Walk With Me #Deararn.

God’s Letter to You

“My son Job, I decided to write you this in reply to all you have been saying in my ears. I know we are close, but for a brief moment, you forgot that we were not mates. I think you should know some things. I made the world and decided how large it would be. I did the survey. I hold the pillars that support the earth. I laid the cornerstones of the world. Whilst I was doing all that, the stars were singing, and the heavenly beings were so happy.

Job my dear; I closed the gates to hold back the sea. I decided where its boundaries would be. I told the lights when to go on, and I tell them when not to hide the deeds of the wicked.

They know when to show forth the hills and the valleys. They also know when to make the wicked uncomfortable. Did you even know that there are springs in the sea? Or that there are floors in the oceans? Job, there is a lot you do not know. There are mysteries to life, and the dead have their space. There is a light source and darkness has roots.

I have storerooms I bet you did not know. In them, I keep hail and snow. They are my weapons of war. I know what lions eat, and I make sure they are available. I also ensure that the ravens as small as they are well fed. Have you ever noticed when mountain goats or even deer give birth? Do you understand their time of life? Tell me, what do you know about them? It is for me the wild ox works. I decide where they live and how they function.

Think about this, the ostrich, very foolish animal. She lays eggs and forgets about them. She does not care if those eggs are destroyed. She cares less about her young yet, when the ostrich runs, the horse and its riders are laughable. Job, the horse is not a small animal, she is a force to be reckoned with. As big as it is, it leaps like locusts, unafraid of battle, excited in war. Check out the eagle, exceptional being. Waits for no command of yours! Its home is high up on the rocks.

Beside me Job, you do not measure. I am a just God; how dare you imagine you understand my ways? My voice thunders loud. I am clothed in majesty and glory. I pour my anger on the proud to humble them. Behemoth the hippo is a beast, monstrous being. Do you know its food is grass? There is a lot you do not know, and even if you knew, you could not explain the complexities.

You are my son; I was just bragging on you. As you know, I can do as I please. I know you are wiser now. We'll talk later, but for now, you can have your life back. You have a better life than the one you had before all your troubles.”

My friend, if God were to write you a letter now, what will He say to you? Will yours be like Job or should we just let our imaginations be? But you know He already wrote to you. His letter to you is called the Bible. I know you have read parts of it, but did you pay attention to the issues He raised? Take my advice, take His thoughts seriously. The keys to the mysteries of your life

(Job 38:1-41 my paraphrase)

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone – while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’? “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garmen

Life Lessons

He was a good man who fell on bad times. He tried to do right by everyone. Minded his business and was well respected by everyone until life dealt him a nasty blow. Folks had always wondered how everything went on so smoothly for him. How was he managing to keep it all together? Now that times were rough, they had the answer! He must have been bad all along. No wonder, they thought, he had it too good. 'Who has it all? We have always felt something was amiss just that we could not pin it. Now we know.'

God cannot be mocked. Whatsoever a man sowed, he must reap! The worst blow was that which came from friends and family. They knew him well. They saw his goings-on, and at least they used to acknowledge that he tried his best, until things went south for him. Their opinions were as varied as there were human beings. Each one was pointing to the fact that God must be punishing him for some hidden sin. After all, no evil went unnoticed. They were wise men, older men, anointed men, experienced men and more. They should know but did they?

Their analysis was fascinating. One thought Job was arrogant, another thought he was secretly sinning; yet another had lived long enough to know this was the way God dealt with pretenders. All sorts and all way off! Job reacted well to their accusations. What could he say? The odds were against him. All evidence showed him guilty. Everyone, including his closest allies who left all to come to help him out judged him sinful. But he knew better. The evidence stacked up, but his heart was clean. He could not prove his innocence, but he knew he was blameless. No one believed him, but that did not alter the truth. He knew about the invisible hand, but no one was hitting home.

I am sure some of us can relate. Ever had your life dissected by shepherds who should bind you up? Ever had to endure snide remarks from people you entrusted with your pain? Do you know the agony of being pronounced guilty when you don't even know the offence? Has anyone ever called your name and you wondered how he or she came about that name? Have you ever been grossly misunderstood? Has anyone ever judged you unfairly? Have you ever wished for death because the earth and its inhabitants we're so hostile? Ask Job; he is a professor in that field. He knows that road well.

