Who are You Listening To?
We’ve all seen a coach signal for a timeout and gather his team around for instructions. Almost every time there’s at least one player gazing away from the huddle to something up in the crowd, paying no attention to the coach. To successfully navigate life, we must focus on who is talking and what they are saying. In Esther 1 and 2 we see how listening to the wrong people caused the king to make decisions he would regret and how Esther shut down a threat on his life by staying attached to the right people and listening to them.
The Root of it All
“In Esther 3 we read about Haman. Haman was a descendant of Agag, who was the king of the Amalekites, the people who were Israel’s sworn enemy for generations (Exodus 17:14-16). He was an extremely proud and insecure man; he could only consider himself a success if everyone else thought he was a success. Haman was a man full of hatred and bitterness, which eventually exposed him for who he was. We can learn a valuable lesson from this. If we harbor bitterness and unforgiveness in our heart, it will eventually destroy us.”
What Can You Do?
Basic “right” and “wrong” are universal concepts. Every culture, from every corner of the globe have produced fairy tales that expound the basic tenets of right and wrong. Right always triumphs over wrong and good triumphs over evil. We don’t live in the world of fairy tales and neither did Queen Esther and her older cousin, Mordecai. Esther risked her life by approaching King Xerxes to save the life of Mordecai. Esther’s bravery saved the Jewish people and caused the downfall of their enemy. God used Esther to bring about victory and she was a hero.
Where’s God in This?
If you read the book of Esther, you will not see God’s name or presence mentioned. Is this how you view God in your life–not there or do you look for Him in your life? Margaret Feinberg in her Wonderstruck Bible study says “We do not serve a God who is far off, but One who is near and draws near to those shattered by life. God isn’t only with us in those moments, but all the moments. He longs to reveal His presence and purpose.” Be alert to God working in your life–He is near!