1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and the king Assurius laid a tribute 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: upon the land and upon the isles of the sea. 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: Ester ten one give me this day, Lord, the wisdom 4 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:19,479 Speaker 1: of Esther and Mordecai allow me to gain strategic and 5 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 1: insightful strategies to protect your children against the plot of 6 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:28,319 Speaker 1: the enemy. Like the story in Esther, equip me and 7 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: those in my circle with the right solutions needed to 8 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: solve the problems of your children and business, education, finance, technology, 9 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: and every other industry you've led us to inherit. Thus 10 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: I declare myself as a problem solver. I am a 11 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: master when it comes to solutions, because the wisdom of 12 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: your Holy Spirit rests on my mind and heart. The 13 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: day of salvation and breakthroughs come. The hand of the 14 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: oppressor has been lifted, and we are free to defend 15 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: our lands and our destinies through the decree of your 16 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 1: Holy Word. Thank you, my God, that we are free. Indeed, 17 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 1: in Jesus' name, Amen, thank you for making prayer a 18 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: priority in your day. To learn more about the Bible, 19 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: stay tuned for today's story, brought to you by Bible. 20 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 2: In a year dot com, Esther saves her people In 21 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 2: our last story, Esther was taken to be groomed as 22 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 2: the next queen of Persia. 23 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 3: She gained favor with the king, as did her uncle Mordecai. However, 24 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 3: a wicked noble had the King's power, aman Aman sent 25 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 3: out a degree for every Jew in the nation to 26 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 3: be killed. The time was drawing near and the Jews 27 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 3: were in great danger. Esther learned of Haman's plot and 28 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 3: now had to risk her life by approaching the king. 29 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 3: Now we learn of Esther's plan to expose Haman and 30 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:21,119 Speaker 3: save her people. Inspired by the Book of Esther. 31 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 4: Hello, this is Pastor Jack Graham with another episode of 32 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 4: the Bible in a Year podcast. In our last episode, 33 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 4: we learned how Esther was made queen one of the 34 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 4: wives of the unpredictable and cruel King Xerxes. God was 35 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 4: working through her, however, and her uncle Mordecai, to pave 36 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 4: the way for a rescue of the Jews from the 37 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 4: hand of Hayman, a hateful man one of xerxes evil counselors. 38 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 4: And so when Hayman convinced Xerxes to issue a decree 39 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 4: to kill all the Jews in the capitol, Esther is 40 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 4: faced with a decision to remain silent and watch as 41 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 4: her Jewish kin or slaughtered, or speak up and risk 42 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 4: angering Xerxes and endangering even ending her own life. For Esther, 43 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 4: the choice was clear. She had to act, and in 44 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 4: today's reading, we'll see how God works through the wisdom 45 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 4: of Mordecai and the courage of Esther to save his 46 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 4: people from certain annihilation. Here is the word of God 47 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 4: for today. 48 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 3: Esther dressed herself quietly in her room. She draped herself 49 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 3: with royal robes and held her head up high. This 50 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 3: was no time for groveling or flirting. She had to 51 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 3: walk into the presence of King Xerxes as a strong leader. 52 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 3: To enter into the King's courts uninvited meant certain death, 53 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 3: but she was prepared to die if it meant protecting 54 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 3: her people. She walked to the halls. The sound of 55 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 3: her footsteps echoed as she walked with purpose. She stopped 56 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 3: outside the doors of the royal throne Room, took a 57 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 3: deep breath, and stepped inside. The halls were laced in 58 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 3: gold and ivory. Pillars held up the high ceiling. In 59 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 3: the middle of the throne room, the king sat with 60 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 3: his commanders facing him, The king looked surprised to see Esther, 61 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 3: but not angry. He raised his golden scepter towards her 62 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 3: and smiled, my queen, He said, please come in. What 63 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 3: can I do for you? Esther was surprised at the 64 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 3: favor the king was displaying. He was joyful and sober. 