What do I do when stuck in a family feud?
Week 1 DAY 1
Week 1 Begin Segment 2, Esther 3 -4
Today
We will:
- LOOK at Esther 3:1.
- LEARN ‘how‘ to incorporate GODcha’s tools along the way.
- LISTEN to God speak to us as we focus on GODcha’s LEARN/LIVE question.
Open GODcha to the Book of Esther
You Can Open GODcha and GODchats together
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It>
Or, use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this week’s posts and put in a notebook!
Consider the Overview
To Find the Purpose of Esther
Scan the Overview in GODcha to refresh your memory!
Why Was Esther Written?
Understand: everything written in this book points back to the purpose.
The Purpose Was To:
Reveal how the Jews, living in exile throughout all the king’s provinces, were protected and delivered from annihilation by God’s divine power and control even though He is never mentioned in this book.
Let’s Begin With Prayer
And Continue With an Attitude of Prayer
Perhaps. . .
Oh Lord, unfold Your Word to us today as only You can do. We ask that You give us understanding. May we live in the light of what You show us and teach us today. Thank you Lord, (Psalm 119:130).
If you get STUCK at any point in your discovery, stop, and pray!
GOD, your Creator, loves you and desires to reveal much to you.
Context
CONTEXT is the setting that Rules Interpretation.
God’s people have been in exile for 100 yrs. Now, some of the 3rd generation had separated from Babylon going back to Jerusalem while others remained in Babylon blending in.
Let’t Go Backward for a bit. . .
Esther Chapter 1
There is a king: King Ahauserus, Xerxes the Great, who rules the great empire Persia. In that day he was the most powerful man on the earth, who became angry when his wife refused to obey him when he wanted to parade her in front of 1,000’s who’d been partying for 6 mths + 7 days. Thus, he banished the Queen – divorced her.
Esther Chapter 2
About 4 to 5 yrs later the king holds a competition for over 400 beautiful young virgins, and the winner who becomes the Queen of Persia is Esther, a Jewish orphan.
There is Mordecai: Esther’s cousin, who adopted her, becoming her father.
Up to this point Mordecai and Esther are somewhere in the middle not showing much identification with God.
– They did not return to Jerusalem with the remnant of Jews, but remained in Babylon, now Persia.
– They did not seem to be keeping God’s dietary laws.
– There was no resistance from either of them to spend one night with a man that was not Esther’s husband.
– There was no resistance to intermarrying the Gentile king.
We left Chapter 2 with Mordecai saving the king, which was recorded in the king’s chronicles. So now we want to see what happens to Mordecai. Will he receive some kind of honor?
As we begin this New Segment,
Some Reminders and How To’s.
3 EASY Steps
To Put into Play
Just a quick reminder to help you walk through God’s Word implementing the LOOK, LEARN and LIVE Steps.
1. To LOOK:
a. Read a verse;
b. Consider what is Key to that verse; and
c. Investigate what is Key by checking:
– The Word Meanings; and
– Other Scripture References for better understanding.
d. Pay attention to: Timing, Contrasts, Comparisons, and Terms of Conclusions.
2. Bring everything you LEARNED together.
3. LISTEN to what God has said, CHAT with Him and Commit to LIVE Out what you learned.
As You LEARN and LISTEN, THEN You Respond
– An awesome dialogue begins to take place between you and Your Creator!
– This is fellowship – you developing a relationship with God, the Father, and His Son, Jesus, (1Jo 1:3).
Your Response to God Might Be:
Praise,
Forgiveness,
Confession,
Repentance,
Thanksgiving, and/or
A commitment to LIVE out what He is showing you!
1st LOOK 
Open GODcha’s LOOK Section
Always Begin LOOKING By READING
READ This Book From God, as if it was written to you, because it was!
READ Taking Small Bites
This Narrows Your Focus
Focus on a Paragraph at a Time
Esther Chapter 3 is Broken Down Into Paragraphs
3:1-6;
3:7;
3:8-9;
3:10-11;
3:12-15.
TIP: In your hardbound Bibles Paragraphs are designated by:
– an indentation;
– a paragraph symbol; and/or
– a bold face number.
READ With Purpose
As You READ, Ask Questions
Have you ever read something, and 5 minutes later you couldn’t remember what you read?
Learning to read with a purpose will change that!
We Always Want to Consider:
Who is speaking; and to whom?
What is happening?
Where is it happening?
When is it happening?
Why is it happening or, why did it happen?
How did it happen?
Questions
Help SLOW You Down
You will:
1. See the complete picture;
2. See how everything relates to one another; and
3. Remember what you read.
This is the most critical skill to learn in order to see God’s Word accurately!
Let’s Give It a Try!
READ the 1st paragraph, Esther 3:1-6.
As you read, ask the who, what, where, when, why and how questions.
This is a skill that just takes practice.
