Category: Bible Challenge

“So Haman took the robes and put them on Mordecai, placed him on the king’s own horse, and led him through the city square, shouting, ‘This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!’ Afterward Mordecai returned to the palace gate, but Haman hurried home dejected and completely humiliated.” v. 6:11-12

What a turn of events. Haman who despised Mordecai and plotting to kill him now had to escort him through the city shouting, “This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor.” I am sure when the king asked Haman, “What should be done to honor someone who truly pleases me?” his first thought was what can I get. Obviously thinking he was going to be the one honored. Sadly, Hamons pride, arrogance, and pursuit of popularity was his downfall.

Our initial response to the story about Haman is to say he got what he deserved. But the Bible leads us to ask deeper questions like:

1.) How much of Haman is in me?
2.) Do I desire to control others?
3.) Am I threatened when others don’t appreciate me as I think they should?
4.) Do I want revenge when my pride is attacked?

Confess these attitudes to God, and ask Him to replace them with an attitude of forgiveness, and the ability to be humble. Otherwise, Gods justice will settle the matter.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible!

“Haman was a happy man as he left the banquet! But when he saw Mordecai sitting at the palace gate, not standing up or trembling nervously before him, Haman became furious.” v. 9
Hatred and bitterness are like weeds with long roots that grow in the heart and corrupt all of life. Haman was so consumed with hatred toward Mordicai that he could not even enjoy the honor of being invited to Esther’s party. Hebrews 12:15 warns us to “watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” Don’t let hatred and it’s resulting bitterness build in your heart. Like Haman, you will find it backfiring against you. If the mere mention of someone’s name provokes you to anger, confess your bitterness as sin. Ignoring bitterness, hiding it from others or making superficial changes in behavior is not enough. I bitterness isn’t completely removed, it will grow back, making matters worse.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: ‘Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?’” v. 13-14
Esther risked her life by coming before the king. Her courageous act gives us a model to follow in approaching a difficult or dangerous task. Like Esther, we can:

1. Calculate the Cost – Esther realized her life was at stake.
2. Set Priorities – She believed that the safety of the Jewish race was more important than her life.
3. Prepare – She gathered support and fasted.
4. Determine a Course of Action and Move Boldly – She didn’t think too long about it, allowing the interlude lesson her commitment to what she had to do.

Do you have to face a hostile audience, confront a friend on a delicate subject, or talk to your family about changes to be made? When you face challenges in life, seek to know what God wants you to do, and then do it, confident that God will do His part. Rather than dreading difficult situations or putting them off, take action with confidence by following Esther’s inspiring example.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. 6 He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes.” v. 5-6
Haman enjoyed the power and prestige of his position, and he was enraged when Mordecai did not respond with the expected reverential bow. Haman’s anger was not directed just toward Mordecai, but toward what Mordecai stood for – the Jews dedication to God as the only authority worthy of reverence. Haman’s attitude was prejudiced: he hated a group of people because of a difference in belief or culture. Prejudice grows out of personal pride – considering oneself better than others. In the end, Haman was punished for his arrogant attitude. God will harshly judge those who are prejudice or whose pride causes them to look down on others.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in early winter[d] of the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti. To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone.” v. 16-18
God placed Ester on the thrown even before the Jews faced the possibility of complete destruction, so that when trouble came, a person would already be in the position to help. No human effort could thwart God’s plan to send the Messiah to earth as a Jew. If you are changing jobs, or location and can’t see God’s purpose in your situation, understand that God is in control. He may be placing you in a position so you can help when the need arises.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

On the seventh day of the feast, when King Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine, he told the seven eunuchs who attended him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas— to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman. But when they conveyed the king’s order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the king furious, and he burned with anger.” v. 10-12

Queen Vashti refused to parade before the kin’s all male party, possibly because it was against Persian custom for a woman to appear before a public gathering of men. This conflict between Persian custom and the king’s command put her in a difficult situation, and she chose to refuse her half-drunk husband, hoping he would come to his senses later. That didn’t happen as she hoped it would.

King Xerxes used her as an example, stating that women should do as their husbands ask. She was removed as the Queen setting up a search for a new queen.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“Then Ezra praised the LORD, the great God, and all thee chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifter their hands.  Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” v. 6

“I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my servants to spend time working on the wall. I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands! The provisions I paid for each day included one ox, six choice sheep or goats, and a large number of poultry. And every ten days we needed a large supply of all kinds of wine. Yet I refused to claim the governor’s food allowance because the people already carried a heavy burden.” v. 16-18
Nehemiah led the entire construction project, but he also worked on the wall alongside the others. He was not a bureaucrat in a well-guarded office but a leader who got involved in the day-to-day work. He did not use his position to lord it over his people. A good leader keeps in touch with the work to be done. Those who lead best lead by what they do as well as what they say.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“So the king asked me, ‘Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.’
Then I was terrified, 3 but I replied, ‘Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.’” v. 2-3

“So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.

The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. But now I said to them, ‘You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!’ Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.

They replied at once, ‘Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.’” v. 11-18
Nehemiah wasn’t ashamed to admit his fear, but he refused to allow fear to stop him from doing what God had called him to do. He acknowledged the kings position and clearly stated the response for his own sorow. When we allow fear to rule us, we make fear more powerful than God. Is there a task God wants you to do, but fear is holing you back? God is greater than all of our fears. Recognizing why you are afraid is the first step in committing your fear to God. Realize if God has called you to a taks, he will help you accomplish it!!

Secondly, Nehemiah arrived quietly in Jerusalem and spent several days careflly observing and assessing the damage to the walls. Following this time of thoughtful consideration, he confidently presented his plan. Nehemiah demonstrated an excellent approach to problem solving. He got firsthand information and carefully considered the situation. Then he presented a realistic stratagy. Before jumping into a project, follow Nehemiahs example and plan ahead. Check your information to make sure your ideas will work – be realistic. Then you will be able to present your plan.

Spiritual renewal often begins with one person’s vision. Nehemiah had a vision, and he shared it with enthusiam, inspiring Jeresalem’s leaders to rebuild the walls.

We frequently underestimate people and don’t challenge them with our dreams for God’s work in the world. When God plants an idea in your mind to accomplish something for him, share it with others and trust the Holy Spirit to impress them with similar thoughts. Don’t regard yourself as the only one through whom God is working. Often God uses one person to express the vision and others to turn it into reality. When you encourage and inspire others, you put teamwork into action to accomplish God’s goals.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord:

‘He is so good!
His faithful love for Israel endures forever!’

Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid.

But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.” v.11-13
The celebration after laying the temple foundation was marked by contrast of emotion – shouts of joy and sounds of weeping. Both were appropriate. The Holy Spirit can stimulate us both to rejoice over the goodness of his grace and to grieve over the sins that required him to correct us. When we come into the presence of almighty God, we may feel full of joy and thanksgiving, yet at the same time be sobered by our short comings.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible