Esther Chapter 2

These are the notes from the second study from the Book of Esther. Esther chapter 2

2:1 ; *It’s been three years since the war party. King Ahasuerus failed to conquer Greece, and returns to Shushan in humiliation. Adding to his shame, he remembers the stupid law. Vashti still belongs to the King but wherever she’s being kept, her quarters would be more of a prison than a home. She can’t be thrown out for she’s the former Queen, and she can’t be tossed into the harem for the same reason. Xerxes problem, he doesn’t have a Queen beside him while he attempts to reorganize his kingdom and its defeated army. His kingdom is a shambles.

The most amazing thing? God sees all and knows all. There is nothing in the hearts of all mankind that God doesn’t know about. God even sees what is coming. Almighty God is without equal!

The king has concubines galore, but the throne needs a woman of beauty with a sound reputation, whom the court approves joined to the king with a proper setting. An already owned sex-slave cannot fill that position. Just like in chapter 1—two wrongs don’t make a right.

In ch 1, it was the wise men who instructed the king to write the law dethroning Vashti. Ch 2:2, it’s not even the wise men but his servants suggest gathering virgins for the king to choose a queen from.

So the order goes out to herd young women to the palace, like cattle. Conscripted by order, yanked from their homes and parents arms, many never to be seen by family again. They were essentially kidnapped for the king’s pleasure.

Can you imagine the crying? The terror? The sorrow that they will never be loved wives, or mothers? No homes, nor husbands or children to take care of? Only one can be Queen, the rest will be sex-slaves for the rest of their lives.

2:2-4. It’s not his wise men but his servants that advise him now. And this thing pleased the king. The thing being kidnapping beautiful girls. What do you think? (In a moral society, this would, should be, be sickening.)

2:5,6,7. God inserts Himself in between Xerxes idea & his implementing it. By inserting Mordecai into the palace, God has changed the outcome already.

2:5-6. God shows up! God is so amazing. Although never mentioned, Holy God appears regularly in the movement of different events and different lives. Something horrible is about to happen but Almighty God inserts His presence into the story.

It’s like Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. God knew they would need powerful encouragement, as the persecution became very heavy in that city. God sent them a wonderful love letter through Paul’s hand. Thessalonians 2:7-12. You need God—God shows up!

Mordecai lives in the Capital city, and more importantly, he has retained his heritage. This is more proof of God appearance in this book---the choice of Mordecai as a devout Jew, strong in his faith and the pride of his heritage.

What can Christians express pride in? (Psalm 34:2, 44:8, 2 Corinthians 9:2, Galatians 6:14)

God told the Jews to always remember their families names and heritage. It seems Mordecai was born while his family was captives, as it was his great great grandfather who was carried away from Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar captured the city. (2 Kings 24:14) Kish must have been a mighty man in Jerusalem, because the best were taken during the first captivity. Kish was taken the same time as Daniel, but he wasn’t placed with Daniel with the eunuchs, as he certainly had children.(1st captivity Jeremiah 29:5-7) (Forbidden Marriage Due 7:1-3, Joshua 23:11-12, Ezra 9:1,2)

It seems Kish and his decedents kept their Jewish linage clean from inter marriage.

For some reason Mortdecai did not return to Jerusalem when Ezra and Nehemiah returned to rebuild. He and his family still reside in the capital Persian city of Shushan.

Esther has the same clean Jewish Lineage as Mordecai. And she is hauled off to the palace with the rest of the young girls. Her prospects of a Jewish family line ends. 

There is another young girl we know in the Bible whose family heritage was kept pure for an awesome reason. Who is that young girl? Mary. (Matthew 1:1-17)2

2:9 Esther’s character was different than any of the other girls in the harem. And her difference was noticed by the major guard of the woman, Hegai. He knew there was something different about her and he treated her with a greater respect than he did all the other women there.

2:8,9. Esther exposed the darkness of the king’s harem by her difference. Her personal holiness in a dark place made her godly character standout among the crowd, thus creating a different atmosphere around her. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

2:10, Esther is an ambassador of her people and of God. Daniel’s account was a historical fact in the Jew’s history of their captivity. There could not have been many that didn’t know how Daniel stood up for his Jewish heritage. But unlike Daniel, Esther kept her Hebrew blood a secret but she retained her learned character.

