SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Esther 9; Esther 10; Luke 19 (New International Version) 

Scripture-My special verse today:    Esther 10:1 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. 2 And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king had raised him, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia? 3Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews. 

Observation:  A well thought out plot is foiled by the shrewdness of Mordecai.  Finding out that Haman is going to have the Jews annihilated, he manages to stop the plan by using Esther’s heritage to save her own people.  He doesn’t rush in to stop the plan, no he acts wisely and puts things in motion.  Thus, at the end of Esther, Mordecai is raised to a power second the the king himself.  He is wise and shrewd, someone the king wants on his side.  He is remembered in the Bible forever because of his love for his people.

 Application:  Does timing matter?  How many times have I rushed to do something on my own time instead of God’s time?  God is truly in control yet I feel the need to tell him about the injustices I witness.  Then, I go on to tell him the way to fix them.  However, God needs neither me nor my ideas if he chooses to fix a wrong.  He will do it despite me.  Sometimes I am part of the solution and sometimes I am part of the problem.  Let me slow down and see how God is working out the situation and then I can join along with him.

 Prayer:  Let me get out of the way and let you be God.

SOAP FOR TODAY

Scripture for today:  Esther 3; Esther 4; Esther 5; Esther 6; Esther 7; Esther 8; Luke 18 (New International Version) 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Esther 8:3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king. ^[a] ” 

Observation:  What a beautiful story of love and redemption.  Esther, a Jew, becomes the Queen purely through the providence of God in order to save her people.  At this point, she tells the King that Haman has tricked the king into destroying her people.  She risks her life at this point to come to him and beg his intervention in the matter.  It is a time when the King truly retracts his order and orders Haman to be killed.

 Application:  I truly love the story of Esther.  She is both strong and beautiful, a woman who holds on to her convictions through it all.  Although she could have easily forgotten her people once she got to a place of regality, she risks her own life to save her people from the evil plot of Haman.  She is unable to just tell the King until the time is right and when she does it is said in such a way that he believes her immediately.  She bides her time until it is right and allows him to right a terrible wrong.

How many times do I blurt out things when it would have been easier to wait for my opportune time?  I would be wise to learn from Esther that God is always in control and that he always provides a way out, no  matter what the situation.

 Prayer:  Let me let you lead me each and every day.