Surrender 101Sample

The Bible tells Esther's story as a woman who surrendered to God by accepting her role and responsibility as the queen, putting the welfare of her people above her own safety and comfort. She surrendered her fears and doubts to trust in God's guidance and purpose for her life, ultimately risking her own life to save the Jewish people from destruction. Esther ultimately submitted to God's plan. She showed courage and faith even in the face of uncertainty and danger. Her willingness to surrender her own safety and comfort for the sake of her people ultimately leads to their deliverance and salvation.

Specifically in Esther 4:14b, If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?

Esther responded to Mordecai with an often-quoted anthem response. In this pivotal moment, Mordecai urges Esther to consider that she was placed in her position as queen precisely to save her people from destruction.

Isaiah, a major prophet in the Old Testament, exhibited surrender by responding to God's call to be a prophet without hesitation. Despite feeling unworthy and inadequate, Isaiah surrendered his doubts and fears to God's will, proclaiming the messages God gave him even when they were difficult or unpopular. Isaiah's surrender is seen in his faithful obedience and fearless proclamation of God's word, even in the face of opposition and hardship. Who could forget the iconic response from Isaiah 6:8,

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us? I said, Here I am. Send me.

His prophecies often included messages of judgment, repentance, salvation, and the coming Messiah. He had to deal with rebellious kings and the disobedient nation of Israel. He wrote the book bearing his name, which is considered one of the longest prophetic books in the Bible. The Book of Isaiah contains prophecies about the nations, the redemption of Israel, the suffering servant (Jesus Christ), and the future glory of God's kingdom.

Overall, Isaiah's great works involved faithfully delivering God's messages, offering counsel to the rulers of his time, and leaving a lasting impact through the prophecies recorded in the book that bears his name.