Remember to:
Reflect on the events that demonstrate God’s hidden hand.
Now, Focus on just verse 1.
Verse 1 begins with a 
Time Phrase for us to consider.
‘After these things‘.
After what things?
Now check out Est 2:16, and then Est 3:7.
How many years have gone by?
Who comes on the scene?
What does the king do?
LOOK
For KEY Words
Because they ‘unlock’ the meaning to what God is saying.
In GODcha Scroll Down To:
Key Words
Who is the next main character of this drama?
Haman, the Agagite, who the king promoted and gave authority to, is key.
So our focus will be on Haman today.
TIP: If you need help to see what is key, check out GODcha’s LEARN Questions that have been designed to help you.
Do you know what an ‘Agagite‘ is?
LOOK
At GODcha’s Dictionary
Word Meanings
Tap on ‘Agagite‘ in your Bible in GODcha.
Do you see the definition pop open?
AGAGITE, ’agāgiy; an Agagite or descendant of Agag.
Who is Agag?
GODcha’s 
Word Search can help you find every Scripture Reference for Agag.
GODcha’s 
Cross Reference Tool in the LOOK Section will help us too. (We will look at these in a bit.)
You might check out ‘authority’ for further insight.
AUTHORITY, kissē’ ; Meaning throne, a place of honor. A symbol of a kingdom or power.
The king gave Haman authority [a throne and power].
DON’T STOP THERE!
NOTE: Take what you have learned back to the text, to see what it means in its CONTEXT.
TIP: I would encourage you to note this in your hardbound Bibles.
LET’S LOOK
At GODcha’s Cross References
About Haman
God’s Uses Truth to Explain Truth
In GODcha’s LOOK Section Scroll Down To:
Cross References (aka CR)
Let’s see what we can find out about promotions; and then Haman, the Agagite.
Tap on any Scripture Reference either in GODcha, and/or here in GODchats, and the verses will open up for you.
1. We see Haman is promoted instead of Mordecai.
We aren’t told why, but what can we learn about being promoted, or not?
Psa 75:6-7
Dan 2:21
1Sa 2:7
Are you LISTENING?
When have I been rewarded or promoted?
When have I been overlooked for a reward or promotion?
Did I feel like life is not fair?
How did I respond?
What difference does it make in my life to know God determines whether I will be promoted or not?
STOP: Chat With God!
This is the most important part of your journey!
2. What do you discover about the Agagites?
1Sa 15:2-3
1Sa 15:7-9
1Sa 15:17-35
Exo 17:8-16
Gen 36:12, 15-16
Deut 25:17-19
1Sa 2:7
Are you LISTENING?
Who am I feuding with? Why?
Have I experienced or been involved in any kind of family feud that has gone on for a generation or more?
What can I do to resolve my family’s feud?
STOP: Chat With God!
What Did You LEARN
THINK and REASON
Act 17:11
Scroll down to GODcha’s Deeper Discovery Section and find the #1 LEARN Question(s).
Here it is for you.
Ch 3 #1. ‘After these things’ [After Mordecai saved the king between the 7th and 12th yr reign of King Ahasuerus (Est 2:16; 3:7)], the king did not promote Mordecai, instead he promoted Haman, an Agagite.
From the Cross References (CR) what do you learn about:
a. Haman and the Agagites?
b. The result of King Saul’s disobedience with Agag that had consequences for generations?
c. God’s promise regarding the Agagites, Israel’s enemies, CR, (v1)?
Let’s Bring it Home!
We LEARN:
‘After these things‘ is after Mordecai saved the king.
We Discover:
Est 2:16 – it was the 7th yr. reign of the king.
Est 3:7 – it is now the 12th yr. reign of the king.
5 yrs. have passed.
We LEARN:
King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority [gave him a throne and power] over all the princes who were with him.
Don’t we question this?
Don’t we wonder, what about Mordecai?
Catch the Scene – This probably introduced some tension.
We Discover:
Ultimately God is the One Who Promotes or Not!
God:
-Puts down, brings low, and exalts.
-Changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.
-Makes poor and rich.
We Understand:
It is God who promoted Haman, and not Mordecai.
We Must Remember:
God was right there, and is right here, working behind the scenes to do His perfect will.
We LEARN:
Haman is an Agagite, an enemy of the Jews.
More tension and conflict is added to the scene, and we are only in verse 1.
We Discover:
Amalek was the grandson of Esau, who was the brother of Jacob (Israel). And Amalek’s offspring became the nation of Amalek.
The Amalekites were the 1st enemy of Israel, attacking Israel when they made their exodus out of Egypt.
The Consequence: God pronounced His curse and promised that He would blot out the memory of Amalek.
Thus, Saul was commanded by the LORD to destroy all the Amalekites, including their king, Agag, for what Amalek had done to Israel.
