Generations Community Church

In this final act in the Book of Esther, we see see the effects of a great reversal. Mordecai (the Jew) is vindicated. Queen Esther is vindicated. The Jews still living throughout the Persian Empire are vindicated. And, at the end of it all, God (Himself) is vindicated...because God always keeps His promises. At the end of everything, God will be vindicated, and those who put their trust in Him will also be vindicated.

In this final act in the Book of Esther, we see see the effects of a great reversal. Mordecai (the Jew) is vindicated. Queen Esther is vindicated. The Jews still living throughout the Persian Empire are vindicated. And, at the end of it all, God (Himself) is vindicated...because God always keeps His promises. At the end of everything, God will be vindicated, and those who put their trust in Him will also be vindicated.

Life is full of reversals. There's the seemingly perfect marriage that plods along for 25 years only to be ripped apart by an affair and divorce. There's the uber-successful brother-in-law who purchases a vacation home and get promoted every year - only to suffer bankruptcy and the loss of everything. And then there are the other kind of reversals - the quiet friend at school who wasn't involved in ANY extra-curricular activities who, later in life, writes a NYT best-selling book. With these dramatic reversals in life, no one sees it coming. And that's the kind of reversal we see in the account of Esther - who foreshadows another grand reversal.

Life is full of reversals. There's the seemingly perfect marriage that plods along for 25 years only to be ripped apart by an affair and divorce. There's the uber-successful brother-in-law who purchases a vacation home and get promoted every year - only to suffer bankruptcy and the loss of everything. And then there are the other kind of reversals - the quiet friend at school who wasn't involved in ANY extra-curricular activities who, later in life, writes a NYT best-selling book. With these dramatic reversals in life, no one sees it coming. And that's the kind of reversal we see in the account of Esther - who foreshadows another grand reversal.

In the Middle East today, when a car accident happens (the fender-bender kind), everyone stops. Everyone gets out of their car. Because they might KNOW one of the people involved, and they might ALSO know someone at the police department (or hospital, or justice center). And they have an OBLIGATION to be a "friend" to their acquaintance involved in the wreck. We really don't have a word in English to adequately translate what a "mediator" is or does. Pity, because it's at the heart of how God uses Esther to rescue His people - and it's at the heart of what Jesus Christ has done for all who are saved.

In the Middle East today, when a car accident happens (the fender-bender kind), everyone stops. Everyone gets out of their car. Because they might KNOW one of the people involved, and they might ALSO know someone at the police department (or hospital, or justice center). And they have an OBLIGATION to be a "friend" to their acquaintance involved in the wreck. We really don't have a word in English to adequately translate what a "mediator" is or does. Pity, because it's at the heart of how God uses Esther to rescue His people - and it's at the heart of what Jesus Christ has done for all who are saved.

In 1998, things hit the fan for then-president Bill Clinton. His two-year affair with 24-year-old Monica Lewinsky was made public. Setting aside the politics of it, most of us, had we been Monica's parents, would have felt that the president abused his power and mistreated our daughter. And so it is with presidents, kings, comedians, CEO's, pastors, and other people in positions of power and authority. And it's not unlike the Persian world of roughly 479 B.C. It's a culture where those in power ABUSE power and EXPLOIT others...so much so it makes you wonder if God is even paying attention. And yet, the account of Esther (and the book named after her in the Bible) tells us a LOT about how God works - and points to something (and someone) much, much better.

In 1998, things hit the fan for then-president Bill Clinton. His two-year affair with 24-year-old Monica Lewinsky was made public. Setting aside the politics of it, most of us, had we been Monica's parents, would have felt that the president abused his power and mistreated our daughter. And so it is with presidents, kings, comedians, CEO's, pastors, and other people in positions of power and authority. And it's not unlike the Persian world of roughly 479 B.C. It's a culture where those in power ABUSE power and EXPLOIT others...so much so it makes you wonder if God is even paying attention. And yet, the account of Esther (and the book named after her in the Bible) tells us a LOT about how God works - and points to something (and someone) much, much better.

In our November InterGen, Pastor Max retells the account of Joshua, Caleb and the twelve spies. Twelve spies were sent into the (promised) land to scout it out, map it, and report back what they had seen. Ten spies were afraid. Two spies were not. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to do what you should do (even when you're afraid).

In our November InterGen, Pastor Max retells the account of Joshua, Caleb and the twelve spies. Twelve spies were sent into the (promised) land to scout it out, map it, and report back what they had seen. Ten spies were afraid. Two spies were not. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to do what you should do (even when you're afraid).