An Honorable Woman!

Esther 1

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, December 23.

In the best of storytelling, the opening scene is crucial because it foreshadows the heart of the story, oftentimes in a subtle way that is undetectable until you know the whole story.

As we start the last history book of the Old Testament – the book of Esther, we find that the first chapter is a set up for the epic tale of an honorable Jewish woman who God placed in a position of influence, “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). In fact, the main character, Esther, for which the book is named, is not even mentioned. What you may have missed is that an honorable woman had to be deposed from her position to make room for Esther to providentially become queen.

Queen Vashti was an honorable woman! Yes, I know, she disobeyed her husband, but that was a breach of royal etiquette, not a breach of character. King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) was a powerful and prideful man who was used to getting what he wanted, so that during a seven-day drinking party, when he was “merry with wine,” “his wrath burned within him” when his queen disobeyed his dishonoring command to showcase her beauty to his leading officials (5-12).

Ultimately, the king, with the counsel of his leading men, deposed the queen, which is a necessary, but heartbreaking, set up for the story of Esther (13-22). Esther 1:19 foreshadows the climax of Esther’s honorable action as the Queen, “Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus.” Esther would breach royal etiquette and put her life in the hands of this prideful and powerful king to save a nation. God worked through two honorable women, both doing the right thing even if it meant losing their positions of influence.

Seize the moment and do the honorable thing, no matter the consequences. You never know how God is shaping a better future because you decided to take the right next step.

God bless you!

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YOUTUBE:

If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.

Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.

(Pastor Ken)

If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.