Session Four - Esther 4:11-17

Can you imagine living without fear?

I am a few weeks behind in summarizing Session 4 but that statement reminds me how powerful the session was.  If you recall, we were at the point in the story where Esther had a choice to make - would she default to self preservation or would she step up to the plate of brave determination.  It was easier hearing the words from Esther's life - "if I perish, I perish" - than sitting down and filling in the blank from our listening guide - "And if __________ then __________." But I love how Beth led us up to it.

She talked about the proverbial "wife of noble/virtuous character" (Prov. 31:10).  I will never roll my eyes again when I hear that passage because of what we learned about the word "noble".  The Hebrew word, chayil, translates as "valour" . . . it's an army term . . . it means to be BRAVE (Judges 6:12 - http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2428&t=NIV).

The single, most profound characteristic of the Proverbs 31 woman - BRAVE?  Yes, BRAVE!!!!

Beth talked about how Esther overcame herself, rose to the the challenge of where God had placed her and faced her fear - " . . . and if I perish, I perish." . . . and ;then shared with us a story from her life. Actually, she modeled how she faced the greatest fear in her life - what is the worst thing that can happen? . . . and if this, then what?

I love how:

• she spoke out loud the words of conditional faith that many of us have heard in our own heads - "I will trust God to never let ______ happen to me."
• she spoke out loud what is so hard to offer - "Will I trust God, period?" (Job 13:15)
• incredibly clear it became to fill in the blanks . . . "And if this, then GOD!!!!"

Our scenario for the coming week's homework came halfway through the session, Scenario #5 - it's tough being a woman in the tight fist of fear.   From that, Beth talked about facing one of life's biggest fears - the fear of death -  and then took us to God's Word to see what He did about it:

     "By embracing death, taking it into Himself, He destroyed the Devil's hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death."

(Hebrews 2:14-15, The Message)

She showed us what He said about it:

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ."

And finally, she showed us we have our own "for such a time as this".  Like Esther, we have the choice to take the courage we are offered because there is something more important than fear:

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."

(Galatians 2:20, John 17:3, Colossians 2:13, Ephesians 2:6)

Ah, I am roused to live my life courageously!  Thank you NOBLE women, for taking this journey of the heart with me.  Jan : )

Session Three - Esther 4:1-14

What a session!!!! 

My two pages of notes have writing scribbled all over them as Beth took us through this section of  Esther, "The Human Dilemna of Destiny".

We learned that destiny can:

• rise up at inopportune times . . . the crisis of Esther's people necessitated an audience between Esther and her King and husband during a time of his absence in their relationship - Esther 4:11b -  " . . . but 30 days have passed since I was called to go to the King."
• demand unreasonable expectations . . . the crisis of Esther's people, the Jews, became a personal crisis for Esther
• require risky identification . . . in accepting her destiny, Esther would have to reveal her identity as a Jew, the very identity she had been advised to hide for the sake of her safety
• hinge on an unanswered question . . . because of the hugeness of what the answer might be - Esther 4:14b - " . . . And who knows that . . . "

A couple of things that stood out for me:

• our egos would rather be special than useful . . . ouch!
• when what we have is acquired through beauty (or other surface attributes) alone, how do we keep what was acquired?
• how do we risk transparency when we hope that the stuff that would identify us as desperately flawed would be forever behind us?
• can I trust that God will give me favour and use me as I step out "just as I am" into His destiny for me?

Other personal thoughts?  Please feel free to share them on "The Upper Room . . . thoughts, etc." via the link to your right.

As you work through this week's homework, take with you Scenario #4 - it's tough being a woman thrown a giant-sized weight."

See you all on Saturday . . . Jan : )

PS:  I am copying a link to the Steven Curtis Chapman song (from his official website - http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/thismoment.htm) referred to as you make your way through the homework to Page 103 . . . no, don't turn there, work your way there, lol!!!! 

