The Jesus Bible Reading Plan / GOD PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan

Day 35 of 365 GOD PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE Mordecai trusted God to protect his people. Since Mordecai was a devout Jew, we can be sure that his faith and resolve stood on the firm foundation of what the prophets of God proclaimed. God had previously said through the prophet Isaiah, "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you" (Isa 43:4 - 5). Mordecai could see how God had allowed Esther to become queen so she could be used by God to save her people and fulfill the promises of God. As her adoptive father, Mordecai would have taught Esther how to put her trust in God, take a step of faith and believe God would give her favor. Mordecai advised Queen Esther to "go into the king's presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people" (Est 4:8). Likewise, in each struggle, trial and pain, believers "have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One" (1Jn 2:1). Every presented request is an opportunity for Jesus to intercede. Believers can be sure that God wants to use his children to do great things. The words of the prophet Isaiah are a rallying cry: "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch" (Isa 62:1). If Esther kept silent, Mordecai was sure that deliverance would "arise from another place" (Est 4:14). Queen Esther undoubtedly found courage in the promises of God. Her faith became greater than her doubt. "I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish" (4:16). Ultimately, she was willing to sacrifice her own life, foreshadowing the willingness of Jesus to die for us (Lk 22:42; Ro 5:6 - 11). As the body of Christ, the church has the assurance that whatever the circumstances, no matter how awful it seems, nothing will be able to separate us from God's love (Ro 8:38 - 39). Jesus, help me to find courage in the promises of God. Help me to follow Esther's example-to live boldly, selflessly and faithfully. Amen. Esther 4:7-16 NASB 7 Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict which had been issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her, and to order her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people. 9 Hathach came back and related Mordecai's words to Esther. 10Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai: 11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days." 12 They related Esther's words to Mordecai. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. 14For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" Esther Plans to Intercede 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,