Job's friends did not let up; your situation may be hell-bent on making you backslide. The times were rough for Job, but things turned around for him. Hold on my friend; God may be bragging on you! Job got double for his trouble, the promise we have is far better? God's ability reaches a thousandfold. Folks may have had a field day criticizing you. Wait for God, when the beat changes, they would sing another tune.

Death may look like the only option but have you ever wondered why you are still here? The stuff you have been through has taken stronger men out. But here you are still hanging in there. Curse God and die! What good will that do? What does Job teach us? Many things!

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* • Experience does not define God.

* • God is too big for any finite mind.

* • Judge not; you do not have all the facts.

* • Be careful how you counsel, comfort or advice. You may be displaying your ignorance.

Job's friends set out to help; they discovered they were the ones in need. There are many more lessons to learn. I am sure we can all benefit from your insight.

Lessons From My Mother

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck…

My son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths

(Proverbs 1:8-9, 15)

What did your mother tell you? What were your father’s words? Do you hear their voice as you read this? How did they prepare you for life? Did you even have a mother or father? What were the life lessons you got from them? What did they make sure you imbibed? What did you swear you would not repeat? As I write this, I see my mother’s face and hear her voice. She always had authority in her voice. You just knew you had to do as she said. She was caring in a firm way. She told folk tales but always with a lesson in mind. She occupied you from morning till night. Now I know why (I am a mother now!)

She never said you couldn’t play with neighbours; you just knew you dared not. One of the life lessons that would not leave me: I had gone with her to the market. She pointed my attention to the woman selling pepper. The lady had a blouse and a wrapper on, and the outfit did not match. Her stall was a rickety table and bench. Maami made sure I noticed a green Mercedes 200 (at that time, it was the car the rich rode). She then noted that we, Maami and I, the pepper seller and the Benz owner had come to the same market.

She told me, I was the determinant of which of the visitors to the market I would be. If I worked hard, I would come in my Benz. If I played a little, I would come on foot or be the pepper seller. She noted that all the characters were about the same age bracket. So it was my choice. I got the message. If you do not want to serve your mate, do not play when you are supposed to work.

I am glad to say; I took her lesson. Every time I go to the market and see the pepper seller, I always have a smile on my face. I remember Maami’s words. My mother has since passed on, but her words remain:

* • Do not judge, you do not have all the facts. Things are not always as they appear.

* • Do not lie to yourself. Always be true.

* • There is always a reward, a day of reckoning,

* • God knows it all.

* • Be kind.

* • Do not give up on your dreams.

* • God is above all.

* • Everything has an expiry date as long as it is on this side of eternity.

* • Save all you can, even in giving, save.

* • There is always a due season.

* • Do not borrow.

* • Diligence ensures your place at the top.

* • Vision keeps you alive.

* • Focus on the long run

* • .Set paper on fire, the flames are wild and short-lived. Set charcoal on fire, the fire lingers on.

* • Any wind would blow out paper fuel; every wind is good for the charcoal fire.

* • God will not follow you; you should follow God.

* • Every man has a right to freedom.

* • The word of the Lord – that alone shall stand.

* • A leader is a dealer of hope.

There are many more, but we must all have our own. You must endeavour to draw up a list of what guides your life. Whose voice rings in your ears? Who raised you in Gods ways? Did they teach you to listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit? How are you doing in that regard?

The Poison Called Bitterness

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. (Hebrews 12:14-16)

Try to live at peace with everyone! Live a clean life. If you don’t, you will never see the Lord. Make sure that no one misses out on God’s wonderful kindness. Don’t let anyone become bitter and cause trouble for the rest of you. Watch out for immoral and ungodly people like Esau, who sold his future blessing for only one meal. (Hebrews 12:14-16 CEV)

My dear friends, our challenge today returns us to one of the most terrible vices that sometimes find its way into our lives as Christians. The Bible refers to it as the root of bitterness. It calls it poison; it spreads, festers and defiles. It is dangerous; it ends up killing the one who lets it in. Don't let it have room in your life. Many have fallen victim to its deadly grip. Run from it with all your might. It requires great effort from us as we live in a world of sin, but Jesus, our elder brother, went through life without bitterness, and so can we.

