In Job, chapter one, verse eight, the book introduces the struggle between God and His great adversary, Satan. God challenged Satan to observe His servant, the triumph of divine grace and redemption. In the life of this faithful servant, God demonstrated that His plan to redeem the human race from sin and evil is possible. …
In Job, chapter one, verses six through seven, before the death and resurrection of Christ, Satan had occasional access to the presence of God, whereby he could question the sincerity and righteousness of a believer, as in this chapter one, verses six through twelve, chapter two, verses one through six, chapter thirty-eight, verse seven, and …
In Job, chapter one, verse five, as a godly parent, Job was deeply concerned for the spiritual welfare of his children. He watched their conduct and lifestyle, praying to God that they would be kept from evil and experience God’s blessing and salvation. Job exemplifies a father whose heart is turned toward his children by …
In Job, chapter one, verse one, begins a book many defer not to read or study because it involves a man of God who experiences suffering and public criticism. Job lived in the age of the patriarchs, in the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Old Testament. Arguably, the land of Uz is …
In Esther, chapter nine, verse twenty-six, Mordecai established the feast of Purim, as in verses twenty-through twenty-three, a two-day festival celebrating God’s deliverance of His people from Haman’s sinister plot of genocide toward the people of God. The feast was called “Purim,” recalling that Haman used the “Pur” or lot to determine the day the …
In Esther, chapter nine, verse five, the destruction of the enemies of the people of God on the thirteenth day of Adar was an act of self-defense. The chosen people had the circumstance of fighting for their very lives. They resisted those who wanted to exterminate them, yet they displayed restraint by not plundering their …
In Esther, chapter eight, verse seventeen, God enables His chosen people to defend themselves and cause the people of the land to fear them, as in chapter nine, verse two, and Nehemiah six, verse sixteen, respectively. In this situation, the people of God gained through the wicked plot of Haman. After revoking the initial decree …
In Esther, chapter eight, verse three, although Haman received a hanging for God’s just intervention in chapter seven, verse ten, Esther courageously attempts to address the king with tears in light of saving her people. She fell at the feet of the king for the deliverance of the people of God to reverse the decree …
In Esther, chapter six, verse one, the providential workings of God are evident in this chapter. He used the sleeplessness of the king to bring about the exaltation of Mordecai by his enemy, as in verses two through eleven. Day and night, God watches over those who are faithful. The sleep of the king fled …
In Esther, chapter five, verse thirteen, although Haman had riches, glory, power, and status, he was unsatisfied and unhappy. Mordecai had strength of character, godly convictions, and assurance in God. Haman knew that Mordecai was the better man and hated him for it. In God’s sight, greatness is never in riches or power of position …