65 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 3: It was almost as if his heart and mind had 66 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 3: been softened before she came in. Esther bowed and said, 67 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 3: if it pleases you, my king, I would love for 68 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 3: you and Haman to come to night for a banquet. 69 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 3: I have prepared a fine array of food for you. 70 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 3: The king was elated at her request and immediately sent 71 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 3: for Haman. Later that night, Esther was dining among Xerxes 72 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 3: and the wicked man Haman. While they were drinking and 73 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 3: enjoying their meal, the king asked, is there anything you 74 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 3: need of me, my queen? I will give you anything 75 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 3: up to half my kingdom. Esther smiled at the gesture 76 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 3: and simply asked that he and Haman returned the next 77 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 3: day for another banquet. Esther was careful to gain more 78 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 3: favor from the king before requesting something so large, plus, 79 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 3: she wanted Haman to feel safe with her. Later that night, 80 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 3: Haman was walking back from the banquet. He saw Mordecai 81 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:30,039 Speaker 3: in the streets and scoffed at him. Have you no respect? 82 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 3: He spat, Still, you don't bow to me, Hamman yelled. 83 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:38,239 Speaker 3: So Hamman gathered his servants to prepare a large wooden pike. 84 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 3: Tomorrow he would find Mordecai and impale him on the end. 85 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 3: That same night, the king tossed and turned in his bed. 86 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 3: He was uneasy and his heart felt heavy. He called 87 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 3: for one of his servants to tell different stories and 88 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 3: recount good events. The servant read out loud tales of 89 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:02,039 Speaker 3: military exploits, successful building projects, in good works the king 90 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 3: was a part of. Xerxes began to drift as the 91 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 3: servants sang his praises. Then the servant recounted noble acts 92 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 3: done for the king by others. He spoke of Mordechai 93 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 3: saving him from assassination. At these words, the king leaped 94 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 3: out of his bed. He had forgotten to reward Mordechai 95 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 3: for his loyalty. The next morning, Xerxes ordered Haman to 96 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 3: parade Mordechai around in the city streets and sing his praises. 97 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 3: Haman held the reins of the horse, Mordechai sat on. Haman, 98 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 3: to his shame, was forced to praise the man he 99 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 3: planned to kill. He was forced to celebrate his sworn enemy. 100 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 3: Mordechai was the reason Haman wanted the Jews executed. He 101 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,479 Speaker 3: would dance on Mordechai's corpse once the Jews were exterminated 102 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 3: for good. Later that night, Haman and Xerxes joined Esther 103 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 3: for another banquet. Hamman stowed in bitterness as he sped 104 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 3: his wine. He had hated the events leading up to 105 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 3: the banquet. The king laughed with his queen and asked, 106 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 3: once again, how can I bless you, my love? What 107 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 3: is it that you would ask of me? Esther looked 108 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 3: deeply into the King's eyes. Her seriousness caught him off guard. 109 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 3: She sighed and held his hand. Have I found favor 110 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 3: in your sight? She asked? Of course, what is it? 111 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 3: The king responded, I have been told that one of 112 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 3: your men has sent a decree for the Jews in 113 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 3: the land to be slaughtered. But they are my people. 114 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 3: I am a Jew. Her comment surprised the king, not 115 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 3: because Esther was a Jew, but because such a hideous 116 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 3: decree was made in his name. Who would do such 117 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 3: a thing. He demanded, who would dare lay a hand 118 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 3: on my queen's people without my permission? The King's rage boiled, 119 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 3: and Haman shrunk where he sat, and then attempted to 120 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 3: slip out of the room silently. Esther saw Haman making 121 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 3: an escape and said, this man before you was the one. 122 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 3: He is a wicked man and your adversary. The king 123 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 3: turned to Haman, his eyes were red with rage. The 124 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 3: king stepped outside for a moment to yell at the stars. 125 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 3: While the king was outside, Hamman fell on too Esther's 126 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 3: lap and begged for mercy. The king stepped back inside 127 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 3: and found Haman on top of Esther. You dare touch 128 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 3: my wife, he yelled. Haman's eyes widened, he could not speak. 