Genesis: Part One

Today’s Reading: Genesis 1:1-21:2

Over the last ten months, we have studied the Old Testament chronologically — from Genesis to Malachi. We have studied the history of God’s people, giving us insight into who God is and the relationship He created us for. Before we move into the New Testament, let’s take time to review some of the major themes woven through the stories of the Israelites.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers — the moon and the stars you set in place — what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority — the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! – Psalm 8:3-9

Simply by speaking the world into existence, God took what was formless and empty and created the amazing details of this life. The world went from empty to full at His command. In the same way, God took the empty pages of your life and began your story. And He is not done yet. Today the Lord will continue to write your story; each chapter will be perfectly designed by Him. When we recognize that He is our Creator, we humbly see ourselves as His creation.

GOD WEAVES US INTO HIS STORY SO THAT HIS WILL CAN BE DONE IN US AND THROUGH US.

“Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” – Genesis 3:1

When the serpent approached Eve in the garden of Eden, he started planting seeds of doubt. He convinced the woman that she would not die if she ate from the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. He planted in her heart the desire to be like God — to make her own decisions, to be enlightened, to do whatever she wants.

This seed of arrogance is where sin continues to sprout and grow today. We believe society’s lie that we have the right to do whatever we want to do. We fall for the deceptive thought that hell isn’t real — that there is no such place where God punishes sin. It didn’t take long for the serpent to convince Eve, and sadly it does not take long for us to believe these lies either. The world gives us permission to walk away from all the truth found in the Bible, but departure from God’s way does not bring joy.

What happened in the garden is a perfect example. When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, their eyes were indeed opened, just like the serpent said they would be. But instead of it making them wiser and greater, it immediately brought shame. New emotions poured in and they were shook by the unfamiliarity of their feelings.

REBELLION AGAINST GOD STEALS OUR PEACE, BRINGING SHAME AND ANGER.

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” – Genesis 4:6-7

Sin was not just a Garden of Eden incident; sin became a generational pattern. Cain gave God less than his best and became angry that God did not reward his small contribution. Instead of confessing his jealousy, Cain wrapped himself in self-pity which led to murder and the refusal to take responsibility for his actions. When confronted with his sin, Cain could have humbly chosen confession and repentance; instead, he chose indifference.

But God is not indifferent to our sin. It breaks his heart when we reject Him. The God of the universe cares enough to grieve when we push Him away in our attempts to live our own life and chase after all the world has to offer. He has a wonderful plan of salvation He was willing to sacrifice His Son in order to offer, and it saddens Him when we push His plan aside to make room for our own.

In Genesis, God grieved over His new creation and their lack of love for their Creator. He saw the selfish desires of their heart and how quickly the people gravitated toward evil. But He also saw the heart of one person who kept his eyes focused on God, who chose to walk in close fellowship with his Maker. God saw Noah serving the Lord in the midst of a very sinful world, and He sees you too, my friend.

God sent a flood to cover the earth, and then He filled the sky with beautiful colors as a reminder that He keeps His promises. That rainbow reminds us today that we serve a God who keeps His promises. As the psalmist said, his promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.

God promised Abraham that he would have descendants as numerous as the sand on the seashore and the stars in the sky, and God promised to protect him if he continued to obey. Abraham did not have to make sure that God would keep His promise; he did not have to remind God of the word He had spoken. In fact, it was unnecessary for Abram to fear that God would forget the covenant He had made. God was faithful — faithful to provide and faithful to protect.

GOD ALWAYS KEEP HIS PROMISES

The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. – Genesis 21:1-2

What a great reminder to start off our day! God will do exactly as He promises at the exact time He said He would do it. He is faithful and He can be trusted. He is omnipotent and nothing is too difficult for Him. He is the God who does the impossible, providing for us over and over again. May the Spirit of God remind you of that truth throughout today.

