![]() It is a source of great happiness and is read every year at the Feast of Purim. If you are a serious Jew-you know this story. We think of Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego and the furnace. We think of Samson-the list could go on!īut today, I want us to focus on a woman-a woman by the name of Esther. We think of Jonathan and the Philistines. Of course, it is not just the newspapers that are full of these kinds of stories – the Bible is full of them too. We think of David and Goliath. Yes, there are a lot more heroes than you might think! And many of those heroes, until that one moment, were just ordinary people like you and me. Or, 3] you might have heard of Russel Fee who ‘bare handed’ broke up a wolf attack at a neighbouring camp site. Ran to the scene – separated the man from the woman ultimately saving the woman’s life. He lost his SUV but saved many lives. 2] You might have heard of Sara Picard, a 17 year old girl from B.C. Marcioni drove his SUV into the intersection using his SUV as a barrier. ![]() The car was heading for an intersection where numerous pedestrians were in danger. He noticed a speeding car which was being pursued by police. For example: 1] you might remember Eric Marcioni of Montreal. I love stories about people who face what appear to be difficult odds and somehow manage to come out victors! There are more such heroes than you might think. Read If I Perish, I Perish! on Elizabeth & Jim George.I have always been a lover of hero stories. This study is a complete resource, including the text of Esther, discussion points, and questions that are perfect for a women’s group! Question: Can you put your name alongside the remarkable Esther, who brilliantly displayed the beauty of courage? Do you value the things of God more than the things of this world? Do you embrace the stance of faith, that, “for me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21)?įor a complete study of the life and influence of Esther, please see my book, Becoming a Woman of Beauty and Strength. But wherever you are today, whoever fills your life today, and whatever happens to you today, remember that it is God’s plan for you in His larger picture and bigger purposes. Where has God planted you? What might your fresh new day hold? You may not be waking up to ideal circumstances, and you may not be in a place you would have chosen for yourself. Yet her courage, rooted in faith, empowered Esther to boldly say, “If I perish, I perish.” The result? Esther’s life was spared – and so were God’s people! Her plan put her in danger because no one (not even a wife!) went before the king un-summoned without risking death. What courage! What maturity of faith in the Lord! When she learned of the plot to kill all Jews, she knew she must go – uninvited – before her husband and plead for their lives. ![]() Because Esther had never revealed her Jewish heritage, the king has unwittingly approved the killing of his own queen! When Mordecai tells Queen Esther about the edict, she determines to risk her life to save her people. The king, not knowing who the people were but eager to eliminate any people who were rebellious, issued an edict condemning the Jews to death. Haman deceived the king by describing a “certain people” who were lawless and deserve to die. He now used Mordecai’s particular refusal to pay homage to trick the king into agreeing to destroy all Jews. Haman had always harbored plans to use his position to destroy the Jewish settlers in Persia. Haman was the prime minister, the second in command to the king -and boy was he proud of it! He was personally offended when Esther’s uncle, Mordecai refused to bow to him as he exited and entered the palace gates. As we look at Haman’s part in this story, we can’t help but be amazed at how a “big” person can be so “little.” And as every drama has a villain, in the book of Esther, his name is Haman. Did you take time this week of Purim, the festival of Esther, to read the book of Esther? It certainly is dramatic, isn’t it? This young, beautiful Jewess was taken from her humble beginnings and elevated to the position of Queen by a temperamental and pagan king.
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