Many times, the reason for the bitterness is genuine but can anything be worth such costs? I dare say no. Bitterness brings out the beast in us. It makes a beautiful person ugly. It defaces the owner. Absalom would know. The Bible records that he was a very handsome young man, much loved by everyone. He let bitterness take root, and it destroyed him and caused much harm. What happened? His brother Amnon raped his sister, Tamar. It was disgraceful, annoying, shameful and most uncalled for. He said nothing (bitter people sometimes carry on like nothing's amiss). He was angry with his brother for raping his sister but more so mad with his father for doing nothing about it.

Absalom for two years did nothing, said neither good nor bad to Amnon. Everyone must have thought that it's all-good until Absalom carried out his plot of killing his brother Amnon. He did not stop there; he plotted to take over his father's throne, won the people's heart, but bitterness defiles and its end is always bad. Absalom ended up with his hair caught up on the branch of a tree. The aftermath of trying to go after his father. Bitterness will take the life of its owner. Do not let it in. It is not worth the trouble and pain that accompanies it.

Ahitophel was a good man, a trusted official. He was righteous, and his counsel was sound. He never missed it until one bitter man hooked up with another. He was grandfather to Bathseba, wife of Uriah whom David killed. He knew it was a wrong thing David did, and when it was time to advise Absalom against David, what did he recommend? 'Sleep with your father's wives in the open.' In other words, do exactly what your father did to my grandbaby. Notice he started as David's adviser; he never said anything about David's crime, but we find that he was bitter. We learn from the story of his life that the poison of bitterness destroys from inside. Ahitophel ended up committing suicide because his counsel which until that point in time had never been rejected, was not taken. Bitterness will hang you if you don't hang it. The account is in 2 Samuel 13, 14 & 15

Beloved, who are you intensely angry with? You were wronged we agree, but would you let bitterness take your life? It is not worth that trouble. You may have to endure shame, abuse, disgrace, whatever. They may abandon you, leave you alone with the children or worse still, kill your loved ones. Whatever they did, you are the one suffering.

THE VOICE OF REASON

Everybody needs a Mordecai in his or her life. We need that voice of reason. We need the brother who loves us enough to provoke righteousness in us. We need the uncle that requires nothing from us but Christ and Him crucified. We need the friend who knows God's laws and ways enough to encourage us to refuse the attractions of the world. We need the caretaker who though they are in strange environs themselves they remember enough to know that God rules over all. That you are not in your native land does not change your identity.

We need the mom who knows our nakedness and to whom our success or lack of it does not change a thing. Esther's cousin Mordecai was more than a cousin; he became her guardian. He insisted on her staying true to her identity. He watched over her affairs daily. He knew better than to leave her well-being to chance. He nudged her into destiny. He understood the times. He knew when destiny was knocking.

Mordecai was so secure in himself; he would not compromise his stand with his God even in the face of death. We all need a Mordecai in our lives. Someone who knows the real you sometimes saw your beginning, saw you become who you are now and is not threatened by your position or status. We need someone who reminds us of our identity in Christ in God, folks who encourage us to defy the forces of evil in and around us. We need people who will spur us on, especially at critical moments in our lives and destiny. We need someone who provokes righteousness in us.

Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, (Esther 2:5)

Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. (Esther 2:7)

Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her. (Esther 2:11)

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. (Esther 4:1)

He sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 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?” (Esther 4:13-14)

Beloved, do you have a Mordecai in your life? They can be your spouse, your friend, your child, a teacher, pastor, etc. Whatever your circumstance, we must have people around us to whom we can be accountable. We need people who can confront us when we are on the wrong path. We need people who can rebuke us when the need arises. We need people to whom our success or failure does not change a thing. They are in our lives to provoke righteousness. They are also there to cheer us on. They are there to celebrate the finish line with us, there to hold us up when we falter. Who is your Mordecai?

Someone might say, the Holy Spirit. I agree, but I also believe we need humans who are Christ lovers and Kingdom-minded and can judge between good and evil. If you do not have any Mordecai in your life, you need a rethink. You might very well be living in a dangerous alley.

