King Xerxes of Persia married a second time to Esther, a Jewess. Esther had a cousin called Mordecai. Mordecai would often sit at the king's gates.
At one stage, Mordecai overheard a couple of people plotting to kill the king. He passed on what he heard, and the assassins were arrested before their conspiracy could be executed.
At another stage, Haman, one of King Xerxes trusted ministers, who was quite vain, wanted to be honoured and the king granted him this. Everybody would bow to Haman on that special day, except for Mordecai. Haman felt angry at this, and wanted Mordecai executed for the offense.
This plot then grew bigger, as Haman's friends advised that the whole Jewish community could be penalised for the offense; not just Mordecai. Mordecai managed to persuade the king on this idea.
Word was passed through to Esther, who worried about what she could do. Nobody could approach the king except when the king calls for it, or grants permission. However, Mordecai persuaded his cousin to try.
While Esther was contemplating this, King Xerxes had a restless night, and called for the chronicles of his kingdom to be read to him. When he came to realise that Mordecai had not yet been honoured for the failed assassination attempt, the king asked Haman what he could do. Haman's advise resulted in him running before Mordecai to bring him honour.
Esther later plucked up her courage, and when granted audience with the king, told him of her plight, if the plan to kill all the Jews would take place. The king quickly reversed his previous edict, had Haman hanged, and granted the Jews the permission to defend themselves.
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther
Esther
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
The flood
The world was sinful. God decided to drown it through a flood. However, He chose to spare one family.
That family was Noah's. God told him to build an ark. Noah spent years doing this. He was probably ridiculed for his work because the world has not experienced rain or flood before. But Noah chose to believe in God and continued to build.
When the time came, God sent to Noah a representative collection of all kinds of animals. From the humans, Noah, his sons and their wives were saved in the ark. The skies and the fountains in the sea broke after that, but God closed the door of the ark after the creatures that were to be saved were inside.
After a long time, the rain stopped and the waters receded. The ark landed on Mt Ararat. Noah knew when it was saved to come out of the ark when a dove he sent out brought back an olive branch.
Noah burned a sacrifice to God when he emerged from the ark. God made a promise that He would not flood the world again. The rainbow is the sign of this promise.
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah%27s_Ark
Genesis 6-9
That family was Noah's. God told him to build an ark. Noah spent years doing this. He was probably ridiculed for his work because the world has not experienced rain or flood before. But Noah chose to believe in God and continued to build.
When the time came, God sent to Noah a representative collection of all kinds of animals. From the humans, Noah, his sons and their wives were saved in the ark. The skies and the fountains in the sea broke after that, but God closed the door of the ark after the creatures that were to be saved were inside.
After a long time, the rain stopped and the waters receded. The ark landed on Mt Ararat. Noah knew when it was saved to come out of the ark when a dove he sent out brought back an olive branch.
Noah burned a sacrifice to God when he emerged from the ark. God made a promise that He would not flood the world again. The rainbow is the sign of this promise.
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah%27s_Ark
Genesis 6-9
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Joseph
Joseph was a son of Israel. He had 11 brothers.
Most of his brothers despised him since he was the most loved of their father, since he is the firstborn of the wife that he loved the most.
Joseph also had a couple of dreams that made him out to be the lord over the rest of his family. He told his family of these dreams.
Because of the two reasons above, Joseph's brothers wanted to kill him. However, an act of grace got him sold as a slave in Egypt instead.
Circumstances in Egypt put Joseph in prison, and then brought him out of prison to become the Prime Minister of the land. Because of God-given wisdom, management skills and the ability to understand dreams, Joseph was able to save up grain during the years when Egypt had abundant harvests so that they would have some left during the years of famine.
Joseph set up a taxation system in Egypt that eventually had all the Egyptians sell their property and themselves to the Pharaoh. His father and brothers eventually needed food during the years of famine. Joseph was able to provide for these needs. His conclusion on the matter was that
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_%28son_of_Jacob%29
Genesis 37-46
Most of his brothers despised him since he was the most loved of their father, since he is the firstborn of the wife that he loved the most.
Joseph also had a couple of dreams that made him out to be the lord over the rest of his family. He told his family of these dreams.
Because of the two reasons above, Joseph's brothers wanted to kill him. However, an act of grace got him sold as a slave in Egypt instead.
Circumstances in Egypt put Joseph in prison, and then brought him out of prison to become the Prime Minister of the land. Because of God-given wisdom, management skills and the ability to understand dreams, Joseph was able to save up grain during the years when Egypt had abundant harvests so that they would have some left during the years of famine.
Joseph set up a taxation system in Egypt that eventually had all the Egyptians sell their property and themselves to the Pharaoh. His father and brothers eventually needed food during the years of famine. Joseph was able to provide for these needs. His conclusion on the matter was that
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_%28son_of_Jacob%29
Genesis 37-46
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Passover
The nation of Israel resided in the land of Egypt. There was a period when the Pharaoh did not know about Joseph, who placed a yoke of slavery upon the people of Israel.
A man called Moses was born in this period. God caused Moses to be raised as a son of Pharaoh, and then used him as a spokesman to plead for the freedom of the Israelites.
Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go free. Consequently, Egypt suffered through ten plagues. During the last plague, the firstborn of very family died, except those of the families of Israel. The angel of death passed over the families of Israel, and spared them.
To this day, this Feast of Unleaven Bread commemorates how God spared the families of Israel and delivered these people out of the bondage of Egypt.
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover
Exodus 1-15
A man called Moses was born in this period. God caused Moses to be raised as a son of Pharaoh, and then used him as a spokesman to plead for the freedom of the Israelites.
Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go free. Consequently, Egypt suffered through ten plagues. During the last plague, the firstborn of very family died, except those of the families of Israel. The angel of death passed over the families of Israel, and spared them.
To this day, this Feast of Unleaven Bread commemorates how God spared the families of Israel and delivered these people out of the bondage of Egypt.
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover
Exodus 1-15
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