We may never have an opportunity to speak of our Christian heritage, but our character needs to be the higher standard. It doesn’t matter where we are, who we’re with, we have the mind of Christ, we have the power of God, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit. There needs to be something extraordinary about our holy conduct that even the ungodly will have to take notice.

What is holiness? What are some holy actions? Things Christians do or don’t do publically that sets them apart from the world?

Esther was different from the other women, and her difference gave her an edge in becoming Queen. Hegai was on the look-out for Queen qualities, it was part of his job. And by her more beautiful, composed, lady-like behavior, she expose the hidden things of darkness. She shined brighter in a room full of lesser characters.

Esther was beautiful but she went through the beauty treatments to make her gorgeous. Her beauty treatments went on for a year.

God says women are to shine with an inner beauty, which will shine through any mars of our outward frailties. We’re familiar with the woman of 1 Peter 3, and the Proverbs 31, woman)

We’re the Bride of Christ. We need an extraordinary interest in making ourselves beautiful in Christ.

We have a simpler beauty treatment with less stress. We’re already the Bride of the King. You want to be made beautiful? To have the inner beauty of the heart?

The Bible is your beauty treatment. Get into God’s word to be cleansed from the world. John 17: 17, Ephesians 5:22-27, Titus 3:5, Proverbs 31:17,18 & 30,

We have the Shulamite as our example also, of the love of God shining our beauty that no one else can comprehend. Loving God will draw out the beauty that only He can see in a woman.

You want to have a successful beauty treatment? Get into the word of God. Pray, read, fellowship, worship. Determine to make the effort to love the Lord with all your heart, your strength, your mind. You will be beautiful and others will see it. They may not understand it, but they will certainly see it.

2:21-23. When the trouble came, Mordecai and Esther were able to do the right thing, the right way, to have the right decision made to stop the wrong. This was just a foretaste of their work to come. And now God has Mordecai moved into the palace business district. He’s one of the movers’ and shakers in the palace politics. He’s gaining a reputation as a man of integrity. His peers trust his wisdom. They may hate him but they know he’s an honest man.

Christians need knowledge of the world. God says be as wise as serpents and gentle as doves. God says the serpent is crafty. Know the ins and outs of ruthlessness business, yet conduct business with different deliverance & purpose.

Esther and Mordecai from different positions, exposed the hidden darkness.(Ephesians 5:8-13.)

Lesson Points:

1. God knows the innermost secret hearts of all people.

2. Boast of your salvation in Christ

3. As the Bride of Christ, take an extraordinary interest in making yourself beautiful for Christ Jesus.

4. The Bible is your beauty treatment. Let God’s word cleanse you from the world.

*Historical information from Bible Knowledge Commentary & Commentary, study notes of J. Vernon McGee

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The Lamb Of God

As He grew up, Jesus saw the yearly Passover lamb killed for the Atonement for sin.

At some point in the 33 years prior to the cross, Jesus, fully human and fully God the Son, accepted the knowledge of why He came to earth.

John the Baptist said on seeing Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

His last night on earth, facing the horrifying death of the cross the next day, Jesus said to God the Father, "Not My will, but Yours be done."

At some point, Jesus the Man knew what His life was worth. He knew what His sacrifice was worth.

It was worth our lives.

Do we know this?

Do you know this?

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16.

If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, forgive you and be your Lord, pray something like this. Pray from the heart, with faith.

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner who deserves hell. I know You love me so much You died on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me of my sins against You God and against my fellow men. Please save me Jesus and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus for saving me."

If you prayed this prayer, begin reading the Bible and find other believers. Go to a Bible teaching church or join a Bible teaching group.

You may feel differently, you may not, but believe that God has heard you and He has heard your heart say the prayer. He has come to you and He has saved you forever and ever.

Tell someone you have been born again into Jesus and want to learn more about Him.

