Welcome to Kendra Graham’s Online Bible Study! This is a place where we can come together and share in our journey towards Scriptural truths and spiritual maturity. We pray this will be a safe, respectful, resourceful place to come and discuss God’s Word…to discover What it says…What it means…and What it means to you!
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Kendra Graham notes from : Esther 3:1
“After these events, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who were with him.”
THE FACTS: The king promoted Haman, the Agagite, and established his authority over all princes.
THE LESSONS:
After these things…. what things?
After Esther, Mordecai’s niece, had been chosen as queen?
After Mordecai had received a position at the king’s gate?
After Mordecai had personally saved the king’s life by getting wind of an assassination plot, informed Esther, who informed the king, who then found the information to be true?
After all these things, Mordecai was recognized, Mordecai was promoted, Mordecai was seen by the king as as asset to the kingdom…. or NOT.
Mordecai was not only overlooked for the promotion, which he probably rightly deserved, but that promotion was given to his sworn enemy, an Agagite. The Agags were a group of people who were enemies of the Jews. It goes back to those years of wandering in the desert with Moses.
So what do you do with that? All your hard work is not recognized. Your loyalty not thanked. Your friendship with the queen ignored. Then to top it all off, your arch enemy is promoted over you. That is pretty much the story of Mordecai’s life.
Always looked over. Always having to sacrifice. Never rewarded.
Mordecai lost his parents, he lost his single life when he chose to raise his niece Esther, then lost her to the king. His life could be summed up in the next country music hit!
What do I love about this verse? I like the fact that I don’t read in the following verse: #storyofmylife #nothinggoesmyway #Godhatesme #WhereisGod?
Mordecai could have taken a much different route in his assessment of the situation. Instead, Mordecai states the facts. As we get into the text and chapter more, we see that this Agagite that was promoted was a manipulative, power seeking, arrogant, evil man. Again, for me, more questions…. why do the cunning sneaky people always seem to get to the top? Why does God seem to ignore the faithful, and allow evil to rise with such ease? We miss God’s favor even in the times of injustice. If Mordecai could see to the end, he would see God is moving the scenes, working in the shadows in the midst of injustice for the deliverance of His people.
We are incapable of seeing the favor of God at times, because when it really comes down to it, we don’t believe–really believe–that God is in control. We believe God needs our help, we believe God needs us to right the societal wrongs. I know I’m quick to shake my fist and my head at the way God allows some people to rise while smothering (it seems to me), those who are really trying to serve Him.
If you can relate, then pick your head and your heart up. Read the rest of the book! God does have this, and He moves in a more profound and large way than i could have ever dreamed of! God does see everything. Faith, unfortunately is not about a life of emotional blessing after blessing. Often, it seems like it is the exact opposite! Frequently God has to knock the bottom out of us, and really get us in touch with humility in order to get us in personal contact with Him and His character. We will never cry out to Him until we are desperate.
It is not about the “what” God gives us, it’s about the “Who” we get in the process! We get to know God in a personal way. God needs us to move from a theoretical knowledge of Him, to a personal one. God stretches our faith, allows it to struggle in the depths, so when deliverance comes in a mighty way, we can then boldly say, “I KNOW in Who I have BELIEVED and KNOW that HE IS ABLE!” Faith is not faith until it is struggled with and stretched. I hate every minute of it! BUT in the end, I LOVE it! In the end, I can’t help but proclaim, “Oh how He loves you and me!” Be confident! God does see. God is working. God is in control. We are free! We are delivered from being dependent on promotions and the spotlight. Nothing that is done for the glory of God goes unseen or unrewarded. Keep on serving Him with passion!
#Delivered
APPLY IT:
What causes us to doubt that God is in control, aware of the dire situation we are facing?
Can you relate to Mordecai in this story, always overlooked and forgotten about? Will you, today, in this moment give that feeling of injustice to God, and ask Him to show you how or ask Him to give you confidence that He sees and is indeed still working on behalf of you, because you are His?
When have you demanded God work in a certain way, and God didn’t, so you got angry only to see days, weeks, or years later, that God did understand more than you could see at the time?
Will we look for God’s favor, and remain on our knees even in the midst of questioning and injustice?
LIVE IT OUT:
Today Lord, as I walk through this day, help me to focus my eyes on the FACT that You are in charge! Help me not to look to people, a job, a title, a promotion,or a government to give me hope for the future, but help me to solely look to You and trust that You hold me and my family in the palm of Your hand. #Delivered
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What Scripture are you studying now? What have you learned? How has the Lord spoke to you? Share with us in the comments section.
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If you’re in the local area and can attend our free annual Women’s Bible Study at The Cove, here in Asheville beginning in January 2017, we’d love to see you.
Registration is open and you can sign up online for Kendra’s evening study or by calling 1-800-950-2092. (Click here to sign up for the morning study with Jane Derrick.)
Watch, as Kendra shares what you can expect from her study on the book of Esther: