{"id":4045,"date":"2025-07-11T18:35:06","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T18:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allthecounselofgod.com\/?p=4045"},"modified":"2025-07-11T18:35:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T18:35:10","slug":"lessons-from-bible-lives-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allthecounselofgod.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/11\/lessons-from-bible-lives-8\/","title":{"rendered":"LESSONS FROM BIBLE LIVES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ESTHER \u2013 THE SELF-SACRIFICING WOMAN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCRIPTURE: Esther 1-10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTRODUCTION:<\/strong> Esther was the Persian name of this lady of the tribe of Benjamin, and is from \u201caster\u201d meaning \u201ca star.\u201d (Hadassah, signifying \u201cmyrtle\u201d was Esther\u2019s original name.) Esther\u2019s people were carried into captivity with Jeremiah about 60 years earlier. Esther was brought up at Shushan, the Persian royal city. When her parents died she became the adopted daughter of Mordecai, her uncle, who was a palace official. No one seemed further away, by birth and circumstances, from being a queen than Esther was. (Quite similar to Joseph\u2019s likelihood of becoming king of Egypt when he was a slave in Potiphar\u2019s house.) But in the marvelous providence of God the most unlikely things do happen! Some of the notes in the song of Mary might well have been sung by Esther: \u201cHe hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden \u2026 He that is mighty hath done to me great things\u201d (Luke 1:48-49). How thrilling to know that neither poverty, nor ignorance, nor guilt are barriers to the infinite grace of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. HER CALL<\/strong> \u2013 v 8 Esther knew that she had been called as a candidate for the crown. Not very many had this opportunity, and only one of that number would actually receive the prize. How wonderfully different it is today in the call of the Gospel. Although many are called but few chosen, it is still true that \u201cwhosoever will may come.\u201d Praise God, Jesus said, \u201cIn My Father\u2019s house are many mansions \u2026 \u201d Those who respond to the call to salvation will receive something far greater than the crown of an earthly kingdom \u2014 they will receive eternal life and all that goes with being in the presence of the KING of Kings forever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. HER CHARACTER<\/strong> \u2013 In 2:9 we learn that Esther highly pleased the keeper of the women, and thus she was clearly a very gracious lady. She was also trustworthy in that she obeyed Mordecai\u2019s instructions not to reveal her nationality \u2013 see v 20. In this she displays an humble and submissive spirit. The character that had been instilled by Mordecai\u2019s loving instruction and discipline now begins to show itself in the time of testing. PRINCIPLE: Crisis never changes a person\u2019s character \u2013 it only reveals what is already there! The lesson for parents is obvious: \u201cAs the twig is bent, so grows the tree.\u201d And most of the work must be done before the child is ten!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. HER CHOICE<\/strong> \u2013 2:15 We note here that Esther was satisfied with thpse things appointed by the king for her preparation. She left herself entirely in the hands of Hegai, the keeper of the women, whose task it was to prepare the women to be presented to the king. There is a spiritual lesson for us here: we need to submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit, whose office work in the life of the Believer is to sanctify and prepare us for the presence of the King and for His service. Two verses are instructive in this connection:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

o Rom 8:29 \u2013 which tells us that we are predestinated by God to be conformed to the image of His Son;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

o and 2 Cor 3:18 \u2013 which reveals the process by which this is accomplished. The \u201cglass\u201d in which we behold the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Word of God! Thus, if we are to become like Jesus, we must spend much time in the Word and allow it to transform us by making it a part of our lives. We will fare well if we, like Esther, require nothing but what He has appointed for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.<\/strong> HER CROWN <\/strong>\u2013 2: 17 A crown is a symbol of honor and power, so we see Esther\u2019s humility and faith rewarded by this public manifestation of the king\u2019s favor. His love of Esther opened the way to the throne for her. Even so the love of God opens for us the way into God\u2019s heart and home! What a far greater privilege to be loved by the King of Heaven, than the king of a mere earthly kingdom!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Another Lesson: although God\u2019s hand was working behind the scene, there is a true sense in which the king\u2019s love of Esther was merited, e.g., because of her beauty, character, and submissiveness. However, God\u2019s wonderful love for us is totally unmerited!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.<\/strong> HER COURAGE <\/strong>\u2013 4: 16 A terrible testing time is now at hand, and all of Esther\u2019s power and influence will be needed to save her people. Haman had succeeded in <\/strong>getting the sentence of death passed upon all the Jews because of his hatred for Mordecai. Mordecai pleads with Esther and makes it plain that she is the only person in a position to do anything to help. (Note the wisdom and faith of Mordecai evidenced in his message to Esther in 4:13-14.) So, in spite of the risk of death, Esther sets out to help her people. Her commitment to this mission is expressed in her classic statement: \u201d \u2026 so will I go in unto the king, \u2026 and if l perish, I perish.\u201d (Compare to Dan 3:16-18) It was a bold step, but notice that she put her trust in the Lord, calling her uncle and her maidens to fasting and prayer in her behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. HER CONQUEST <\/strong>\u2013 The story now moves with breathtaking excitement to deliverance and victory for the people of God. The king receives Esther; she eventually reveals her racial roots and pleads for herself and her people. The king perceived the wickedness of Haman and his scheme and abundantly answered her request. The enemy was overcome, and Esther\u2019s people were delivered! The devil was foiled again in his scheme to cut off the seed, after the flesh, of the Messiah!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LESSONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. For kids to turn out right (with character as adults) you have to put the right things in them when they are young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Crisis events do not make character, they simply reveal what is already there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Courage is born of commitment \u2014 it is the willingness to do what needs to be done regardless of the personal sacrifice involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. We are reminded again in the life of Esther that \u201cGod hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; \u2026 \u201d (See 1 Cor 1 :26-29) God delights in taking the insignificant and obscure and \u00a0accomplishing great things for which He gets the glory!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Although God\u2019s name is not found in the book of Esther, His handprints are all over it. Even in the time of their dispersion as punishment for a long history of idolatry and disobedience to God, the Jews are still under His watchful eye and loving protection! How comforting to know that God has promised Believers today that He will \u201cnever leave thee, nor forsake thee.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"