For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Est. 1-3
People think God’s ways are harsh and unjust. What kind of loving God would condemn people to hell just because they disobeyed Him? People are hypocrites. King Ahasuerus, under advisement from his wisest men, cast Queen Vashti out of his presence simply because she refused to let him parade her before a drunken mob. And Haman sought to wipe out an entire people group because they did things differently than he wanted them done. Those are pretty extreme examples, but how many of us, even on a much smaller scale, would feel justified in taking retribution on someone because they didn’t do what we wanted? Isn’t that attitude at the heart of every relational rift? Why, then, do people scorn God when He condemns us to eternal destruction, casting us out of His presence because of our sin?
We see the real kicker to that situation in the story of the adulterous woman brought before Jesus in John 8. Jesus told her accusers, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” (Jn. 8:7b). You see, when we accuse others, we are in some way just as guilty as they are. So where is our justification? God, however, is perfect. He is the sovereign standard of what is good and right. Thus, His condemnation is not an act of selfish retribution. Rather, it is truly justified. If we can’t see and admit that, it is because our pride won’t accept the truth.
Est. 4-5
Jim Elliot lived by the phrase, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” This phrase is rooted in Jesus’ words, found in all four of the gospels, that it is in losing one’s life, not in trying to save it, that one preserves it. Mordecai understood this same wisdom and Esther acted on it. Had she not been willing to risk her life, she most certainly would have lost it.