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SUMMONED BY GOD!
There are not many characters in the biblical narrative that are like Esther’s story. She was a social outcast of her times in more than one respect. She was an orphan, a Jew and a woman. Jews were looked down upon in Babylon and they were victims of discrimination and constant ridicule.
Women in Esther’s days were victims of unfair oppressive structures that stripped them of all human dignity and freedom of choice. The king’s advisers convince him to ban Queen Vashti forever from his presence to teach the women of her day a lesson in obedience. Esther’s predicament was no different. Even though she had become queen she could not enter the king’s presence without being summoned.
Esther enters Ahaseurus’s palace under the direction of cousin Mordecai who had adopted her as his own. The custom of the day demanded that beautiful women like Esther spend a night with the king so the King could choose his next queen. There was no guarantee that Esther would be called in again. It may sound grand on the surface to think that Esther a nobody finally became queen. But she was a victim of discrimination at various levels.
Does God have a plan for our lives, even when we are victims of our circumstances or of oppressive social structures ? Yes He does. God’s favor was on Esther in spite of her predicament. God saw her as more than just a poor Jewish orphan girl who was at the mercy of the Babylonian king for mere survival. To God, she was a vessel worthy of honor. He thought her worthy enough to entrust the task of saving her people. Her physical beauty and the grand life at the palace were no comparison to the inner strength, courage and dignity He clothed her with. A nobody was taken note of by God.
Her life encourages those of us who may feel lost, insignificant and helpless. Our choices may be limited. Our voices may not be heard by others. We feel misunderstood and pushed down. But God is not limited by these factors. He sees us as His chosen treasure no matter what our condition. If we commit our lives to Him, no oppressive structure and no discriminatory practice can limit us from reaching the heights that God has appointed for us.
It’s like the story of the little boy who wondered why his balloon wouldn’t fly as high as the helium balloons he saw at the fare. He assumed that it was the color of his balloon that stopped it from flying that high. But a wise person tells him that it is not what you see on the outside but what’s on the inside that determines how high the balloon flies. Likewise it’s not what we are confronted with from without that determines our worth but what God has put within each one of us. His very power is at work within us to accomplish His purposes in and through us.
There are not many characters in the biblical narrative that are like Esther’s story. She was a social outcast of her times in more than one respect. She was an orphan, a Jew and a woman. Jews were looked down upon in Babylon and they were victims of discrimination and constant ridicule.
Women in Esther’s days were victims of unfair oppressive structures that stripped them of all human dignity and freedom of choice. The king’s advisers convince him to ban Queen Vashti forever from his presence to teach the women of her day a lesson in obedience. Esther’s predicament was no different. Even though she had become queen she could not enter the king’s presence without being summoned.
Esther enters Ahaseurus’s palace under the direction of cousin Mordecai who had adopted her as his own. The custom of the day demanded that beautiful women like Esther spend a night with the king so the King could choose his next queen. There was no guarantee that Esther would be called in again. It may sound grand on the surface to think that Esther a nobody finally became queen. But she was a victim of discrimination at various levels.
Does God have a plan for our lives, even when we are victims of our circumstances or of oppressive social structures ? Yes He does. God’s favor was on Esther in spite of her predicament. God saw her as more than just a poor Jewish orphan girl who was at the mercy of the Babylonian king for mere survival. To God, she was a vessel worthy of honor. He thought her worthy enough to entrust the task of saving her people. Her physical beauty and the grand life at the palace were no comparison to the inner strength, courage and dignity He clothed her with. A nobody was taken note of by God.
Her life encourages those of us who may feel lost, insignificant and helpless. Our choices may be limited. Our voices may not be heard by others. We feel misunderstood and pushed down. But God is not limited by these factors. He sees us as His chosen treasure no matter what our condition. If we commit our lives to Him, no oppressive structure and no discriminatory practice can limit us from reaching the heights that God has appointed for us.
It’s like the story of the little boy who wondered why his balloon wouldn’t fly as high as the helium balloons he saw at the fare. He assumed that it was the color of his balloon that stopped it from flying that high. But a wise person tells him that it is not what you see on the outside but what’s on the inside that determines how high the balloon flies. Likewise it’s not what we are confronted with from without that determines our worth but what God has put within each one of us. His very power is at work within us to accomplish His purposes in and through us.
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About this Plan
The plan hopes to highlight God’s heart for the down-trodden, underprivileged, victims of abuse and discrimination. The study hopes to challenge people to stop dignifying discrimination and to recognize attitudes and practices that are oppressive and contribute towards restoring people’s God-given dignity.
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