And I, Susan Estes, welcome you my Brother, my Sister, into the family of God.

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A Personal Opinion of the Fall of Mankind in Genesis 3

A personal opinion of what happened in the Garden of Eden. This is not to be taken as fact but is just an idea of mine.

After he figured out that God loved these weak little creatures Jesus made, Satan wanted to be worshiped. However, because of his newly expressed pride, Satan was kicked out of heaven for trying to elevate his position to a god.

Therefore, angry at God for not accepting his self-appointed promotion, Satan decided to see wha...t damage he could do to God's perfect little creatures. He took a walk around the Garden of Eden watching and studying the man and his wife. Finally figuring out a way to hurt them, Satan approached Eve with his evil plans.


Satan succeeded in killing the relationship between God and man by getting Eve to question God's love for her simply by making her wonder why God would tell her not to do something.

Satan killed us all, bringing the wages of sin in the form of death to all people. Spiritual death and eternal separation in hellfire from our original relationship to God and physical death in our bodies that returns to the earth God formed us from.

Thank God for His gracious salvation Jesus provided through the cross!!

Completely rhetorical question---How long would you imagine it took Satan to figure out from which tree Adam and Eve weren’t to eat?

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It Makes More Sense Than Evolved Intelligence

I believe in the Eternal Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Creator God because it makes more sense than man's evolved intelligence having imagined the creation of a Creator God.

Here's why I believe God made me and I did not make myself.

Some people are taught that human' evolved over billions years to the state we are in now. Somehow they have been convinced we are getting smarter, and more civilized as we are evolving higher and higher on the chain of life.

Huh?

Evolution teaches that the human is his or her own god because they have reached the top of the evolution of intelligence. That their deification comes from being able to think, make decisions and grasp for more in their lives to enhance own wellbeing.

Um....then after billions of years, somewhere about 7000 years ago, our beautifully, perfectly, intelligent, evolved minds decided we needed to worship a God who created us. About 7000 years ago we somehow made up a God who created heaven and earth. He created a man and woman and walked and talked with them in a Garden of Eden. (every culture discovered so far has some sort of written history similar to this and also a change in the earth resembling the flood of Noah's day)

Also our beautifully evolved intelligence decided to think up something called sin that separates us from the Creator God. Then humans decided that One God-Man would come to earth to die for all the sin of the world so we all, (perfectly evolved humans) could go be with Him forever and ever in a Paradise. We also decided that there has to be a counterpart to Paradise called Hell and the Lake of Fire for all those who somehow reject this Creator God's salvation.

Think about this--the evolved human mind had to come up with that if evolution is the truth.

If the human race has evolved to the epitome of the chain of existence, there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON for ANY human on the planet to imagine a deity higher than themselves.

That means all the religions of the world including Buddhism, Christian Science, Jehovah Witness, Mormons, Islam, every Native tribe of any land, Illuminati, Zodiac, Naturalism, & Humanism, Witchcraft, Satanism, Superior Aliens, etc.. Not only our Christianity as learned from the Holy Bible, but ALL of these would be foolishness in the imagined creation of the semblance of a god above an evolved human.

But the human mind in all parts of the world have some sort of out-of-this-world gods in their culture, some deity beyond their evolution. What for? How? Why?

So I believe Almighty God created me and has put in me the mind to seek Him and know Him. And, praise the Lord, to be saved by Him out of this sinful, crazy world and be with Him forever and ever in Paradise!! (Psalm 100)

Those who worship evolution have to figure out just which god they want to worship, since each time they add more years to their religion of evolution, they give more proof they cannot be evolved into perfection yet--and who wants an imperfect god?

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God Didn't Create People to Kill People

I don't usually make any comments about the news, because it so bothers me. But in the wake of the latest shooting in Dallas, I will say,


     Just because people are evil and do evil things hasn't made God or His love disappear. God is hurt too by these killings. God is hurt by any killings. He didn't create people to kill people.

"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
"So God made man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them"
Genesis 1:26 & 27.

      But Satan turns people evil and uses people to kill people because he hates God and the people God created.

(Satan) was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth" John 8:44.