A Grateful Heart (2) Why give thanks? Because God’s mercies endure forever. Where do we give thanks? Amongst the people, amongst the heathen and in the congregation of men: Therefore I will praise you, Lord among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. (2 Samuel 22:50) Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done. … Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever. … With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, “for His love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:8, 34 & 41) Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. (Psalms 18:49) I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. (Psalms 35:18) Can’t we say thank you in our hearts, yes, we can! But who would not want to tell the whole world about all the marvellous things God has done. The truth is, you would not be able to keep quiet after you have seen God’s mercy and deliverance. Who would want to stay silent after waiting to have a baby for twenty-five years? Even if you wanted to, the congregation of men around you would not. How can a whole nation keep quiet after being set free? They, their fathers, their grandfathers have been slaves for 430 years. All they knew was slavery. All of a sudden, the turnaround came, they just saw the enemies drown at the Red Sea. How can anyone not shout God’s praise? Remember when He snatched you from the jaws of death? Do not forget when he healed your diseases. Keep in mind when He fed your hungry soul. There is no way Hannah would not praise. Do you know how many years she had to endure Peninah’s taunts? They were like daggers in her heart every time she had to endure them, but, she no longer had to. God had answered her. Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn[a] is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. “Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed. “The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away. “The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world. He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” (1 Samuel 2:1-10) I know you are grateful, or at least I hope you are thankful, but who have you told of God's mercies in your life? Who heard you sing of His faithfulness? A grateful heart is a songs-full heart. You don't need encouragement to sing when your heart is full of thanks. Who has come to trust in Him because of His deeds in your life? When the man that was born blind regained his sight in John 9, his testimony could not be contested. He even told them he did not care what they thought of Him; all he knew was that the man who gave him back his sight must be holy since God does not answer sinners. Your testimony should draw folks to God and make their hearts yearn for Him. Your joy should be contagious.

A Grateful Heart

For the small things, for the big deals

For the grey ways, and the bright rays

For friends that stop to care, and cares that rolled away

For bodies that were prevented from wear

For unprofitable ties that were broken

For wisdom that brought the life and habits that led from death

For hands that brought the wealth and counsel led from hell

For grace that kept alive and mercy that swayed from deep wells

A grateful heart, a rare find

Today we bring, to the One to whom

Heavens and angels bows, before whom mountains skip, and Hills melt.

To whom the redeemed all come

A grateful heart.

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. (Psalm 29)

Beloved, as we step into a new day, let us deliberately stop to say thank you. Think about all the things in and around you that you ought to be grateful for. Make a list! The songwriter advised, count your blessings name them one by one. We need to stop, give thought to our lives, wherever you are in life, there is more than enough reason to be grateful to God.

If you can read this, you need to be grateful for your eyes. If you were able to pick up the gadget from where you got to read this, it means you have hands and feet that move. You need to stop to say thank you.

If whilst reading this, your thoughts went to other things, it means you are not brain dead. You need to stop and say thank you. If you can collect your thoughts, you can dream. Gratitude should be your companion.

If you did not need to be visited in the hospital, you need to regard the invisible hand. Even if this met you on a hospital bed, it means there is still hope. Your case is not closed. My friend, thank Him who alone is the giver of life.

If you had to wonder where your meals would come from, at least it came. Thank you is the word you are looking for.

There are so many things to be grateful for. Stop to count and account for the many reasons you need to be thankful. Things are usually not as bad as the devil would have us think. If you look close enough, you will see how the hand of God has always been underneath you, ensuring you do not fall and that the paths before you are straightened. His hands are filling up valleys and levelling mountains.

God Will Defend His Own

He had it all – power, fame, influence. He could do as he pleased; he was second in command to the king. Yet he was insecure. All the power meant nothing as long as the gateman would not bow to him. What did our Prime Minister resort to? An evil plot, to wipe out the gateman and all his kin from the land. How did he plan to carry this out? Simple: a promise to enrich the nation's coffers. After all, the king himself was not a deep person. How else can we explain the lifestyle of a king whose only resume was party and wine?

