The Family Bible Journey Podcast

Haman receives his due as Esther presses her king for mercy. The king can't believe his second in command was so cruel, and when he comes to confront Haman, it appears Haman is attacking Esther! Incensed, the king orders Haman hung on the gallows prepared for Mordecai. An unexpected conclusing to Esther's dinner party.

Jesus tells Peter to love HIM by tending, feeding, and caring for His flock. Jesus doesn't ask us to build great monuments or buildings for Him. All He asks us is to love Him by loving others and by pointing them to Jesus.

How often do you feel forgotten? Mordecai had saved the king's life and received no honor. Esther was preoccupied with being queen to pay him much attention. Yet, in this chapter, the king remembers Mordecai's service and honors him above Haman. Here we see God's sense of humor and are encouraged when it feels like we have been forgotten.

Esther is unsure of her king's love and affection when Mordecai asks her to interceed on behalf of their people. Instead of going to the king and insisting he make right the terrible wrong done to her people because she is his wife, she wisely begins to win him over by love. Lavish feasts, prepared by her maidens, give her opportunity to assure herself of the king's love, so that when she makes her urgent request, he does so in love, instead of obligation.

This seemingly minor miracle is a gentle gesture that puts the disciples on a course that will become the greatest movement in all of human history. We take courage and comfort from these men. Just as God used them to change the world, He uses us to alter the earthly lives and eternal destiny of those we touch with His love.

Mordecai pleads with Esther to intervene on behalf of her people, who are faced with extermination at the hands of Haman. She is torn. She wants to help, but isn't feeling the love of the king, and could experience the same fate as Vashti if she overplays her hand. By risking her life and position to address the king, she is a type of Christ, and wisely seeks the king's favor before making her entreaty.

Esther's adoptive father Mordecai earns the wrath of Haman, the second in command of Persia because he refused to bow before anyone besides God or king. Haman's anger led to a murderous, then genocidal hatred for Mordecai and all the Jews. In this episode we learn that this conflict was over 1,000 years in the making.

Jesus establishes His disciples in the faith by appearing to them. When He appeared, He gave them His Holy Spirit and a new charge-to go and proclaim the forgiveness of sins to all people. Ever since this great commissioning, we properly understand that the Church is in the forgiveness business.

Queen Esther stands out from the crowd, not only because she is physically attractive, but also because of her wisdom and virtue. Loved as the only daughter of Mordecai, she knew how to love, because he had loved her dearly. In her rise to prominence, we are encouraged to cultivate the inner beauty that made her stand above the rest.

Esther begins not with Queen Esther, but rather Quenn Vashti. When Vashti refused a royal summons from her husband, she caused an outrage in the kingdom that led to her exile. Unwittingly she set the stage for a new queen to arise.

We marvel at the empty tomb with Mary, Peter and John. Even though they did not understand what was happening, they recognized that life would never be the same. We rejoice with them in the hope of our own resurrection, made possible by Jesus and His Easter victory over death.

Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem after a lengthy absence, only to find that many of his enemies, and the enemies of God's purposes, were prospering in Jerusalem. He rectified the situation, having been given a chance to preserve his legacy. Nehemiah ends with a prayer that God would remember the good he had faithfully done, and He does! This gives us great hope and encouragement when we are fearful that our work will not persevere as we had hoped.

We thank God for faithful leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah in this passage. Because God had prospered the work of their hands, and they did not shrink from executing their task, all in and around Jerusalem were blessed.

In Jesus's final moments, we see Him caring for and providing for His mother and beloved disciple. We see many prophecies fulfilled explicitly in these moments. We marvel at the depth of His love and all He willingly endured to finish the work of our salvation.

God's people wept and lamented their polight as Ezra read God's law. He reponded by encouraging them to focus on God's love and mercy, because God's love has overcome their generational beligerance and unbelief. We too can take courage in God's mercy because His love overcomes all.

When Ezra read from the book of God's law, upon the completion of the city walls, the people mourned in reprentence. Hearing what God expected from HIs people, they knew they fell woefully short of God's standard. Yet, Ezra told them to rejoice, because God's mercy and love far outweigh His wrath. We join with them in both mournful repentence, and great joy as we see all of our sins forgiven in Christ Jesus.

Jesus was crowned with thorns and shame, so that when our earthly life ends, we may be crowned in glory. For us He suffered. For us He died. So that in Him, we may find salvation for our guilty souls.