      But God created Hell and the Lake of Fire for the punishment of Satan and evil.

"And the Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" Revelation 20:10.

      God gives the gift of salvation and entrance to His Paradise to the people who come to Him. He loves everyone. He will not turn away anyone who call upon Him to be saved.

"For all who call on the name of the LORD shall be saved" Romans 10:13.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16.

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God Does Not Change: Originally posted August 7, 2013

Reposting an early blog from August 2013

God Does Not Change

"For this reason, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" Colossians 1: 7.

     One of my favorite J. Vernon Magee quotes is, ‘Don’t let what you don’t know interfere with what you do know’. I think this very good advice for bible believing Christians. Many times, I have heard people say things about God that contradict what I know. While they may believe what they say, their ignorance or denial does not change anything about God. Paul stresses this in Galatians 2: 6 when he says, ‘But from those who seem to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.’ Paul knew that man’s ideas do not change one iota of God.

     People may preach false doctrine, or misinterpret scriptures, mistakenly or purposefully twisting them for their own agenda; it does not negate the truth about God. He has never, and will never, change. Man cannot debate God off the platform. A person may humiliate another’s intelligence. They may outtalk their opponents. They can gather others around them with similar ideals and beliefs and change human perspectives but it will never change God or make Him disappear. 

     The second Psalm states that man will try to get rid of God. Man will refuse to believe His existence. Man will attempt to claim God is an oppressor and His ways are evil, but it also states that He who sits in the heavens will laugh. God looks down on the world from His mighty throne and knows exactly what man is doing, and whatever he is doing, will not change God.

     If I listen to someone talking about God, I try to listen with the discernment of the Holy Spirit. He will always help me know the truth about what they are saying. If I get an idea that something is wrong, I listen to understand their ideas of God and their belief of salvation. Some people can talk about God with an appearance of knowing Him, but if they do not know Him as the holy, gracious, saving God I know, it will come out somewhere in their conversation. They may have the most eloquent speech, the most intelligent concepts, the most perfect arguments, and run circles around my education but one thing I know: God is my God. Jesus is my Savior.

     A Christian or a non-Christian can have knowledge beyond books learned on this earth but only a Christian will know their Savior beyond explanation by earthly means.

     1 John 5: 13, ‘These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.’

     I know that I know that I know.

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Did They Really Believe Him To Be More Than A Man?

Have you ever wondered what the disciples were doing when Jesus came into Jerusalem on the donkey? What they were thinking? Do you think they really understood?

Just a few days before Jesus entered the city, Peter had answered Jesus' question “Who do you say I am?" with “You are the Christ, the Son Of God” but none of them were thinking of the prophecies of Isaiah, even after Jesus explains it to them.

On the way to Jerusalem, James and John asked for the two seats on either side of his throne, but they are thinking of an earthly throne. We can assume that Judas might be thinking of the monies he would have to hand; about having permanent place in the court next to the king. However, what were the others thinking; Andrew, Simon the Zealot, Bartholomew; what of the women?

It appears from the texts, they believe they’re on the way to Jerusalem to see the Deliverer of the Hebrews take over the kingdom of Rome. They know he has the power. For three years he’s shown them incredible things. But do they really believe him more than a man?

I doubt anyone was surprised by this entrance. Jesus has a big crowd of followers and the news of his coming has probably been circulating for days. What everyone is waiting for is a powerful leader charging in to defeat Rome.

They're most likely thinking Isaiah's prophecy is being fulfilled right in front of them. "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government shall be upon His shoulders and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. but they stopped at the Government shall be upon His shoulders."

Jesus enters the city with great fanfare. No Jewish person has ever been welcomed into Jerusalem with such spontaneous celebration. During this cheering and praise there were Romans on the streets, watching and probably at arms ready, Red Alert. But the first thing Jesus does is go into the temple and chase out the religious cheats. Jesus stays at the temple the rest of the week. He doesn’t go anywhere near the Romans or the seat of power of Rome in Jerusalem. The soldiers probably relax.

But the Disciples are still waiting, all week, for him to attack Rome. Judas is getting disgusted but are the rest getting perplexed? Wondering?