Haman was a descendant of Agag the Amalekite. They had been enemies of the Jews forever. How was it that Haman did not remember that Agag lost his life as a result of hating the Jews? How could he hope to win a fight against the Jews? He forgot that you could not win a battle against covenant people? History was about to repeat itself.

What kind of a soul would seek to wipe out a whole generation just because he had a rift with one person? How did he think that God would let that ride? Haman was soon to learn that God would defend His people against all the odds.

After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. Then Haman said to King Xerxes, ….

(Esther 3:1-15)

Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honoured him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials…

(Esther 5:9-14)

Did anyone notice that this king never made any decision on his own? All his choices were as advised. Who were the advisers – ego-tripping fellas, power-hungry blokes? Pray, how could a whole nation be under such base mortals? The signs were there, you did not fight God’s people and win; he could see it, his cronies could see it, but he had gone too far to care. He would not rest until he saw their end. The end, he saw all right, but it was his end. May the lot of your enemies be like that of Haman!

How ambitious could anyone be, how power-drunk could they get? Why punish a whole generation because of one man? Haman found out the hard way that God would defend His own. May your detractors find the finger of your God!

Beloved, which one are you? Haman or Mordecai? Are you so power intoxicated you would stop at nothing until you got everyone bowing to you?

Please desist before you go the way of Haman. It is no use kicking against the bricks. The only one who would get hurt would be you. If you are Mordecai, you need to keep upholding the faith of your fathers. Stand by the truth. Only the truth will stand; according to the word, there is no counsel against the truth.

God Is Up To Something (2)

Grace placed her in the palace. In the natural, she was a slave girl. There were many like her, but this one was different. She was not only beautiful, there was a certain air around her. You just fell in love with her, and you wanted to do her good. Hegai, the king’s eunuch could not help but favour her. She was a young girl who needed to be guided; her parents already died, so it fell on Cousin Mordecai to do the guidance.

For a brief moment, she forgot that she was one on a mission. Cousin M had to remind her. The palace did not guarantee safety; God always had alternatives. God could and would consistently deliver when we called on Him. No matter how much you tried to forget, your identity remained your identity. A black man cannot become white just by bleaching his skin.

Having been woken out of slumber, she took on the crusade, asked for help and back up from her kin. Esther, our dear deliverer, was in the palace and there was a sentence of death hanging over her and her kin. She could choose to ignore it; after all, she was in the palace, and no one knew she was a Jew. Really? Her uncle quizzed. Suppose the reason for her existence was for that critical time? Did she think beauty was enough?

She heard Mordecai and understood well what he was getting at. The Jews were covenant people. To be enlisted in the army of deliverers was a rare privilege. To be used of God in the life of His people was uncommon grace. To pass on such privilege was to sign your death sentence. Esther chose to face death, and through looking death in the eye, she found real life. Her people were free. Her enemies got what was coming to them.

Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 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.” So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions. (Esther 4:5-17)

Esther's story continued... What do we learn from her story?

* • God will depose kings and nobles just to give His people a chance.

* • God packages big things in small doses.

* • We are in our particular location on purpose.

* • There is an assignment for everyone.

* • Fortified walls do not guarantee safety.

* • Enemies of God's people will not give up unless they see God's hand.

...

God Is Up To Something

He may very well have been any African king: ego-tripping and wine bibbing. The only thing is that the story is set in the Middle East. Did the Bible not say:

Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning. Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness. (Ecclesiastes 10:16-17)

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

(Proverbs 20:1)

He was the king, powerful but insecure. Fancy giving a child a loaded gun! He surrounded himself with folks like him. What serious-minded soul parties for months on end? How is it that the ones who have rule are babies at best?

In Esther 1, we have a king who was not just tripping; he extended it to his wife. She was summoned to do a beauty parade. She saw through it and refused. The only thing, he was the king, and you did not say no to the king. You would incur the king’s wrath. His ego was bruised and armed with advice from his cronies; the queen was deposed.

On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him – Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas – 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. But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger. (Esther 1:10-12)

The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honour. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world. (1 Samuel 2:7-8)

The thing to note, however, is that the events had God working behind the scenes. Vashti had to be deposed so Esther could become queen and her people could be emancipated. If your name is Vashti, you will do well to check if God is making a demand on you even if it does not make sense.