In the first week of the Courage To Bible study, we looked at the Courage to Act from the life of Esther.
Let’s dive into three lessons on the courage to act from the life of Esther.
God is always at work in our lives
God’s name is never mentioned in the book of Esther. But we can see His hand in each chapter:
- God orchestrates the situation that causes Vashti to be deposed as queen
- He provides Esther with a wise, loving uncle in Mordecai
- Mordecai and Esther, by God’s plan, are living in Persia while the king is looking for a new queen
- Esther is beloved by all she interacts with – including the king
- God puts Mordecai in just the right spot to hear the plot to kill the king
- Haman’s plan is discovered by Mordecai and Mordecai is able to reach out to Esther
- God gives Esther the courage, using Mordecai’s words, to go before the king even though she wasn’t invited
- Esther again finds favor and the king offers her anything she wants
- God withholds sleep from the king so he is reminded of Mordecai’s service, and has Haman honor Mordecai
- Esther tells the king about the plot and the king believes her and punishes Haman
- God helps Esther and Mordecai create a plan that allows the Jews to defend themselves
These are many, but not all of the ways God shows up.
How about in your life? Can you look back to the last day, week, month, year and trace God’s faithfulness to you?
Take some time to journal through this question: Where is God working in my life right now?
We can't mess up God's plan but we can miss the opportunity to be a part of it
God is sovereign, meaning He controls all things.
But we are also responsible to take action.
While this post isn’t the right place to get into the details of how free will works with God’s sovereignty, let’s just look at one of the key verses in Esther:
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14
God would save His people from total destruction because NOTHING would stop His plan to send Jesus.
But God didn’t need Esther. He was giving her an opportunity to be courageous, to be the one God used to save this time.
God doesn’t need you – He’s God. But He wants to use you! He wants to use me!
Sister, don’t miss out on the awesome blessing of being part of God’s plan for your life.
Courageous action requires godly wisdom
Our culture is filled with “just do it” type advice.
That’s not what Biblical courage is. We are called to submit our ways to the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6) and He is the one who guides us.
How do we get godly wisdom?
First and foremost, from Scripture! But the next best thing, which the book of Esther clearly shows, is godly advice from a brother or sister in Christ.
Mordecai was present through all Esther’s life, clearly teaching her wisdom and encouraging her to godly action when she needed the encouragement.
Who in your life encourages you toward courageous action in the right way – in God’s way? Foster those relationships in your life and lean on them when you’re being called to courageous action.
This is such a powerful book with a beautiful message of God’s love and care for us while He carries out His will and His plans.
And I hope this brief look into Esther and the courage to act encourages you to dive into God’s word today.
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