What the people got was a quiet man with one thing on his mind, of which they failed to understand.

They just didn't get it.

The night of his betrayal, his disciples are so unaware, they go to sleep. They’ve completely forgotten that Jesus came there to die. He’d told them. But nothing has happened and they’re not paying attention. To them, at what we call the last supper, the cup and bread didn’t mean what it does to us. Christians know what it means.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him, will not die but have eternal life." John 3:16.

His broken body and spilled blood is our salvation. That whole week of Jesus in Jerusalem was the examination of the Lamb for Passover. The Priests examined Him and in the end could find no fault. They had to accept a lie to kill him.

We have to accept his death to be saved. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23.

We look on the beautiful, perfect Lamb of God at the end of that week, broken and bloody for our salvation. Jesus rode into quietly Jerusalem on a donkey and at the end of the week died horribly on a cross to give us the kingdom.

What the Disciples thought was going to happen that particular Passover week, ultimately happens, at the end of times. And this ride into Jerusalem means just as much to us today in bringing in the kingdom.

Later, they fully understood Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, but just then, they were blind.

Jesus is fully God and fully Man.
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The Strange & Worshipful Story-Luke Chapter 2

David Ray Jr.

This was the Introduction I wrote for the 2015 Christmas Program at Grace Bible Church, Sangerville, Maine. This wasn't read, because our Pastor, David Ray Jr., prepared a better opening.

However, this says much about God's plan to save all mankind from their sin. And if it hadn't been for the strange birth of God becoming a Man, we never would have had the Cross to celebrate at what we call Easter.

They Missed Christmas

Introduction:

Before God ever created the world, He knew everything that would happen on earth. He knew that man would sin and destroy the perfect world God created. Man would reject Him and rebel and sin would rule.  Because of this flaw, God had to destroy the sin and that meant destroying the sinners. But God so loved His wonderful creation, He had a plan to save everyone from their sins. That plan was that He would come and be destroyed in the place of all the people God lovingly created for His pleasure.

Over 2000 years ago, God fulfilled part of that plan when He became a man, born of a virgin and living here among us for 33 and a half years. Then He died the death that sin deserves so he could allow us back into His perfection again.

On the day we call Christmas, we remember the day that God came to earth. God came to earth as a small, poor baby and that was just the beginning of the life God planned for Himself. The story is strange and beautiful, full of worship, and anger, and love and murder. Several people knew and embraced the miracle of the first Christmas, and yet at the same time, many rejected it and missed Christmas.

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A Few Observations on Abraham

Though the Bible pulls no punches 

in telling where Abraham failed, 

the record of his faith is beautiful 

Genesis Chapters 12, 13
     Through Genesis chapters 1 through 11, God primarily stays to one genealogy line, 1st born to 1st born son, which ultimately counts down to Jesus, Messiah, in he fulfillment seen in the NT. Then Genesis switches to one man's life in ch 12. Here, the Biblical history branches out to include other familial lines and other sons. God now records how the pagan world interacts and intervenes with, and attempts to interrupt, His plan of Salvation for the world. With this new information of the pagan religions man creates, we see the sin from which we need salvation. From Genesis 12 to Revelation, the Bible includes all the problems, evils, and anger that come against the people of God.
     Genesis Chapter 13 records a shameful occurrence where Abram, (before God changed his name), totally forgets God's in control. In fear, he tells a lie and puts his wife, Sarai, in a dangerous position. By telling the Egyptians Sarah is his sister, her beauty is seen by the king who takes her into his harem. God intervenes and rescues them both from the situation. We could easily hear Jesus speaking to Abram, "Why were you afraid, O you of little faith?"