He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord!
His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension…
The Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
– Psalm 147:4-5,11

A Question of Priorities

Today’s Reading: Malachi 3-4

A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES

Not only did Malachi speak to them about their lack of sincerity, he also spoke of how unconfessed sin can stand in the way of God accepting our worship. He wants us to live out our worship with a sincere desire to please Him and to bring Him glory, not just to feel good about ourselves or to look good in the eyes of other people. This includes our relationships…

Here is another thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altars with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn’t accept them with pleasure. You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. – Malachi 2:13-14

A QUESTION OF LOYALTY

Their pattern of disloyalty was blocking their sacrifice and worship to God. The same is true for us today. Putting God first includes the vows we made before Him, whether that’s marriage or anything else we have promised to do. God wants us to put Him first and to give Him first place in our lives. If we pour ourselves out to God, He will pour out blessings on us.

“Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!
But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’
You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
– Malachi 3:7b-12

SINCERITY — Are we going through the motions of our Christian walk or are we sincerely following Him? Our sacrifices and offerings to God are defiled when we give less than our best, less than He requires of us. He wants us to give from our heart, genuinely showing our love and faithfulness. He wants us to give in order to please Him, not to make ourselves feel good or to satisfy the minimum requirement of being a member of a congregation.

QUALITY — Are we giving our best or doing our best with what God has entrusted to us? Are we hanging on tight to this life or do we live as if everything we have comes from Him and belongs to Him?

LOYALTY — Are we committed to God? Are we faithfully following through on all we have promised before God and to God? Do our priorities reflect our loyal commitment to God?

Lord, open our eyes to the areas of our lives where we are cheating you, and therefore cheating ourselves of your blessings. Lord, open the windows of heaven for us. Pour out a blessing so great we will not have enough room to take it in! Lord, bless us with your presence today and reveal where we have lost our spiritual fervor. Place in us the desires of your heart, and cause us to stir at what moves you. We love you, Lord. We want to live sincerely — everyday giving our best to you, and remaining forever committed to who you have called us to be. Everything we do, we long to do for you and not just to please ourselves. Amen.

A Question of Sincerity

Today’s Reading: Malachi 1-2

A QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY

Do you ever question why we have some of our traditions or why we do the same things year after year? Is it our responsibility to carry on these traditions? After God’s people returned to Jerusalem, they asked the question: “Should we continue to mourn and fast each summer on the anniversary of the Temple’s destruction, as we have done for so many years?”

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me this message in reply: “Say to all your people and your priests, ‘During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn, was it really for me that you were fasting? And even now in your holy festivals, aren’t you eating and drinking just to please yourselves?” – Zechariah 7:3-6

A QUESTION OF SINCERITY

A question of responsibility was answered by a question of sincerity. God was exposing the heart of His people. I have to admit I feel a little exposed as well. How often do we go through the motions on a Sunday morning? Has the worship become more about what pleases us or are we sincerely offering our praise to God so that He will be pleased? How often do religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter become more about family traditions, food and gifts than about God? Has our time with God become more of a routine than a growing relationship with Christ?

The prophet Malachi also spoke of the tendency of God’s people to offer less than their best to God — to sacrifice for the sake of fulfilling a ritual instead of making a true sacrifice of the heart.

A QUESTION OF SACRIFICE

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!
But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’
You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.
Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?’
You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings… – Malachi 1:6-10

Wow! That was a really strong message. Can you hear the heart of God behind this reprimand? Would you be surprised to hear the Lord say the same thing to us today? Our sacrifices and offerings to God are defiled when we give less than our best. He wants us to give from our heart, genuinely showing our love and faithfulness. He wants us to give to please Him and not to please ourselves, or to satisfy the minimum requirement of being a member of a congregation.

Father God, give us a fresh passion for the rituals of our faith. May we open your word with a new desire to hear from you. May we sing your praises with a heart that is open to the moving of your Spirit. Lord, wake us up from the habit of prayer and give us a passion for sincerely calling out to you. We are ready to stop looking for the minimum requirement and start chasing after you with a sincere heart willing to love sacrificially. Amen.

