“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death…Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf…I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”— Esther 4:11,16 ESV
In the last two blogs, we looked at how to keep moving forward in faith and the consequences of failing to trust and obey God.
Today, we will look at the life of four Bible characters – Abraham, Esther, David and Ruth, who stepped out in faith, risking everything.
Being a Christian at this particular time in history is a blessing. The Lord has made enormous provisions to support us on this journey. We have the Bible, the Holy Spirit, the Church – the body of Christ and the Christian community, to mention a few.
For those in the Old Testament, it was not the same. For example, Abraham had no choice but to trust the voice of God. He had no one to consult, no Bible with which to measure what he was hearing, but he still stepped out in faith to a land unknown.
Esther was brought up by her cousin, her dad’s nephew – Mordecai. In those days, most women probably didn’t have the opportunity to read or write. However, they were well informed of the word of God according to the Torah. Esther trusted Mordecai and understood that there was a calling to step out and intercede for the people of Israel.
As for David, the man after God’s own heart, his family didn’t have much regard for him, for whatever reason. When David was looking after the flock in the fields, he used the time to meditate and enjoy God’s presence. The experience made it possible for him to know when to step out and face Goliath. “And David said, ‘The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you!’” 1 Samuel 17:37 (ESV)
Finally, Ruth, David’s great, great grandmother, grew up a pagan but married into a Jewish family. Through the devastating experience of losing all the men of the family, Ruth somehow saw God at work and understood that Naomi’s God was worth clinging to.
“But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.’” Ruth 1:16-17 (ESV)
The Lord did great things through the lives of these people, and He wants to do the same through us. Let us step out and be encouraged, believing God has gone ahead of us to make all crooked paths straight.
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 