Mighty and powerful enemies oppposed Nehemiah and the rebuiding of Jerusalem's wall. They plotted, lied, and conspired to kill him. But Nehemiah shows us the strength of resolve, by calling out falsehood and continuing to do the work God had sent him to do.

Nehemiah shows how important it is to lead by example. Poor leaders act like bosses, especting others to cater to their whims because of position or power. True leaders, like Nehemiah, elevate others by showing a better way, by living out the ideals they profess and doing what others refuse to do.

satan has been robbing God's people of love, life, and every good thing. So it is fitting when Jesus, as the Son of God, is robbed of His life by the robber the crowd chose over Him.

In the face of powerful opposition, Nehemiah rallies the people reminding them that they are fighting not for themselves, but for their families and for their God. This story gives us great encouragement when we are opposed by powerful foes. When opposed, it is good for us to remember why it is that we do what God has encouraged us to do as his people.

The people of Israel begin to rebuild the city walls around Jerusalem. Sadly, some of the nobles are too noble for the noble task of serving the Lord by manual labor. But a group of young women is exalted, who gladly lifted their shovels and spades to build the wall as God had encouraged them. Here we learn an important lesson lessons about leadership and what it means to actually get work done. We are encouraged by this explicit example of faithful women serving the Lord.

Jesus was betrayed because He was true to His mission, even if it meant His death. When we are betrayed by those we love, we have an ever-faithful friend in Jesus.

Nehemiah is a faithful leader of the Lord's people who served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia. He came to Jerusalem as a special envoy sent by the king to aid the exiles whose work of rebuilding the walls had come to a standstill. Nehemiah shows us how important it is to be prayerfully prepared for challenges that arise, as we seek to serve the Lord and his people.

When Ezra returns to Jerusalem, he sees that many of the people, including many of the leaders and priests of Israel had intermarried with the people of the land. He tore his robes, his hair and beard out of his head, as a mournful display of distress because it was this very sin that had earlier led God's people away from the Lord and into exile. We are confronted with difficult realities as there is mass divorce in this chapter. How do we who know that divorce is not God's will for marriage reconcile these difficult chapters? By recognizing that it isn't God, who is the author of divorce. Rather, every time faith is broken, families and relationships are broken, and all suffer the consequences of sin.

As Jesus prays for His disciples before He is taken from them, we consider a divine mystery. Jesus is not God's Plan B, merely a rescue mission. No, Jesus was God's Plan A for humanity. He took on human flesh, so that in Him we may know God as Father, Spirit and Brother! Because He is with us and for us, we rejoice in our unity with God and one another.

We learn important lessons from Ezra as he returns to Jerusalem. He prayerfully begins his journey in faith, while also properly preparing the people for what could have been a very dangerous trip. The Lord protected them and prosper them on their way.

In this chapter, Ezra is sent as a scribe, teacher and lawyer to instruct the people in the ways of the Lord. Their great Temple will amount to nothing if the people do not follow the Lord with their whole heart.

This world is full of sin and suffering. We suffer even when we try to do good by those around us. Because the world is not fair or just, it is good for us, when we suffer for doing good, to recognize that Jesus has overcome the world.

In this episode, the people of God appeal to King Darius, seeking his blessing for the rebuilding of the temple. By God's grace, their mighty enemies become great advocates. Not only are these enemies turned into advocates, but tremendous penalties, even capital punishment, is threatened against those who would dare oppose the Lord and his purposes. Here we are encouraged to go forth and faith, even in the face of powerful enemies, knowing that God blesses us when we do.

Here we read of two faithful prophets, Haggai and Zachariah, who rose to the challenge when the building of the temple had been halted by enemies. They did not ask for permission, but rather continued building while appealing to the king to justify their cause. From these faithful saints we learn to persevere and to go forward in faith when we are seeking and doing the Lord's will and work.

Jesus continues to build-up His disciples in the work of His Holy Spirit. In the coming days, months and years, they would rely on the Holy Spirit as their Comforter and Guide. Today, regardless of your flavor of Christianity, the Holy Spirit is the One who keeps you connected to the Father through the Son.

In this chapter, mighty and well politically connected enemies of the Jewish exiles emerge to thwart, the rebuilding of the temple. While these enemies are successful in delaying the building of the temple for some years, God's purposes will not be forever thwarted by evil. Here we learn the difficulties faced by the faithful, and are encouraged in our own journey to remain and prove faithful, even when powerful enemies arise against us.