129 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 3: The king gestured for his guards to take Himan. Without 130 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 3: a word, he was taken and thrown onto the wooden pike. 131 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 3: He set up for Mordechai. Yet the decree to kill 132 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 3: the Jews could not be reversed. The decree was final. 133 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 3: The day was fast approaching, and Serxes had no idea 134 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 3: how to save the people from certain death. However, Mordecai 135 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 3: and Esther had a plan. If Serxes would allow for 136 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,839 Speaker 3: the Jews to defend themselves. Then they could battle against 137 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 3: Haman's nobles. This would protect the Jews and get rid 138 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 3: of the men loyal to Haman. So the decree was 139 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 3: sent out and the Jews were armed with swords and shields. 140 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 3: The day came when the nobles sent their men to 141 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:12,559 Speaker 3: slaughter the Jews, where they were met with strong defenses. Together, 142 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 3: the Jews were able to defend themselves from the onslaught. 143 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:21,319 Speaker 3: Victory was shouted in the streets of Susa. Families shouted 144 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 3: for joy. Not only were they spared, but they were 145 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 3: able to play a role in their own liberation. They 146 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:32,319 Speaker 3: were afforded the opportunity to defend themselves. They felt empowered 147 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 3: for the first time since captivity. This was all thanks 148 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 3: to the noble character of Esther. She would remain in 149 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 3: the palace and watch over her people. She would create 150 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 3: a legacy of kindness and establish a kingdom that looked 151 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 3: towards Jerusalem with favor. 152 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,599 Speaker 4: In today's scripture, Esther is preparing for the most important 153 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 4: meeting of her life. On her sho rests the fate 154 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 4: of the Jews in the capital region of Susa. At 155 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 4: least that's what it surely must have felt like to 156 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 4: this young woman. But I imagine that Esther also understood 157 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 4: that this was much bigger than her, much bigger. Her 158 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 4: fate and that of her people rested not on her shoulders, 159 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 4: or in the hands of Xerxes or even hateful Hayman, 160 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 4: but the most High God, who placed her there by 161 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:30,440 Speaker 4: his providences and in his plan. Esther made herself beautiful, 162 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 4: appealing to the desires of Xerxes. She was young, but 163 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 4: not foolish. She was never to approach the king without 164 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 4: being summoned, but she dared, for the sake of her 165 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 4: people to approach him. She boldly approaches the throne room 166 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 4: to his great surprise. It bears mentioning what a sharp 167 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 4: contrast this scene draws to our situation. Esther was the 168 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 4: wife of Xerxes, a human ruler in a kingdom that, 169 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:57,839 Speaker 4: in the timeline of humanity was just a blip on 170 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 4: the radar, and she had to coach him, yet with 171 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 4: caution and fear. Any request could not only be denied, 172 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 4: but met with harsh punishment, even capital punishment. When you 173 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 4: think about this, we have an even greater promise when 174 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 4: we approach our King Jesus through our Savior, the Lord 175 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 4: Jesus Christ. We come to the throne room of God. 176 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 4: He has made it available to us. We come to 177 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 4: his throne with boldness, as the scripture says, and we 178 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 4: have access to him because of what Christ has done 179 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 4: for us. We can go at any time and pray 180 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 4: and ask God for what we need. What a wonderful promise. 181 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 4: So Esther enterserks the throne room, and he expects her 182 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 4: to make a request. Rather than ask for something, she 183 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 4: tells the king she wants to throw a banquet for 184 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 4: him and Haymon no doubt this would appeal to both 185 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 4: men's pride and sense of superiority. They both gladly attended 186 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 4: the banquet, eating and drinking their fill a pleasured king 187 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 4: and then asked Esther what she wanted. No request would 188 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 4: be denied her, he promised, but she knew this trap 189 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 4: needed to be set with care. She proposed a second feast, 190 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 4: another night of honoring these men. Later that same night, 191 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 4: Haman saw Mordecai, who refused still to bow down before him. 192 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 4: So Haymon ordered a gallows built on which he would 