They Were Ready

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 10-13

Nehemiah, now the governor of Judah, led the rest of the people in an oath to God. They had separated themselves from the pagan influences in their lives and their desire was to obey the law God had given Moses. They promised to carefully follow all of the commands, regulations and decrees of God — the One whom they were intentionally recognizing as their Lord. They made these promises:

• Not to let their children marry pagan spouses
• To honor the Sabbath
• To pay a Temple tax in order to reestablish the work of the church
• To create an active schedule for the priests
• To bring the first part of every harvest to the Lord (tithe)
• To never again neglect the Temple of their God

THEY WERE READY TO DO CHURCH!!!

They were ready for a new season in their life. They were ready to cast out the old ways of neglecting the church and ignoring God, and instead actively serve God and make the Temple the center of their culture or way of life. The leaders of Judah would live in Jerusalem and a tenth of the people would be chosen by sacred lots to establish their home within the walls of the city, while the rest of the people would establish their homes outside of the walls.

Nehemiah called for a dedication of the completed wall around Jerusalem. The ceremony included singers and instruments, while the leaders stood on top of the wall and gave thanks by forming two large choirs. There were cymbals, harps, lyres & trumpets being played as one choir headed south along the wall and the other headed north. Led by Ezra, they walked around the city and then met together at the Temple, playing and singing loudly.

Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given the people cause for great joy. The women and children also participated in the celebration, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far away. – Nehemiah 12:43

THEY WERE READY TO WORSHIP GOD!

God’s people were reestablishing a new life in Jerusalem that centered around the life of the church. They brought their tithes and took joy in the work of the priests and Levites. They brought back the custom of having choir directors to lead the choirs in hymns of praise and thanksgiving, just as they had done long ago. The book of Moses was read and those who were enemies of God were sent away.

God’s people were in a good place. They were worshiping Him and passionate about the work of the church. But, as we have seen over and over again throughout the Old Testament, the celebration did not last long and the fickle hearts of the Israelites were once again distracted.

Nehemiah returned to the king of Babylon for a time and then made his way back to Jerusalem. When he arrived, he found that the people had carelessly allowed sin back into the church, and many of the Levites had returned to their work in the fields instead of working for the church. The people were working on the Sabbath and some had began to marry foreign wives again.

“Wasn’t this exactly what led King Solomon of Israel into sin?” I demanded. “There was no king from any nation who could compare to him, and God loved him and made him king over all Israel. But even he was led into sin by his foreign wives. How could you even think of committing this sinful deed and acting unfaithfully toward God by marrying foreign women?” – Nehemiah 13:26-27

This passage is a good reminder to us of how we grieve the heart of God when we make promises to follow and obey Him only to go back to our past behaviors or sinful habits. It is good for us to go through a time of repentance and celebration of our salvation, but we must stay in that place. We must remain faithful to the God who asked us not to do some things and then commanded us to do other things.

May we remain genuine in our desire to serve God and consistent in living out our walk with Him. May we remain in a place of celebration and joy. Lord, give us a love for your church and a passion for the work of the church so that you can be glorified through our worship of you and through the living out of our faith. Help us to follow you with a growing passion and loyal obedience. Amen.

The Day of the Lord

Today’s Reading: Joel 2-3

The day of the Lord is near,
the day when destruction comes from the Almighty.
How terrible that day will be!
– Joel 1:5

Sound the trumpet in Jerusalem!
Raise the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let everyone tremble in fear
because the day of the Lord is upon us.
It is a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of thick clouds and deep blackness.
Suddenly, like dawn spreading across the mountains,
a great and mighty army appears.
Nothing like it has been seen before
or will ever be seen again…
The Lord is at the head of the column.
He leads them with a shout.
This is his mighty army,
and they follow his orders.
The day of the Lord is an awesome, terrible thing.
Who can possibly survive?
– Joel 2:1-2,11

Joel prophesied about the Day of the Lord, describing it as terrible. The army will march in and the people will run in fear. The sun will stop shining and the stars will burn out. The Lord and His army will come to confront the evil in this world, defeating the enemy and saving the world.

“The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?” – Joel 2:11

But more powerful than the judgment that is coming is the mercy and love of our God. He is calling HIs people to repentance. He longs to send them a blessing instead of a curse.

That is why the Lord says,
“Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,
but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He is eager to relent and not punish.
– Joel 2:12-13

“Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants—men and women alike.”
– Joel 2:28-29

We serve a God of grace. When we come to him in sincere repentance, genuinely living for Him and submitting to His lordship, we experience His unmerited favor.

We serve a God of compassion. He not not only forgives us, but He also gives us His Spirit to dwell within us. This presence transforms us into the people He created us to be.

We serve a God of mercy. And where there is mercy, hope can be found. Our God is gracious and compassionate, full of mercy and love.

We serve a holy God. He sees the devastation that sin is wreaking in this world, and He will come one day to bring judgment. He will right all wrongs and renew His covenant with all of creation. Praise God, restoration will come after the judgment. He will reign in this world and in our hearts.

Lord, we thank you for this reminder of your very nature — that you are a God of grace, a God of compassion, and a God of mercy. We recognize your holiness and declare that you are good! You are greater than the evil that is so predominant in this world, and the story of your victory has already been written. Thank you for renewing us when we come to you in repentance, not just with a willingness to restore us but with a longing to extend mercy to sinners. Thank you for the gift of your spirit that daily guides us and transforms us, empowering us to walk in obedience to your Lordship.

Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision.
There the day of the Lord will soon arrive.
The sun and moon will grow dark,
and the stars will no longer shine.
The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth will shake.
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,
a strong fortress for the people of Israel.
– Joel 3:14-16

Pass Your Story Down

Today’s Reading: Joel 1

Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation. – Joel 1:3

This hard time that you are going through, this time of loss and mourning over what you used to have, pay attention, for this is a time you need to tell your children about and they need to tell their children. For generations, your children will have these stories to share with their children — times when the Lord has provided and brought you out of the valley of trouble. These stories of God’s provision will provide a gateway of hope for future generations, when they find themselves going through a difficult time (Hosea 2:15).

REMEMBER HIS FAITHFULNESS AND PASS THE STORIES DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

The grapevines have dried up, and the fig trees have withered. The pomegranate trees, palm trees, and apple trees – all the fruit trees – have dried up. And the people’s joy has dried up with them. – Joel 1:12

At times, everything that has sustained you and all that has given you pleasure will be taken from you. It will dry up and with it your joy. You will begin to wonder, “Is God really a merciful and loving God? Am I being punished for something?” God responds to your need for answers and confirms His identity to you. He instructs you on how to respond to this difficult time — this time of uncertainty.

Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land into the Temple of the Lord your God, and cry out to him there. – Joel 1:14

This is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of a curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before. – Joel 2:12-14

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged, BUT I WILL REMEMBER YOU…
each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
– Psalm 42:5-8

God confirms who He is. Look back at all He has done for you over the years. Remember His faithfulness to you and know with confidence that He has more blessings to pour into your life.

REMEMBER HIS FAITHFULNESS AND PASS THE STORIES DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

Surely the Lord has done great things! Don’t be afraid, my people. Be glad now and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things. Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field, for the wilderness pastures will soon be green. The trees will again be filled with fruit; fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more. Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. The threshing floor will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil.

The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. Once again you will have all the food you want and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. – Joel 2:20b-26a

REMEMBER HIS FAITHFULNESS AND PASS THE STORIES DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

God is in the middle of all of this. None of this has caught Him by surprise. Trust that He has great plans for your future. Believe that your joy will not be dry forever but that you will rejoice again in how your God has provided during a difficult time. You will have a story of God’s provision and His redemption to tell your children and your children’s children.

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will SHARE THE STORY of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.
– Psalm 145:4-7

REMEMBER HIS FAITHFULNESS AND PASS THE STORIES DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

Tell Your Story Again

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 8-9, Psalm 107 & 135

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
– Psalm 107:1-2

It is important for us to take time to think through our story and be prepared to tell it as it fits into God’s greater story. What is your before and what is your after? What journey has God brought you on and how does that affect the way you live your life today?