When the foundation stones are laid for the new temple, there is a mix of sadness and joy expressed by God's people. The younger Jewish people are celebrating an ecstatic with joy at this new beginning this is for their nation. We also hear the weeping of those who had been exiled and remembered the glory of the former temple. As tears mingle with joy, we are also beginning to see how the Jewish religion is transitioning from a temple centered life around worship, to a life revolving around the word of God, as preserved and maintained by faithful scribes and teachers, such as Ezra.

The world hated Jesus so much it killed Him. Should we be surprised then, when the world hates us because we bear His Name? Thanks be to God that He has given us His Great Helper in the person of His Holy Spirit. With His guidance, we can navigate the difficulties that confront us.

Ezra, the faithful scribe, records for us the events surrounding the return of the first exiles to Jerusalem. The joy of the returning exiles is mixed with sadness because of how few and poor they were, compared to the great strength and glory of ancient Israel. Yet they begin their work, confident that the Lord is moving as he encourages them to return and rebuild his house.

Chronicles comes to a screaching halt. Faithless kings and ruthless invaders make for an abrupt and difficult end of the nation of Judah. But there is hope, because we learn there is an end to the Lord's wrath, and the dawn of a new day for Jerusalem.

As Jesus teaches the blessings of being connected to Him, we explore a paradox at the heart of Christianity. When it comes to matters of salvation, there is nothing left for us to do because God, in His great love, has saved us and given us faith by the power of His Holy Spirit. But when it comes to matters of sanctification, or "being holy, as the Lord God is Holy," there is always more we can do. Here, we explore this paradox and find ourselves rooted and pruned in Christ.

Josiah's earthly life was shortened so that he would not experience the distress of the fall of Judah. From him we learn many leassons about life and faith, including the difficulty of knowing the Lord's will on this side of eternity.

Josiah proves among the most faithful of Judah's kings. The last righteous kings makes the restoration of the nation to faith his life's work. In him we see a mighty type of Christ.

Earlier in John's gospel, we heard that the Father and the Son are One. In this chapter, Jesus explicitly connects Himself with His Father and the Holy Spirit. Now, the Holy Spirit is prominent. The Spirit's work is going to be keeping the disciples connected to the Father through the Son, by faith in Him.

Manasseh begins as God's great adversary at the outset of his reign. But after confronted and exiled for his breach of faith, Mansseh repents. He proves its never too late for even the most wayward of souls to return to the Lord and live.

Satan's dark and evil plan to slay the sinless Son of God begins to unfold as Judas Iscariot goes to betray Jesus. Jesus allows this evil to be done to Him, because in killing Him, satan will be destroy. In this comedic tragedy, God's greatest work, the work of our salvation, will be accomplished.

Hezekiah's victory over Sennecharib of Assyria is an epic tale of faith in the face of impossible odds. Sadly, despite this victory, and a miraculous healing from a terminal disease, Hezekiah's pride grows to endanger his faith and the security of the nation.

Hezekiah invited everyone, even the lapsed tribes of the northern kingdom to join in celebrating the Passover. Thousands came and were blessed. They were so thankful and generous in their renewed faith that Hezekiah, the priests and Levites were in awe. Here, we are encouraged to never give-up on those who've lapsed in the faith, and persist in giving to the Lord and His purposes, knowing that He is able to bless us more than we can imagine.

Jesus washed the feet of the disciples for three reasons. He prepared their "beautiful feet" to carry the good news of the gospel. He washed them clean so that they may walk with Him in heaven. And, He gave them an example to follow, that they may wash the feet of others.

Hezekiah was the answer and reaction to his faithless father. Fully devoted to the Lord, his first order of business was to restore the worship of God in the Temple. In him, we see a mighty example of how the Lord can warm cold hearts quickly, and be encouraged in our own Christian witness.

King Ahaz was raised by a father and grandfather who kept God at a distance. So we are not surprised that Ahaz is devoted to every other god under heaven. This chapter describes the decline of Judah, which began as a spiritual decline. We learn the importance of raising children in the faith, and trusting in the Lord, instead of earthly princes and authorities.

Jesus was lifted up on the cross because He loves us. In this episode, we see that the pain and punishment He would face was real and frightful. When confronted with God's wrath, we can also be terrified. Thanks be to God that Jesus came to save, not condemn.

Uzziah and Jotham were two kings of Judah who kept God at arm's length. The father, Uzziah, was struck with leprosy when he tried to play the part of a priest in the temple. The lesson he and his son Jotham learned was to stay away from the Temple. Instead of repenting, they kept their distance from God and moved the nation further from Him.