent these critical days working for their people, every plan was carefully planned and every purpose carried out to the glory of the Lord. In the end, the tables were turned. Those who conspired against the Jews were destroyed.

"No one could oppose them because people of all other nationalities were afraid of them."Ester 9:2.

The plan to kill the Jews had been stopped. There was great fear of God everywhere, his reputation became known throughout the land, to the point of“Many people of other nationalities even became Jews because they were overcome by fear of Jews”Ester 8:17.With God even our enemies will flee. His power can never be thwarted or destroyed. He is with us, guiding us, carrying us, and covering us from behind at all times.

May God help us to follow his example, believe that his timing is perfect, and remind us that he is always faithful to fight for us, even today. May he help us know when to shut up and wait and when to speak up for others and share your truth. He does not leave us alone in difficult places. The power of him cannot but come to our rescue. His faithfulness and mercy are new every morning.

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This is a great lesson in the story of Esther:Stolzit is a trap and it will lead to our downfall. Every character in this book had to choose between living proudly and living humbly. Those who chose pride faced ultimate defeat. Those who walked before God with humility and integrity overcame every difficult circumstance with his grace and power.

When Mordecai told Esther about the evil conspiracy against the Jews, Esther was in high places. She could have turned her back on her people, proud of where she was in her life and happy with her own success and power. But she did the opposite. This is true humility. Being willing to put the needs of others before your own, not thinking too much of yourself, even if the world says you have a lot to be proud of.

Haman chose the exact opposite. He devised a plan to finally improve his appearance and destroy a people who would not kneel before him. He was proud and full of selfishness and hatred. In the end, he destroyed it. The whole story unfolds like the plot of a great movie. It is amazing how God used every part of Haman's evil plan to reverse it in his own life. The Jews were saved and Mordecai was honored.

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The last verse of the book says:"The Jew Mordecai was second only to King Xerxes, the pre-eminent among the Jews, and he was highly respected by his many fellow Jews because he worked for the welfare of his people and the welfare of all Jews."Ester 10:3.

Whatever positions of leadership or positions of authority God has given us in life, one thing is for sure: it should never be just about us. Every part of our lives must point to God and the truth of him. We have to make a choice for life:I'll takeStolzin my life, my achievements and what God has blessed me with; Or will I walk in humility and let Him shine through it all?Both Mordecai and Esther knew the key: "Less of me, more of him.” His willingness to live humbly before God enabled him to work mightily to save his people from destruction.

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If you are facing difficulties or trials, you can be sure that God is working in your situation. He works in you and for you in all the events that surround you, however difficult they may be. No matter what, God is still on the throne. He is powerful and nothing is too hard for him. He cares about you. He loves you. He knows everything you are facing, even now, even if you think no one could understand your situation or your pain, He knows.

This life-changing truth is a major theme of the Book of Esther: God is sovereign. He dominates everything and nothing surprises him. We never read that God does not know what to do. He's not in heaven wringing his hands trying to come up with a plan. Evil has come against your people. And he raised those who were faithful to action. Spiritual darkness will seek to erase the existence of truth and the power of the believer's life through Christ. But in the end you won't win. God has the final victory.

Light is greater than darkness. every time It's the only way to cross any deep and difficult river. Walk in the power of His Sovereignty and His Light.

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Keep your eyes on the Lord. He won't let you down or leave you struggling alone. Never. and he he he is faithfulTurn our pain into a greater purpose, for us in our own lives and for the people around us. Know that he is for you. He will never fail. Believe that He is at work creating the conditions for great things to happen.

God reigns and is with us today and always.

Debbie McDanielshe is a writer, pastor's wife, mother of three wonderful children (and many pets). Join them every morning at Fresh Day AheadFacebook site,for the daily encouragement to live a strong, free and hopeful life.find them tooGoreand on his blogwww.debbiemcdaniel.com.

To learn more about the Book of Esther, check out this free downloadable resource on iBeleive:Find Your Destiny: A 10-Day Bible Study on the Book of Esther. Here's a bite-sized sample:

The Book of Esther is unique. It reads like a novel, and its story is as gripping as any novel you'd read today. Sadly, some have wrongly concluded that Esther was just a piece of historical fiction. Archaeological and historical evidence, however, shows that this book is historical, accurate, and despite its literary form, follows the same pattern as other Old Testament books.

Day one: a divorce from providence

Our story begins in Shushan or Susa, one of the four capitals of the Medino-Persian Empire (the others are Babylon, Ecbatana, and Persepolis), where Ahasuerus (Xerxes) came to spend the winter months. Susa is unbearably hot in summer, but it was comfortable at this time of year. The event calendar was also strategically planned by Ahasuerus...