For my daily devotional reading of the Bible, I have been enjoying the historical books of the Old Testament. I recently completed the Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. My current study is the book of Esther. As I read through the history of Israel, I was amazed to see how God always had a godly man in place to influence the leadership of the nations. We are not surprised to read about a prophet preaching to Israel and Judah, but what about God’s desire to influence the unbelieving rulers of the nations which conquered them? Yes, even for these unrighteous rulers, God sent men to influence them for his good purposes. Consider the following men and women used by God to influence these rulers during the captivity.
KING |
DATE |
INFLUENCE |
SCRIPTURE |
Ashur-dan III |
772-754 BC |
Jonah |
Jonah 3:5-10 |
Nebuchadnezzar |
605-562 BC |
Daniel |
Dan. 2:46-47; 4:27, 37 |
Shadrach, Meshac, Abednego |
Dan. 3:28-29 |
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Belshazzar |
553-539 BC |
Daniel |
Dan. 5:13-29 |
Darius the Mede |
538-536 BC |
Daniel |
Dan. 6:25-27 |
Cyrus |
550-530 BC |
Daniel |
Dan. 1:21; 6:28 |
Ahasuerus |
529-522 BC |
Mordecai |
Esther 8:7-8 |
Esther |
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Artaxerxes |
464-425 BC |
Ezra |
Ezra 7:12-26 |
Nehemiah |
Neh. 2:1-8 |
During this morning’s reading, I came across these solemn words addressed to Queen Esther, the Jewish wife of King Ahasuerus. “If you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” As you look at the events in that particular book, you can clearly see that Esther and Mordecai were part of God’s plan for his people at that time. They were God’s instruments of influence on the foreign king of their day. So were these others listed above.
Now take a moment to consider yourself. Most of us think of ourselves as peons who will never be noted in any history books. But could it be that God has placed you in your particular situation as the man or woman of influence? You may never stand before kings, presidents, or leaders, but there should be no doubt that God has placed you in your home, school, or place of employment for his own unique purpose. And as there has always been someone whom God has used, could that person be you today?
Interesting you used Esther in your blog entry. Lori is reading a book (I will read it when she is done) by Charles Swindol called “Esther”. It was interesting she risked her own life to do someting so untraditional by walking into the king’s court without permission to petition the king on behalf of her people when Haman and others conspired to kill the king, and blame Israel for it. The gallows for Mordecai ended the life of Haman!
I am looking forward to reading that book!