HAS THE LORD REDEEMED YOU? THEN TELL YOUR STORY!

Over and over again in the Old Testament, a prophet would gather the people of Israel together and review their story once more. This was often at a time of confession and repentance — a time of re-entering a covenant with God. Nehemiah retold the story of God’s people in a beautiful way in chapter nine, reminding us today of how wonderful and full of grace God is. Nehemiah reminded God’s people of where pride and stubborn hearts had led them in previous years; how God had forgiven them time and time again, providing for them and blessing them abundantly.

“May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise! You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you…And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word.

“You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea. You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharoah…You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten. You divided the sea for your people so they could walk through on dry land!…You led our ancestors by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night so that they could find their way.

“You came down at Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions…And you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey all your commands, decrees and instructions.

“You gave them bread from heaven when they were hungry and water from the rock when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go and take possession of the land you had sworn to give them.

“But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands…But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them, even when they made an idol shaped like a calf…In your great mercy, you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness…You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised their ancestors.

“They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them…Our ancestors captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, with cisterns already dug and vineyards and olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.

“But DESPITE ALL THIS, they were disobedient and rebelled against the Lord…But in their time of trouble they cried out to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies…

“You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands…In your love, you were patient with them for many years…What a gracious and merciful God you are!… – Nehemiah 9:5-31

Then God’s people said, “In view of all this, we are making a solemn promise and putting it in writing…” (9:38) They were recognizing that they deserved all of the punishment they had received and yet God had forgiven them over and over again. They were once more making a covenant with God — a covenant full of written promises to obey the Law of God and God’s commands.

HAS THE LORD REDEEMED YOU? THEN TELL YOUR STORY!

If we were to write out our stories today, what would they say? My story would include several of the same elements of the prayer told in Nehemiah: praise and worship, recognition of God’s generosity and blessings, confession of my own tendency to be prideful and stubborn, stories of God’s forgiveness and grace, testimony of God’s provision and second chances, and promises to put God first in my life. I never want to forget what God has done for me. I want to learn from my past mistakes in order to not repeat my errors, but instead grow stronger in my walk.

“Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him?…” – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest:

What has God commanded me to do? Have I done it? What prayers has He answered for me over the years? How has He faithfully kept His promises? May God’s faithfulness always be a reminder and a stimulant to the growth of my own faith. May time in His presence stimulate my spiritual growth much more than the caffeine in my morning coffee.

Esther’s Opportunity

Today’s Reading: Esther 2:21-10:3

After the death of her parents, Esther was adopted and raised by her cousin Mordecai. When she was chosen to go to the palace, this father-figure advised her to keep her family background and nationality a secret (2:20). This would protect her from the prejudice many in Persia felt towards the Jews. As a palace official, Mordecai kept an eye on her by daily walking near the courtyard of the harem so that he could see how she was doing. When the king placed a crown on her head and declared Esther queen, she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions.

One day Mordecai overheard a plot among the guards to assassinate the king. He told Esther about it and she was able to tell the king, saving his life. If Esther’s story ended here, we could already see the evidence of God strategically placing her in a position to make a difference.

GOD’S BLESSINGS WERE EVIDENT IN ESTHER’S LIFE, DESPITE HER LOCATION; HIS PROVISION WAS EVIDENT, DESPITE HER CIRCUMSTANCES.

Some time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire. All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect…

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes. — Esther 3:1-6

Haman began to conspire not only to destroy Mordecai, but to rid Persia of all of the Jews. Haman managed to convince the king that it was not in the king’s best interest to let this race of people live. Lots were cast to determine the day on which the Jews could be annihilated. These lots were called “purim” and were similar to what we think of as dice. This is where the Festival of Purim received its name – a time to remember the day intended for destruction but instead marked by God’s rescue of His people once again.

Consider with me the similarities between Esther and Nehemiah. Nehemiah was an exiled Jew living as a servant or slave to the king. His role as cupbearer became a blessing as Nehemiah was strategically positioned to be near the King to request a favor for his people. In the same way, the misfortune of Esther to be taken from her home and placed in the palace had become a blessing as she became queen and was strategically positioned to be near the King, giving her the opportunity to request protection for her people.

