Another day with Jesus

  ESTHER ENTERS XERXES’ COURT                  As we continue the story of Esther, I'm struck by this thought: when we realise the issues we've faced and survived were painful but worthwhile experiences, it's an opportunity for gratitude.  Esther's moment was the entrance to her freedom and the blessing of her people....    When King Xerxes elevated Haman, the Agagite, to the position of prime minister, the court and the officials kneeled at his feet, but Mordecai refused to pay his respects because he was a Jew. Mutual hatred existed between the Amalekites and the Jews. Haman was an Agagite of the Amalekites. King Saul, a Benjaminite of the same tribe as Mordecai, had slain the Amalekites and the prophet, Samuel, had killed their king, King Agag, four hundred years earlier. Mordecai also refused to offer obeisance to Haman because he worshipped God rather than a man. In Exodus 17:16, God prophesied there wou...

Let's begin a three part series about Queen Esther. While Israel faces a cruel war, it's comforting to remember there is an invisible hero who, throughout history, stands beside them...               ESTHER: A queen of faith and courage A despot, a vast kingdom, a villain, a beauty pageant, a beautiful queen, a harem, a massacre plot, and a Jewish diaspora in Persia. Esther’s story is a thriller, but the real protagonist’s name never appears in the text. Who is he?   Have you ever wondered whether you’re doing the ‘right thing,’ whether you’re in line with God’s will? Esther struggled with this problem until her cousin encouraged and supported the toughest decision of her life.       King Xerxes of Persia ruled over a vast kingdom of 127 provinces, stretching from India to the upper Nile region of Africa. By 474 B.C., he’d been on the throne for six years, proud of his many conquests. The Jewish remnant who remained in Sus...

        Huldah, the Prophetess of Jerusalem   “Did you hear the king’s words? He’s asked us to enquire of the Lord.”   “Who will pray for us? Shall we consult Shallum’s wife, the prophetess, since the king’s warning is so alarming.” “Do you mean the wife of the wardrobe keeper?”      “ Indeed. Huldah lives in the second quarter, near the temple wall.”   In c.637 B.C., a young King Josiah of Judah swept idol worship from his kingdom. For generations, Judah and Israel had worshipped foreign gods. Two hundred years earlier, Athalia (the only queen to reign in Judah) had ordered her sons to remove the Lord’s sacred vessels from Solomon’s temple and dedicate them to Baal. Asherah poles and carved idols littered Jerusalem and the entire countryside. Idol worshippers believed Asherah was the wife of their god, and they erected poles in the temple in her honor.   Josiah ascended the throne when he was eight. By his tw...

         She saved the day and won the heart of the future king!  We may never be  princesses, but in our homes, why not emulate the resourcefulness of an Abigail?                                             Nabal’s estate was nestled in the hill country of Judah. A wealthy landowner, his vast flocks of sheep and goats roamed the surrounding arid countryside.   The man scowled as he lowered his massive frame onto a cushion. He had spent the previous night celebrating the close of the  season with the city of Maon elite, hosting a party fit for a king.       At last, he had recovered, and Abigail could tell him the news. The incident had almost cost them lives, but Abigail’s diplomacy had saved their household. Nabal was an arrogant fool, and over the years, she’d learned to preempt his foolishness. ...

  Thank you to those who found the time last week to read about  Zelophehad's  daughters. I'm currently preparing a series on Ruth and Naomi, and it's been enlightening to know the reasons for levirate marriage. And, yes, sometime down the track, I hope to share the lessons the Lord is teaching me in the book of Ruth.                                               But for now, how's your oil supply ??? The widow and her oil.   She poured a tiny dribble of oil into the flour. Enough to make bread for one day to avoid starvation.   “Mother, my tummy rumbles.”   “Yes, my son, and I’m sorry. Here is your ration for today.”     She looked at his scrawny arms and swollen stomach. A tear rolled down her cheek, but she wiped it away. How long could they survive? Only yesterday, the debt collector had demanded his money. She h...

                     The Daughters of Zelophehad                                                                   Numbers 27 Valuing your inheritance...   Do you have a daughter?     What do you wish for her future? A healthy life, a prosperous home, children, or an exciting career? Or a child to love as you age? What name did you call her, and why did you select it? Was it a family name, or did you think it suited her? Or did it roll off your tongue as pleasant to the ear? Our parents assign us a name which is ours forever, and our identity is linked to it. Surnames identify our family, heritage, and ethnicity.   The children of Israel gave their children significant names. Zelophehad, from the Manasseh tribe, had five daughters, and he...