As we wrap up this study on the book of Esther, let’s remember that we were “dead men walking” (and “dead women walking”), when we were convicted for our sins and deserved to be permanently separated from God. (If you weren’t aware of that, I hate to be the one to tell you, but any choice to do what we know is wrong separates us from a perfect God. I am no different from you in that regard, but there’s good news for both of us!)
Once we learned of our fate, we were kind of like the Jewish people in Persia during those first couple of months after Haman’s decree. A commentary pointed out that there were 70 days between Haman’s decree and Mordecai’s decree [Mangano, p.107-108]. It’s not fun to be in the “70 days” (or, as the commentary suggested, “70 years” of exile) when we’re waiting for God’s deliverance, but we can still trust Him and His plan, because we have some understanding of His love and His wisdom.
However, God miraculously made a way for us to be redeemed. Once we learned of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, we were kind of like the Jewish people who received the second decree – the one from Mordecai – that gave us the ability to avoid the fate we thought that we had no hope of escaping.
Unlike the Jewish people in the days of Esther and Mordecai, though, our salvation didn’t have us drawing our swords and defending ourselves from the forces of evil that opposed us. However, we still must do something: we must accept God’s salvation.
If the Jews in ancient Persia had just sat around and let their enemies attack them, they would still have been vulnerable. The first decree was still in effect, allowing others to attack and kill them. Instead, though, the Jewish people got together and defended themselves.
Similarly, merely knowing that salvation – through Jesus – is available for us isn’t the end of the story: we don’t earn our salvation, but we must accept it. Jesus and His disciples taught us what that process looks like, and even though our part in the process is trivial compared to His sacrifice, we can’t just sit back and ignore the salvation offered to us once we learn about it. Accepting Jesus’ salvation is the first step. (By the way, although the Bible is always the best source for God’s message, here’s a friend’s summary of the process of salvation: It’s All About Relationship)
After that, though, we weren’t saved to sit. Yes, it is amazing that God turned our lives around, from when we were living with a death sentence to finding out that Jesus, God’s Son, defeated death itself. After that, though, we are saved to serve, and whether we end up “successful” in the same way as Mordecai did, we can – with God’s help – be brave like Esther, wise like Mordecai, confident in our role as children of God, and ready to do whatever God calls us to.
And, as Mark Scott started off his study in the Lookout study guide (cited below), “When oppressed people are liberated, they are joyful.” Let’s not forget to continue to worship and praise God for His love shown to us, and let us be joyful even when things look bleak. Remember, we can pray not only for God to make bad things go away, but also for Him to do amazing good things through those bad things.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for July 28, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, July 28, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The Bible and Archaeology, by J.A. Thompson, © 1962, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., p.166-171.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Esther & Daniel, by Mark Mangano. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 