Valerie Fentress
Purim doesn't rank high on lists of famous Jewish holidays, but it's an important holiday that commemorates one of the most dramatic stories in the Old Testament: Esther saving her people from genocid...
Lisa Loraine Baker
We have implicit and explicit information about Xerxes from the book of Esther, but the extra-biblical archives aid our understanding about this man and how God used him. ...
Lisa Ross
This dramatic unfolding of events moves like a novel and played like a great chess game with several life lessons....
Esther is the best “textbook" of the Scriptures about the providence of God, and how He works in the perfect way and the perfect timing to accomplish His purposes....
Blair Parke
He was Esther's adoptive father, mentor, confidante, cheerleader, and fellow leader to stand for the rights of their Jewish community. The life of Mordecai might seem secondary in the extraordinary st...
Lisa Ross
The Book of Esther is a dramatic account which can give us insight into God’s special and purposeful plan for our lives. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage, divine timing and God’s ...
Hope Bolinger
We can learn a great deal from Esther without diving into the historical context. For instance, the book has quite a few lessons on God’s provision, his timing, and his protection. But learning ...
Annette Griffin
King Xerxes approved the decree and Queen Vashti was thereby stripped of her title and banished from the king’s presence forever, to make way for someone more “worthy” of the title of Queen....
Lisa Loraine Baker
Verse length gives the reader an indication of the theme which is being laid out by the author. And, just as in common literature, long verses seek to develop an idea or truth. Our key passage’s lengt...
Jessica Brodie
Today, when we face difficulties, we too might fear jeopardizing our position if we take a stand for our faith. But when we’re called to have courage and stand up for what is right, and we go about it...
Ben Reichert
Maybe you've heard about the deuterocanonical books. Are these "extra books of the Bible" that people have forgotten, or something else?...
Rachel Lehner
These women of the Bible knew the greatness of their God and had a boldness of speech to match....
Laura Lee Leathers
What does it take for us to come boldly before the throne of grace? Actually, it's not as hard as we may think....
Ruth Clemence
Life has a funny habit of continually moving forward whether we like it or not. Christian author and speaker Elisabeth Elliot once said, “the secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circu...
Blair Parke
When we read these stories of amazing women that are at the same level of faith and resilience as men, we can see that the Bible is the opposite of sexist, but celebrates the capabilities that God has...
Heather Riggleman
Sackcloth and ashes were an outward sign of mourning, repentance, or abasement. It was a type of cloth made of black goat’s hair that was thick, rough, and coarse material. ...
Emma Danzey
As believers in Christ, the Bible is always a popular place to go to find inspiration for a child’s name. However, maybe you or a loved one is looking for something a little more outside of the box....
Heather Adams
By spending time studying God’s Word, lifting up prayers, and giving Him worship, we’ll grow in our knowledge and awe of Him. Our faith will increase, which will help us to stand more firmly when chal...
Lori Stanley Roeleveld
“He must become greater; I must become less” is a powerful and compelling declaration made by John the Baptist, quoted in John 3:30 NIV...
Candice Lucey
Lent is meant to be a time of repentance. These 40 days are set aside to praise and worship the Lord; to read the Bible more, and to pray more often. Christians who observe Lent correctly anticipate d...