Genesis Chapter 14, 15
     Chapter 14-Abram with his little 300+ ill-equipped army goes up against a larger force of battle trained veterans. But Abram has the Commander of the Greater Army fighting his battles. Of course--Abram wins!
     Chapter 14:18 we meet a greater God-fearing man than Abram, Melchizedek. I don't have any trouble with his lack of explanation. In this place in the Bible, he is the only other Godly man described other than Abram. That is a very important point about God's omniscience.
     After the battle, that rescued Abraham's captive nephew Lot, the king of Sodom comes out to meet Abraham. He isn't concerned with anything but the return of his stuff that was taken. But after watching Abram give of his stuff to Melchizedek, he says to Abram, "Okay, you want the spoils of war? Fine, just give me the people who will build up my prosperity again." (I assumed & paraphrased)
     (more paraphrase) Abram replies, "God gave me the victory and I know it. My gift to God has nothing to do with the stuff but I am acknowledging from where the victory comes. I do not share your greed. Take your stuff."
     Melchizedek, because he knows what God did for Abram, praises God and blesses Abram for his faith. That is what Abram needed after the battle. He needed a brother in Christ to wash the world off of him. He needed the cleansing of an understanding brother.
     After a serious battle, we need someone like-minded to come along side to cleanse us and comfort us.
In this way, we see Melchizedek in the book of Hebrews, where he is mentioned as the picture of Christ, our Comforter, our Cleanser, and the One who comes along side for Strength, Power and most of all Leadership in worship to God the Father when/because we are weak.
     Chapter 15 begins Abram's next leg of his walk with God. We see a new Abram after the battle and his new exciting knowledge of God. We each need this growth and it is so awesome when we advance in our walk with Jesus.

Genesis Chapters 16, 17

     Abram fails and in lust takes Sarah's slave as a wife, though she is only the wife of his flesh. I think Hagar was likely pleased to become his token wife. As a slave, she had no rights and if Sarah never allowed her to marry, then she had no chance of become a mother or having a husband. It was probably very pleasant for her to become Abram's wife too as he was THE leader of a huge entourage of people. I am not sure but that Abram wasn't unhappy with taking a second wife. It was a common practice and Hagar was likely very pretty. Since she was around all the time, it would seem the natural thing to do, though the wrong thing to do in God's sight.

     In Chapter 17, God changes Abram's name to Abraham and gives him the great promise that resounds throughout the world today. God makes the awesome covenant sealing the future of Abraham's descendants as God's people and Him as their God forever. God is keeping that covenant with Abraham's people today. All the promises in the Bible for Israel and their Messiah will come true. God cannot lie.

Genesis 18, 19--Abraham's faith & Lot's failed witness
     Genesis 18 records another Christophany, or OT appearance of Christ, when He comes to test Abraham's faith in God's sovereignty. This is my opinion, but I think Abraham was in prayer for his nephew when Jesus showed up. In conversation, Jesus explains the judgement He's bringing on Sodom & Gomorrah and Abraham immediately jumps in with intercessory pleas for Lot.
     Jesus seems well pleased with Abraham's request, yet, in the end, it appears Abraham quits asking, knowing God must do something and will do something, even if Lot is taken also. Abraham understands Lot's salvation depends on the man's own relationship with God.
     It seems Lot was saved through faith, (2 Peter 2:7) and is in heaven today, but entered the gates with his robe smoking! (Cor 3:11-16, Jude 23). Lot's short biography in Genesis is a sad commentary on what happens when we suppress our witness, or hide our Christianity.
     As a side note with no reason except an interesting observation---Lot seemed more comfortable living in cities. He was definitely not the outdoor type.

Genesis Chapters 20,21,22,23

     Chapter 20: If you don't think ALL of you're actions won't effect unbelievers, think again. Abraham let down his trust in his God and a pagan king had to tell him his witness was rotten. (Gen 20:9)

     Chapter 21: If you need proof God knows the future, here is a beautiful example of prophecy looking FAR down through history. The banishment of Hagar is reiterated in Galatians 4, as God, through Paul, explains the difference between saved and unsaved Israel. God had a plan. The difference between saved and unsaved anyone.
     Chapter 22: A lot has been said about Abraham sacrificing Isaac. What I will say is, I love the name YHWH Yireh--The LORD Will Provide.
     Chapter 23: Abraham loved Sarah. The only land he ever owned, he bought to bury Sarah. Through all those years of traveling with over 300, possibly 500 to 1000, (Gen 14:14), people in his nomadic group, many must have died and been buried wherever the group happened to be. Now, Abraham is concerned with his wife's grave site. She is important to him. Love