God intervened on Nehemiah’s behalf and the king noticed that he was distraught. God intervened on Esther’s behalf and the king noticed her standing in the inner court. He welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her so that she could approach his throne.

Nehemiah saw a need, prayed for the need, and then allowed himself to be part of the answer to that prayer. He allowed himself to be used by God. Esther saw a need, feared for her life and yet boldly stepped into the equation, allowing herself to become part of the solution.

Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made the queen for just such a time as this?”

Then Esther set this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in and see the king. If I must die, I must die.” – Esther 4:13-16

When faced with opposition while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah appointed half of the men to work on the wall while half stood armed with swords against the attack. In the same way, God’s people lifted prayers on behalf of Esther while she worked on protecting or rescuing them. She put herself in harm’s way but not until she knew that her family was covering her in prayer, calling on God to bless her efforts and use this royal position as an opportunity to reverse the decree, allowing the Jewish people to live.

There are days and opportunities when God strategically positions us to be used by Him. There are also times in which God gives us the responsibility to pray for someone else. There may be times in which we feel sorry for ourselves, wishing that we were not in a situation or place. Then what once seemed like an unfortunate coincidence becomes a God-placed miracle, and we find ourselves strategically positioned to be used by Him.

WILL WE ACCEPT OUR CALLING FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?

Will we see our situation today as Esther did? Will we boldly step into the equation and allow ourselves to be part of the solution? Perhaps our role today is to enter into the presence of our King, as Esther did. Perhaps it is our role today to stand “with sword in hand” and pray for God’s protection. Maybe God is calling us to take an unfortunate situation and make it an opportunity for His power to be displayed. Let’s be ready to respond today in obedience the moment God calls us into action — for such a time as this.

Esther’s Position

Today’s Reading: Esther 1:1-2:20, Psalm 114

Some of the Jewish families had grown and flourished while in exile. For many, it was the only life they knew. Their great-grandparents would have remembered life in Jerusalem, but they themselves were born and raised in the Persian culture. Over the last 100 years of exile and beyond, they had been given the freedom to own businesses and hold government positions. They had blended into the culture and it was easier to stay in the known than to journey back to the unknown as most of the Jewish families had done.

EASIER TO STAY IN THE KNOWN THAN TO JOURNEY BACK TO THE UNKNOWN

God is calling me to sit in this part of the story for a moment. How often do we choose what is familiar and comfortable over what God is calling us to next? Are we using God’s blessings as an excuse to stay rooted where we are, rather than remaining open to where God wants us to be? Is it easier to stay in the known than to allow God to turn the page and begin a new chapter of our lives?

The book of Esther tells us of one family’s story of staying in Persia rather than returning to their homeland. God took this decision to stay and chose to use them in a mighty way in the lives of all the other Jewish families in Persia. Their faith was preserved in a godless country, and God used that faith to save His people once again.

Xerxes the Great was the fifth king to reign in Persia. Like the other kings, he was known for his pride and impulsiveness. In the third year of his reign, King Xerxes prepared a banquet for all of his military officers, as well as the royal families. This party lasted six months as the guests took time to plan their upcoming battles and military strategies, while being wined and dined in the luxury of the palace.

At the end of this strategy session, the king threw a banquet that lasted seven days. All of the men in the fortress of Susa were invited to the beautifully decorated palace courtyard and given an abundance of the finest wine available. This boosted the king’s ego as the men celebrated the generosity of their leader with no limits placed on how much wine they drank.

At the same time, all the women in the royal palace were invited to a banquet thrown by Queen Vashti. The king’s attendants came to get the queen and bring her to the king’s banquet, for he wanted all the nobles and officials to gaze upon her beauty, but she refused to come. Some say that it was against Persian culture for a respectable woman to attend an all-male party such as this one; some say the king wanted her to come in with only her crown upon her head so that his guests could see the beauty of her body.

