God is near, present, and working…even when we can’t see him.
You might remember the Where’s Waldo? Phenomenon a number of years ago. Each spread of every Where’s Waldo? Picture book was filled with people going about their business…at the zoo, in the museum, on the beach. But somewhere among them was Waldo. If you looked closely and studied the picture long enough, you would finally find his red-and-white striped shirt, blue pants, brown shoes, bobble hat, unique haircut, and distinctive eyeglasses.
With time, looking for this silly character became an international craze. The Icelandic people looked for Valli, the Norwegians scoured the pages for Willy, the French searched for Charlie, and Israelis played Where’s Efi? The fun of these books was the process of looking for, and finally finding, Waldo.
Similarly, as we read each chapter of The Story, we discover that God is on every page, at work each moment, and present at all times…even when he is hard to see. Chapter 20 is the account of Esther. This Bible book is unique because in the full text of Esther’s story, the name of God is never used…not once.
Esther and her people faced a horrific threat in a foreign land. The story is an intrigue of persecution, conflict, a vicious enemy, twists and turns, and vindication. Yet despite the seeming absence of God, he is everywhere in Esther’s story. The same is true in our story today…even when we don’t notice him.
Books such as Where’s Waldo? And games such as hide-and-seek are great fun. But think of a time you actually lost a real person (or got lost) and what it took to find that person (or find your way again).
The above is taken from The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story, page 131.
1. Where did Mordecai and Esther turn when faced with a difficult situation?
2. The book of Esther has been called the “godless book” because God’s name is never mentioned. Prayer, the Law, sacrifices, and temple worship are also conspicuously absent. Where can you find God’s supernatural blessings in the story anyway?
3. What life lessons does Haman teach us about pride, self-centeredness, and hatred?
4. Throughout this entire chapter, what strikes you about Esther’s character, how she related to people, and the risks she took? What can we learn and gain from her example?
ReplyDeletePoint to ponder…
God is near, present, and working…even when we can’t see him.
You might remember the Where’s Waldo? Phenomenon a number of years ago. Each spread of every Where’s Waldo? Picture book was filled with people going about their business…at the zoo, in the museum, on the beach. But somewhere among them was Waldo. If you looked closely and studied the picture long enough, you would finally find his red-and-white striped shirt, blue pants, brown shoes, bobble hat, unique haircut, and distinctive eyeglasses.
With time, looking for this silly character became an international craze. The Icelandic people looked for Valli, the Norwegians scoured the pages for Willy, the French searched for Charlie, and Israelis played Where’s Efi? The fun of these books was the process of looking for, and finally finding, Waldo.
Similarly, as we read each chapter of The Story, we discover that God is on every page, at work each moment, and present at all times…even when he is hard to see. Chapter 20 is the account of Esther. This Bible book is unique because in the full text of Esther’s story, the name of God is never used…not once.
Esther and her people faced a horrific threat in a foreign land. The story is an intrigue of persecution, conflict, a vicious enemy, twists and turns, and vindication. Yet despite the seeming absence of God, he is everywhere in Esther’s story. The same is true in our story today…even when we don’t notice him.
Books such as Where’s Waldo? And games such as hide-and-seek are great fun. But think of a time you actually lost a real person (or got lost) and what it took to find that person (or find your way again).
The above is taken from The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story, page 131.
ReplyDeleteQuestions to consider…
1. Where did Mordecai and Esther turn when faced with a difficult situation?
2. The book of Esther has been called the “godless book” because God’s name is never mentioned. Prayer, the Law, sacrifices, and temple worship are also conspicuously absent. Where can you find God’s supernatural blessings in the story anyway?
3. What life lessons does Haman teach us about pride, self-centeredness, and hatred?
4. Throughout this entire chapter, what strikes you about Esther’s character, how she related to people, and the risks she took? What can we learn and gain from her example?