Genesis Chapter 24. A great chapter of faith (Here I take a lot of personal speculation without proof)

     Apologies to Bible Commentators, (who definitely know more than I do) I don't think this servant is Eliezer of Damascus, named in Ch 15, but here nameless. Since about 40-50 years have past, he's quite likely one of Eliezer's offspring. (Just saying)
     That said, this is fact, the only 'Hebrew patriarchs' in record in Genesis, are Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. God is building the Jewish nation on one man, Abraham, With the exception of Isaac, all others in Abraham's entourage are slaves, servants, or hired help.
     BUT--it is reasonable this servant is a God-fearing believer. He prayed a very sincere, direct, specific prayer of faith, (vs 12-14), which God answered with a great miracle. (Vs 19),(Unbidden, this woman watered ten camels of a stranger! His exact prayer!)
     We see his faith and acknowledgement of God when he humbly prostrated himself before God in thanksgiving, oblivious to who noticed. There at the well in front of Rebekah, (vs 26), (and probably all the other women come to get water) And in the presence of Rebekah's family (vs 52).
     I think he had God-given discernment of the pagan-ness and greed of Rebekah's family and wanted to get away quickly. (vs 54) And Rebekah seemed willing to get out that house without any customary long goodbyes. Maybe she saw something in his servant that interested her about her future husband. Maybe the servant was able to tell her about her husband's God on the way back.

     Genesis 24 is a great chapter of faith in action and of answered prayer.

     Abraham is a great man to study with much to learn in his faith and his failures. 

God called him His friend. That says volumes.

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The Best Man for the Job

"I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" 1 Timothy 2:8.

Ever consider how much God knew and trusted Joseph to be the step-father of His Son on earth?

In the account of how Joseph became aware of his betroth's pregnancy, it says he thought about these things. At one point he even contemplated a private divorce. This man was hurting.

While their marriage was likely arranged, at some point, he must have loved this girl, even now pregnant with someone else's child. We can assume the situation estranged them from their families. It is possible they didn't have a big wedding party or feast among family and friends. Even though they hadn't been sexually intimate, with the exception of her cousin Elizabeth, it would be normal that no one else believed them.

God knew something about Joseph that no one else knew and He chose the man who would provide the early home for the baby Jesus. As Jesus grew into a young man, Mary and Joseph loved Him as their son. So much so, there came a day when Jesus had to remind them both of who He was and why He came. (Luke 2:41-49)

As little as we're told about him, though with a major roll to play, Joseph is easily overlooked in the Christmas story. There was no way around it, Mary needed a Husband. And with the most important infant to be born into the world on the way, she needed a strong Spiritual leader, and he had to be a man who would trust in God through the tough times. And here we see God's knowledge of men's hearts as He Mary Joseph. God knew Joesph's heart as well as He knew Mary's heart.

Matthew 1:20 says Joseph was thinking about the problem of the pregnancy and certainly his meditation included prayers for help, asking God what he's to do about Mary. His answer came through the dream appearance of the angel sent to tell him not to fear marriage to Mary.

The Scriptures says Joseph when he found out about the baby, he thought about quietly separating from Mary but the angel confirmed Mary's words of how she is pregnant. Joseph's response is a beautiful picture of a godly man trusting his God. He must have been looking for the Messiah and now he learns he's to be part of the fulfillment of prophecy.

And as Mary was obedient, Joseph also believed God and did all he was told.

God knew Joesph was the Best Man for the job

What an example of trust and obedience in times when a stand against the norm is needed.

An Artist's Theory of Genesis 1

"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth."

"And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon face of the waters."

"And God said let there be light; and there was light” Genesis 1: 1, 2, 3.

I’m an artist. I paint similes of realities or the imaginations of my mind. It’s satisfying to have an idea and realize the vision on canvas so viewers can appreciate my creativity.