But Saul disobeyed, and eventually the LORD tore the kingdom from him.
Samuel then hacked Agag to pieces.
THINK and REASON
Remember: Mordecai is a Benjamite, a descendant of Saul, Est 2:5.
This feud between the Jews and the Amalekites goes back almost a 1,000 yrs.
If Saul had obeyed God, Haman would never have been born!
Catch the scene – Mordecai the Jew saved the king’s life, but the king just promoted Mordecai’s worst enemy, an Agagite, and established his authority (a throne and power). This is Mordecai’s new boss who is in charge of all the princes (captains, rulers, governors)!
Have you had a boss like this?
THINK and REASON
Remember: God promised He would blot out the memory of the Amalakites.
Wouldn’t all the Jews begin to wonder why God would allow this?
Would God’s people question if God would be faithful to His promise regarding the Agagites, even when they had been so unfaithful?
LISTEN to the Spirit
Am I wondering why God is allowing something in my life right now?
Am I wondering if God will keep all His promises to me, even if I have not been faithful?
GODcha Helps Us Think
We’ll look at the rest of this paragraph tomorrow, but for now, aren’t you amazed at what all you discovered as you LOOKED at just 1 verse?
As we LOOK at God’s Word and LEARN, do you see there is no guessing?
No ‘I think‘, or ‘I believe‘.
We answered the LEARN questions straight from the text.
Don’t you love it?
I sure do!
I want you to see there is no need for guessing!
God has spoken very clearly.
So we sheep can see His Word and come to understand it!
Oh, you all just Discovered Truth for Yourself!
I am so so excited!
LISTEN to God Speak
And LIVE It Out!
God Talks – We LISTEN!
We Talk – He LISTENS!
GODcha’s #1 LIVE Question(s) in the Deeper Discovery Might Help!
1. Why am I able to embrace God’s Sovereign reign in my life, especially regarding promotions? Do I see promotions, or being overlooked, as coming from Him?
a. Who is like Haman, an Agagite, in my life? Or, how might I, be like Haman, the Agagite?
b. What sins of disobedience have I committed that will have severe consequences for generations to come?
c. What has God promised me regarding my enemies? Will He keep His promises to me?
Respond to God . . . LIVE it out!
Now We Don’t Just LISTEN,
But, We Speak to God!
Hopefully you came to God today with a heart of submission with an expectation of experiencing Him and His presence. And now what He has shared with you, it all comes to a head, and you chat with Him!
“Our initial connection with the Lord will turn into an open-ended conversation that continues throughout the day: In our thoughts and at times verbally, we share our hopes, struggles, and concerns with Him and listen for His input. When He nudges us in a certain direction, we obey. And at night, we remember and thank Him for His loving care and guidance.” Charles Stanley
That’s It For Today!
Soak in all God is saying and teaching you.
Aren’t we all thinking, ‘really’? The king doesn’t promote Mordecai!
How many of you have been in this place? Chat with God about it!
Have that constant, conscience, communion with God all day today!
NOTE Your Discovery!
You’ll be glad you did!
Video Tutorial> Notes Tutorial >
Take the time to journal your discovery. And if you can, jot some notes in your hardbound Bibles. You will be so glad you did.
If you have any questions,
write them down,
God will answer them.
Also enter the personal things God has touched you with.
Let’s Bow Before the Father
OH HEAVENLY FATHER, BLESSED LORD JESUS, and HOLY SPIRIT – GOD in three persons, we praise You! FATHER GOD, again as we begin this new segment, I thank you so much for preserving this book of Esther. Help us to pay close attention to what You want us to know and understand about this man, Haman, an enemy of the Jews. May we remember You are good, and we are bad, that is why You, Lord Jesus, came to this earth. If not for Your grace Lord, what would we be like? Perhaps like the king, wanting glory, using people? Or Mordecai and Esther who seem to be far from You because they like the comfort of the world, wanting to remain private about their faith? Or now even Haman, a man who has such a hatred for the Jews. Who do we hate Lord? Who would we like to have far removed from this earth?
Oh Lord, help us search our hearts and see if there be any wicked way within. May we be willing to truly confess our thoughts, actions and behavior that are displeasing to You. Oh may we repent of sins of disobedience, especially those that could so effect others that there would be severe consequences for generations to come. Oh, forgive us Father!
Again I ask that You help us not miss a thing, Father about You being the Most High God, who rules and reigns over the realm of mankind, over every circumstance of our lives, including promotions. Help us to see that You are The KING, our Lord and Savior, that You are so wonderfully good, and right here working in our lives, orchestrating Your plan and will to be done. In the blessed name of Christ we pray! Amen!
Awesome! Do you realize you are doing the one thing that is necessary, learning to sit at the feet of Jesus, letting Him explain Truth to you by the power of His Spirit.
Next: We’ll look at the the next paragraph, Esther 3:2-6.
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