Esther 7

I can't imagine how hard Esther's heart must have been pumping while she was getting ready to ask the king to save her people.  In her position, that would have been a really tough ask.  I remember reading earlier that she was so nervous about it, that she said she knew she would probably be killed for making this request.  She definitely showed great faith that God would take care of her.
This is a good lesson in making sure we are staying on mission for God, even when its really difficult.  Esther did that and it payed off for her.

I love the story here.  It almost feels like a nursury rhyme doesn't it?  I can see the little finger puppets in the book.......the dark one is Mordecai.........bbbbooooooo!  You have the coniving bad guy....the beautiful woman from the wrong side of the tracks....and a king who is entranced by a beautiful face.

Esther 7-8

8 1-2 That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, archenemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king because Esther had explained their relationship. 


I connected some dots today but I don't know if they should really be connected.  A history of God's chosen people being targeted to be wiped out and then saved.  Esther saved the Jews from Haman.  The world led by people like Winston Churchill saved the Jews and the rest of us from Hitler. 

Admittedly I haven't been following it closely but I have heard Putin has made movements against the Jews, sadly I see no Esther or Churchill its certainly not Obama.  Maybe I should take some comfort that Putin would not ultimately be successful if he in fact has a desire to go the way of Hitler.  But while annihilation has been avoided in the past it is not like there has not been great pain and human cost and I sure hope we aren't heading in that direction.

Another takeaway is the importance of timing for good leadership.  Esther had good timing in her appeal to the king. Maybe there is s a takeaway in there somewhere for us?

rambling today---have a good weekend.
knut

Esther 5 - 6

^6-9 When Haman entered, the king said, “What would be appropriate for the man the king especially wants to honor?”

¹⁰ “Go and do it,” the king said to Haman. “Don’t waste another minute. Take the robe and horse and do what you have proposed to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the King’s Gate. Don’t leave out a single detail of your plan.”

I would love to have seen the look change on Haman's face when he finally realized the person the king wanted to honor not only wasn't him....but, it was the guy that he despised.  What a twist.  And then to add insult to injury, he had to be the one to lead the horse through the courtyard with Mordecai on it!!!!  Whoa!
That's hilarious.

I don't have a great take today, other than this is a story good enough to be shown on the Hollywood screen.  The deciet, back-stabbing, and back door planning are unbelievable.

Good stuff!

Esther 4

16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

The fast caught my eye again.  Big decision coming, and she fasts and asked that they do it with her.  

This of course reminds me of our fast and wondering if you have been able to stay in contact with Rich?  I must admit I have not prayed for him in over a week but this reignites my thoughts and prayers for God to give him peace and ease his pain.  Some how out of this tragedy I pray that God would work in his life in a positive way.

knut

Ester 3

I didn't gleen any great insight today.  But, my reading did rasie a couple of questions in my mind.

1.  Why did Haman get to be special?  Was there something he accomplished for the king?, or was he from an unusal family situation that made him special?  He seems to have the king's ear.
2.  Why did he hate the Jews so much?  He was even willing to pay the king, with his own silver to allow his idea to go thru.  I can see him trying to convince Xerxes to destroy the Jews....."I'll even pay for it, if that makes it easier for you"......"No, no, no.  You don't have to put your own money on the table."

And Mordecai has some real church bells.  To outright defy Haman and stand up for what he believes in.......that's really something.  I would be really tempted to bow down to the king or Haman, and rationalize it by saying telling myself that God knows I don't really want to do it.  Mordecai is strong.

Esther 2

20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.


no great takes today, just noting how she came from a broken family background and that this point is made 3 times I believe in this chapter.  I don't recall the details of where this story is going but it seems her lineage is important.

  I think I can see where Disney stories get some of their inspiration, motherless beautiful girl rises to a great position in society.

knut

Esther 1

10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him...11 to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at


I didn't take much from this chapter, but noted maybe making commands you your wife when you are drunk is a bad idea!  In fact, I never make commands unless I'm joking.

Gina and I were just talking last night about how we joke about 'letting' each other do things.  My nephew broke up with his girl friend because he was tired of following her rules.  amazing how having a little respect for each other goes along ways.  Gina doesn't have any rules yet I want to do the things that makes her happy--of those things were rules I might be a little resistant.

babbling over.
knut