My ‘studio’ consists of a small, cheap drafting table in my bedroom, facing a north-light window to which I assemble all the stored pieces of my craft paraphernalia. The process involves uncovering the table of clutter, opening the curtains, retrieving my chair from another part of the room, getting my paint box from where I keep it and seeing my collection of brushes gets put on the table. The paint box I open and lay on the bed (which I generally have to make first). It is a convenient extra surface next to my left elbow. To the kitchen for a jug of water and the roll of paper towels for rinsing my brushes. For extra ease, a few rags from the bathroom closet. Now, my work area is ready and I can create my art.

Before I go through all of the assembly, I have a picture in mind. Over a few days, I draw several loose sketches of my idea, using my extensive swipe file that contains reference pictures that help me get the correct light, form, and angles of certain animals, objects or whatever I might need. From this file, I have designed either a complex, or simple, composition thinking about the tone, the palette, and the finer details.

When I am as ready as I think is necessary, I sit down and begin my painting. All this time consuming arrangement ensued because I wanted to paint.

My art may be nice to view, but God's Creation was perfect.

“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth” Genesis 1:1. 

It was beautiful and completely designed in His ‘mind’ before He began. 

“And the heaven and earth were without form and void” Gen. 1:2a.

We know Jesus holds everything together, (Col 1:16). It is a scientifically proven fact all things consist of molecules, cells and atoms we cannot see with the naked eye. In His ‘studio’, God created all those particles that make up heaven and earth.

While He created it all in verse 1, verse 2 says it was void and without form. Described in my analogy, as I assemble everything before I paint, I have no trouble with that.

God knew what He was going to make, He simply hadn’t put it together yet.

Verse 1 says God the Father created all of it but Jesus, the Word of God had yet speak to assemble everything. God the Holy Spirit joyfully hovered over the ‘drafting table’, waiting for Jesus to proclaim his first ‘daub of paint’ to His ‘canvas'. Everything was ready, and perfect. Even the darkness is perfect, because no sin has entered yet.

I picture the throne room of God tense in happy anticipation. The angels who minster to God are poised and waiting to see what the Holy One is doing. Up until now, they are the only created things in existence. What could God possibly create now?

God nods His head and Jesus, a big smile on His face yells out, “Let there be light!”

The Holy Spirit immediately collects God’s pre-planned particles and light springs from the elements floating in the dark void. Light always existed  in God’s design, only now it has form.

With each exclamation, Jesus brings about the beauty of what The Trinity had in mind all along. The Holy Spirit, the power of God, places the beautiful parts together making a magnificent painting, a whole of all the pieces, until all are used in their proper places and on the ‘sixth’ day, God finishes the painting with His signature—Man, made in His image!

When I finish a painting, I like to sit back and admire it for days afterwards. 

On the seventh day, God the Father, Jesus God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit ‘rest’, admiring Their perfect work while the angels rejoice fly around examining God's magnificent Creation. 
 

“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job 38: 7.

That is my artist’s theory of God's Creation in Genesis 1. I will know the truth when I see my Jesus face to face. 

Possibly, knowledge of the first two verses of Genesis won’t be anywhere as serious as the theorists of today and through history want to make it.

A Woman's Giving Hand

  “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” Matthew 6: 3.

 

  Have you ever done something for someone who wasn’t expecting it, and you did it just for the joy of giving? Offered to do someone's laundry? Look after their children for an hour? Baked cookies for your neighbor?

 In creating man and woman, God gave the male and female of His attributes that He desired in which sex. (male and female created He them" cf Genesis 1:27.) Our emotional personalities are for God's purposes. While God made men to be subtly appreciative, God made woman with the capacity of giving and receiving with more emotion.

 Visually emotional actions are part of woman: love, joy, anger, sympathy, empathy, and motherly. Women utilize their God given specialty as wonderful givers, doers, motivators, counselors, and those who encourage. Women can and should use their emotions for God's glory.

Is there anyone you can help without thinking of any return for your effort?

Is there anyone you really want to help in any way?

Giving to others, or time, treasures or talents can be a subtle or visible ministry to God.

And very simple.

Today, do that deed you've been thinking about. Enjoy God's smile.