Refusing the king probably seemed like the right thing to do but it had its consequences. In his anger, King Xerxes ordered a written decree that the queen be banished from his presence forever. Her disrespect had embarrassed the king, and the king’s advisors wanted to make an example of her so that other women would not follow her example and refuse their husbands.

The king later realized the permanence of this decision he had made out of anger and in a state of drunkenness. To correct the situation, a search was made across the empire to find beautiful young women to be brought into the king’s harem in order to find a replacement for the queen. These young women would go through a year of beauty treatments, spend one night with the king and then be taken to live among the harem of wives in the palace. If the king remembered his night with her, she was invited back into his presence.

Esther was one of the young women chosen to come to the palace. Scripture does not tell us how she felt about this life that was chosen for her, but it is easy to imagine that she would have grieved the loss of her own plans and been saddened by the separation from her family. God was watching over Esther and she found favor with the eunuch in charge of her care. He treated her kindly, ordered a special menu for her, and assigned seven maids to her care, giving her the best place in the harem. She was not where she wanted to be but she was not alone as God watched over her. She was unaware of God’s plans to use her for the preservation of His people.

TRUSTING GOD IN THE UNKNOWN WHEN WE HAVE NO WAY TO GET BACK TO THE KNOWN

Perhaps you are not where you want to be, not where you planned to be. Perhaps decisions have been made for you that were out of your control. My prayer for you is that your faith will continue to grow as you trust that God has a larger plan at work. I pray that you are able to see the evidence that He is using your position to strategically use you in the lives of those around you. I pray that you will experience a peace that only God can give, and that He will give you favor with those you come in contact with today. May you recognize that God can take any situation and use it to provide for His people.

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob.
He turned the rock into a pool of water;
yes, a spring of water flowed from solid rock.
— Psalm 114:7-8

Nehemiah’s Armor

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 4-7, Psalm 123

“What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap — and charred ones at that?” – Nehemiah 4:2

Things did not go easily as they rebuilt the wall. They faced criticism and opposition. The people would mock, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” (Nehemiah 4:3) Their response was to pray but eventually they became discouraged. Day after day they heard the voice of defeat saying that it could not be done, and they began to listen to that voice.

“The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” – Nehemiah 4:10

NEHEMIAH CHOSE TO DROWN OUT THE VOICE OF DEFEAT AND STAY FOCUSED ON THE TASK GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO.

Nehemiah had to do the same thing that we have to do daily — he had to DROWN OUT the voice of defeat! He had to push away the negativity and criticism in order to keep his eyes focused on the God who had called him to do hard things. His determination inspired those around him.

“Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” – Nehemiah 4:14

After this, they changed their plan. While half of the men worked, the other half would stand armed with swords against the attacks. Some of the laborers used one hand to support the load while the other hand held a weapon. They carried their weapons with them at all times! We have the same weapon against the voice of defeat and opposition to God’s work; God has given us the same armor of protection to stand strong!

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body of armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. – Ephesians 6:10-18

Father God, help us to see a need and be willing to be part of the answer to that need. And when things get tough, when we face opposition, clothe us with your armor and give us the faith needed to drown out the voice of defeat. We love you, Lord. Amen.

So on October 2 the wall was finished — just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. – Nehemiah 6:15-16

They said it couldn’t be done, but they did not know the power of God. They said it was too big of a job, but they did not know how big our Lord is. They said the problems were too large, but they did not know the generosity of the God we serve!

THEY SAID IT COULD NOT BE DONE BUT, WITH GOD’S HELP, IT WAS FINALLY FINISHED.

What are you trying to rebuild that seems illogical to those around you? What are you trying to solve that seems impossible? I pray you sense God’s protection around as He equips you with His Spirit to do all He has called you to do. And when others question your integrity, mock your purpose, or twist your words, may you lift up your eyes to the Lord of mercy who has called you for such a time as this.

I lift my eyes to you,
O God, enthroned in heaven.
We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy,
just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy,
for we have had our fill of contempt.
We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud
and the contempt of the arrogant.
– Psalm 123:1-4