This past year the CrossFire Assembly Women’s Ministry went through Charles Swindoll’s Bible study on Esther: A Woman of Strength & Dignity. I love Esther. What an inspiring role model for women today. If you haven’t read about Esther, I would encourage you to do so. It’s a small book in the Old Testament…only 10 chapters long. But, it weaves a tale much like something you’d find right out of a blockbuster movie today with everything from extravagant celebrations to evil villains to murderous plots.

 

In the book of Esther, you see the providential hand of God working and weaving the threads of events throughout the entire course of this Old Testament book even though the name of the Lord isn’t mentioned even once.

 

You know it has to be the hand of God that takes an orphaned Jewish girl and makes her queen of a nation. You know it has to be the hand of God that keeps a king from sleeping to ask for the book of records of the chronicles to be read that would bring to light the account of how Mordecai saved his life and now the king will show favor on this Jewish man. You know it has to be the hand of God that gives Queen Esther the resolve to declare, “If I perish, I perish” and stand before the king without being summoned. You know it has to be the hand of God that thwarts the evil plan to annihilate the entire Jewish population in the MedoPersian empire. You know it has to be the hand of God that raises up a holy nation and sets the stage for a celebration in remembrance of their rescue. The Jewish people still observe this celebration today known as Purim.

 

How has the hand of God moved in your life? Can you see Him working and weaving throughout your everyday goings about? I pray that we all can have the resolve of Esther, to be an Esther, to stand up to whatever might be in our path with grace, strength and dignity.

 

~Lisa Geerdes