Sesson Two - Esther 3:1-5

In the "better late than never" category - thank you for your patience! - I would like to recap our last Saturday study session. Hopefully, you have been able to get into the homework for Week 3 – A Raging Passion for Honor and have connected well with Scenario #3 – It's tough being a woman in a mean world.

If you recall in the last session, Beth traced the history between the nation of Israel and the Amalekites, exposing the roots of the rivalry and the reason for the meanness Haman, the Amalekite, displayed toward Mordecai, THE JEW -

• Deuteronomy 25:18 tell us that the Amalekites "had no fear of God"
• Exodus 17:16 tells us "the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation
• 1 Samuel 15 shows us that Israel disobeyed God's instructions to wipe the Amalekites out completely.

We also learned some things about meanness. Meanness –

• always has a history. . . there is always a reason
• perceives a threat . . . insecurity is at the heart of every rivalry
• catches like a virus . . . but it is curable!

One major thought we were left with was that there isn't just a "Haman" out there - there is a "Haman" inside ourselves - and we have a choice to ask God for the power to quit the competition and leave the battle to Him.

Romans 12:17-19 – Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath . . .

Bless you . . . it's been a long two and a half weeks since we've been together and I am looking forward to seeing you all this Saturday! Jan : )

Session One - Esther 2:1-7

Ladies . . . I hope you are all having a great start to the week : ) Here is a bit of a review from the study this last Saturday . . .

In Session One of our study, Beth introduced two key players in the drama of Esther, aka Hadasseh, with the reminder that "first mentions" are important . . . they are about information to be remembered . . . information that colors the view of the unfolding story.

Some of the first mentions in our study passage, Esther 2:1-7, pertained to Mordecai - he was a Jew . . . he was an exile, and he found himself quite suddenly parenting his cousin – Hadasseh . . . a girl!

First mentions pertaining to Hadasseh (Hebrew for fragrance) – she was also Jewish . . . suddenly under the guardianship of her male cousin . . . and she was very lovely.

I don't know about you but I love how Beth brings history into her studies. We learned that :

• historically, the Jews who had been taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar and who eventually ended up living in Susa were not the poor Jews of the nation of Israel
• even though these Jews were living in exile – away from their home land - they were not stuck there . . . they remained in exile out of choice
• these Jews were not necessarily observant Jews . . . quite the contrary, they were in danger of becoming secularized in a land far from their own
• God was up to something!

Some strong points to ponder:

• the Hebrew word for future (Jer. 29:11) has the same root as behind and future
• Hadasseh's past was tied in to her destiny and God had a purpose for all of it
• we cannot amputate our history from our destiny . . . it is part of who we will become and what God will redeem and use
• know that you ARE beautiful - it's not what you do
• let the beauty of the Lord on you be the beauty that sustains you (Psalm 90:17)

As you head into Week 2 – A Contest for a Queen, keep in mind Scenario #2 – It's tough being a woman in a world where beauty is a treatment.

I am looking forward to seeing you all in a couple of weeks . . . Jan.

Introduction

Congratulations, Ladies . . . we're on our way! We made it through the Introductory session of our new study, and we learned a few things.

We learned:

• that the Hebrew term for the Book of Esther is "Megillah", which means "the Scroll, par excellence";
• that Esther is a Diaspora story . . . a story taking place during a time when the Jews were not living in the Land of Israel;
• that God is not mentioned once in the whole Book of Esther . . . but He is all over it!
• that the story of Esther offers tremendous hope because, even when we're blind to the evidence, God "works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will" (Eph. 1:11) and that He "works in you to will and to act according to that good purpose". (Phil. 2:13)

Any further points . . . thoughts, insights . . . ?

I am looking forward to getting into my homework for Week One - A Royal Mess. Sounds intriguing . . . and remember, pay attention to the thought weaving through the homework this week -

Scenario #1 - It's tough being a women in another woman's shadow!

In the days ahead, may God show you the places in your life where He is "working in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."

See you in a couple of weeks . . . Jan.