193 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 4: hang Mordecai. He had had enough, he thought of this 194 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 4: Jew's disrespect, and as Xerxes slept that night, he was troubled, 195 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 4: so he called a servant in to tell him stories 196 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 4: and soothe him. One of the stories that was read 197 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 4: to him recounted how Mordechai saved him from assassination. At 198 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 4: that moment, the king remembered he had never rewarded Mordecai, 199 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 4: so he called Haymon and asked what should be done 200 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 4: to honor someone the king wished to honor. Hamon, of course, 201 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 4: thought it was him. The king wanted to honor, so 202 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 4: he proposed a lavish display, then watched as all he 203 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 4: had proposed was given to Mordecai. That next night, Esther 204 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 4: held another feast, and this time, when she was asked 205 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 4: what she wanted, she spoke clearly and forthrightly. She told 206 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 4: the king that she had heard of the decree to 207 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 4: exterminate the Jews, then revealed that she was Jewish herself. 208 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 4: Xerxes was livid and wanted to know who wished harm 209 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 4: upon his wife. Esther pointed to Hayman and told the 210 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 4: king it was all his idea. So we read in 211 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 4: Ester seven and verse ten a bit of biblical poetic justice. 212 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 4: Powerful poetic justice. So they Hayman on the gallows that 213 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 4: he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the 214 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 4: king abated. Here you have the story of the horrible 215 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 4: hanging of hateful Hayman. Haymon was dealt with, but the 216 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 4: decree still stood and couldn't be retracted. But Xerxes allowed 217 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 4: the Jews to defend themselves and fight. To commemorate their 218 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:05,680 Speaker 4: rescue from annihilation, Mordecai and all the Jews inaugurated the 219 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:10,959 Speaker 4: festival known as Pura, still observed to this day. Though 220 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 4: it may seem at times that evil has its way, 221 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 4: God's justice will always be satisfied. He had worked through 222 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 4: Esther and Mordecai to bring rescue to his people, but 223 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 4: there was an even greater rescue coming, not just for 224 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 4: the Jews, but for all the world. Dear God, we 225 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 4: thank you for the faith and the witness of Esther 226 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 4: and Mordecai. What a tremendous story. Thank you for including 227 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 4: it in God's word. We see your providence, And even 228 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 4: though your name is never mentioned in the book of Esther, 229 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 4: your hand is at work, Your providence is sure, and 230 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 4: your judgments are given. Lord, you are always present, your 231 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 4: invisible hand is always working. Your invisible hand of providence 232 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 4: is always working. And for this we praise you in Jesus' name. Amen. 233 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 4: Once again, thank you for listening to today's Bible in 234 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:10,359 Speaker 4: a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. 235 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 4: Let me encourage you to download the Prey dot com 236 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 4: app and make Bible study and prayer a real priority 237 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 4: in your life. And if you are enjoying this podcast, 238 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 4: share it with someone you know, someone you care about, 239 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 4: because sharing God's word has a powerful impact upon people's lives. 240 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 4: And if you want more resources as to how you 241 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 4: can find faith, grow in your faith, develop as a 242 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 4: disciple and follower of Jesus, be sure to visit me 243 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 4: at Jack Graham dot org. We have plenty of resources 244 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 4: that will encourage you and equip you for life. God 245 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 4: bless you. 246 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 247 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality. 248 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 3: Welcome to the Pray News podcast, where hope is our 249 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 3: only bias. 250 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 2: Each day, we'll unpack the most prominent stories happening in 251 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 2: the news and offer a Christian perspective. We won't shy 252 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 2: away from the hard topics, and we won't dilute the 253 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 2: hopeful message of Christ. 254 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 3: This is more than a daily brief on the news. 255 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 2: It's a way to be informed and transformed. Listen to 256 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 2: Prey News on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 257 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 2: you get your podcasts.