Day 18 - 40 Days in the Old Testament
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Old Testament
Day 18 | ESTHER IS ALL-IN
40 Days in the Old Testament
Day 18 | ESTHER IS ALL-IN
ESTHER IS ALL-IN
Esther 4:14-16
“‘For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’ Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘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.’” (NIV)
Esther is one of two books in the Bible named after a woman and God is neither mentioned nor quoted in this book. Nonetheless, He is VERY present. The timing appears to be when the Jews were still exiled in Persia. For years, the Israelites had learned – after leaving Egypt – how to be a people of God in the land that He had promised. Now they are learning how to be His people away from the Promised Land.
Esther’s story of how she became the Queen is fantastic (the Book of Esther is only five chapters long – hint hint). Additionally, she was used to saving her people (God’s people) during a strategic power struggle when Haman – the King’s main advisor – wanted to exterminate all the Jews in the Persian Empire. He didn’t want to tolerate them; he wanted them all dead. (Does that sound vaguely familiar? World War 2? How about today? How about Iran, who wants to “exterminate them” just like Hitler did in his time and Haman in his.)
But God … (love those two words) … provided a way and fulfilled His promise to His Chosen people who survived – though not without losses – attempts to kill them all.
We learn in part from Esther that God protects His people even when He seems quiet. Today, the LORD expects us to exercise our faith – as Esther did – especially in times of difficulty and danger.
Prayer: LORD, help me to stand firm in the face of whatever comes my way. My faith is ultimately in You alone. Amen.
Esther 4:14-16
“‘For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’ Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘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.’” (NIV)
Esther is one of two books in the Bible named after a woman and God is neither mentioned nor quoted in this book. Nonetheless, He is VERY present. The timing appears to be when the Jews were still exiled in Persia. For years, the Israelites had learned – after leaving Egypt – how to be a people of God in the land that He had promised. Now they are learning how to be His people away from the Promised Land.
Esther’s story of how she became the Queen is fantastic (the Book of Esther is only five chapters long – hint hint). Additionally, she was used to saving her people (God’s people) during a strategic power struggle when Haman – the King’s main advisor – wanted to exterminate all the Jews in the Persian Empire. He didn’t want to tolerate them; he wanted them all dead. (Does that sound vaguely familiar? World War 2? How about today? How about Iran, who wants to “exterminate them” just like Hitler did in his time and Haman in his.)
But God … (love those two words) … provided a way and fulfilled His promise to His Chosen people who survived – though not without losses – attempts to kill them all.
We learn in part from Esther that God protects His people even when He seems quiet. Today, the LORD expects us to exercise our faith – as Esther did – especially in times of difficulty and danger.
Prayer: LORD, help me to stand firm in the face of whatever comes my way. My faith is ultimately in You alone. Amen.
Recent
Categories
Archive
2025
January
40 DAYS OF NEW - 0340 DAYS OF NEW - 0440 DAYS OF NEW - 0540 DAYS OF NEW - 0640 DAYS OF NEW - 0740 DAYS OF NEW - 0840 DAYS OF NEW - 0940 DAYS OF NEW - 1040 DAYS OF NEW - 1140 DAYS OF NEW - 1240 DAYS OF NEW - 1340 DAYS OF NEW - 1440 DAYS OF NEW - 1540 DAYS OF NEW - 1640 DAYS OF NEW - 1740 DAYS OF NEW - 1840 DAYS OF NEW - 1940 DAYS OF NEW - 2040 DAYS OF NEW - 2140 DAYS OF NEW - 2240 DAYS OF NEW - 2340 DAYS OF NEW - 2440 DAYS OF NEW - 25
February
40 DAYS OF NEW - 2640 DAYS OF NEW - 2740 DAYS OF NEW - 2840 DAYS OF NEW - 2940 DAYS OF NEW - 3040 DAYS OF NEW - 3140 DAYS OF NEW - 3240 DAYS OF NEW - 3340 DAYS OF NEW - 3440 DAYS OF NEW - 3540 DAYS OF NEW - 3640 DAYS OF NEW - 3740 DAYS OF NEW - 3840 DAYS OF NEW - 3940 DAYS OF NEW - 4040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 05
March
40 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 26
April
40 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 4040 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0140 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0240 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0340 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0440 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0540 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0640 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0740 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 08
May
40 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0940 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1040 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1140 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1240 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1340 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1440 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1540 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1640 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1740 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1840 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1940 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 2040 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 2140 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 22