Steve Webb: Do you believe that God orders the events in the
lives of people to accomplish his plans?
It's the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from
Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. My name
is Steve Webb. and I'm your OG Godcaster. It's history Tuesday.
and we'll bring that category of the Bible to a close by
completing the Book of Esther with chapters six through 10.
The website is Lifespringmedia.com. org, you'll
find over 3000 episodes that I've produced over the years,
and I'll have contact information for you at the end
of the show. Before we read, let's pray. Our heavenly Father,
Lord, we thank You for Your Word. and we thank you so much
for our time together. I pray, Lord, that as we read today, you
would touch our minds touch our hearts and teach us we pray this
in Jesus name, amen.
Esther chapter six. On that night, the king could not sleep,
and he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the
Chronicles and they were read before the king. and it was
found written how Mordecai had told about big dinner in tea
rush two of the kings Unix who guarded the threshold, and who
had sought to lay hands on King Ahaz, you heiress. and the king
said, What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai
for this. The King's young men who attended him said, nothing
has been done for him. and the king said, Who is in the court?
Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace
to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the
gallows that he had prepared for him. and the king's young men
told him, Haman is there standing in the court? and the
king said, let him come in. So Haman came in and the king said
to him, what should be done to the man whom the king delights
to honor? and Haman said to himself, who would the king
delight to honor more than me? and Haman said to the king, for
the man whom the king delights to honor, let royal robes be
brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the
king has written, and on whose head a royal crown is set, and
let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's
most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king
delights to honor and let them lead him on the horse through
the square of the city proclaiming before him. Thus
shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor. Then
the king said to Haman, Hurry, take the robes in the horse, as
you have said, and do so to Mordecai, the Jew who sits at
the king's gate, leave out nothing that you have mentioned.
So Haman took the robes in the horse, and he dressed Mordecai
and led him through the square of the city proclaiming before
him. Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights
to honor. Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate, but Haman
hurried to his house morning and with his head covered, and Haman
told his wife Zeresh, and all his friends everything that had
happened to him, then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to
him, If Mordecai before whom you had begun to fall is of the
Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely
fall before him. While they were yet talking with him, the Kings
Unix arrived in hurry to bring Haman to the feast that Esther
had prepared.
Esther chapter seven. So the king and Haman went into feast
with Queen Esther. and on the second day, as they were
drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther,
what is your wish? Queen Esther, it shall be granted to you, and
what is your request, even to the half of my kingdom it shall
be fulfilled. Then Queen Esther answered, If I have found favor
in your side, oh king, and if it please the king, let my life be
granted me for my wish, and my people for my request, for we
have been sold I and my people to be destroyed, to be killed
and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men
and women, I would have been silent for our affliction is not
to be compared with the loss to the king. Then King has you were
said to Queen Esther, who is he? and where is he who has dared to
do this? and Esther said, a fool and enemy this wicked Haman.
Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen. and the
king arose in his wrath from the wind drinking in went into the
palace garden. But Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen
Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the
king. and the king returned from the palace garden to the place
where they were drinking wine. As Haman was falling on the
couch where Esther was, and the king said, will he even assault
the queen in my presence in my own house, as the word left the
mouth of the king they covered Heymans face. Then her Bono, one
of the units and attendants on the king said, moreover, the
gallows that Haman is prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved
the king is standing at Hammonds house 50 cubits high. and the
king said, Hang him on that. So they hanged Haman on the gallows
that he had prepared for Mordecai, then the wrap Have the
king abated.
Esther chapter eight. On that same day King Xerxes gave the
property of Haman, the enemy of the Jews to Queen Esther. Then
Mordecai was brought before the king for Esther had told the
king how they were related. The king took off his signet ring,
which he had taken back from Haman and gave it to Mordecai.
and Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Heymans
property. Then Esther went again before the king falling down at
his feet and begging him with tears to stop the evil plot
devised by him in the aggregate against the Jews. Again, the
king held out the gold sector to Esther. So she rose and stood
before him. Esther said, If it pleases the king, if I have
found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right, and if I am
pleasing to Him, let there be a decree that reverses the orders
of Haman, son of him a date of the aggregate, who ordered the
Jews throughout all the kings provinces should be destroyed,
for how can I endure to see my people and my family slaughtered
and destroyed. Then King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and
Mordecai the Jew, I have given Esther the property of Haman.
and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy
the Jews. Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the
king's name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it
with the king's signet ring. But remember that whatever has
already been written in the king's name, and sealed with his
signet ring can never be revoked. So on June 25, the king
secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as
Mordecai dictated, it was sent to the Jews into the highest
officers, the governors and the nobles of all the 127 provinces
stretching from India to Ethiopia. The decree was written
in the scripts and languages of all the peoples of the empire,
including that of the Jews. The decree was written in the name
of King Xerxes and sealed with a king signet ring. Mordecai sent
the dispatches by swift messengers, who rode fast
horses, especially bread for the Kings service. The King's decree
gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend
their lives. They were allowed to Kill, slaughter and
annihilate anyone of any nationality or province, who
might attack them or their children and wives, and to take
the property of their enemies. The day chosen for this event
throughout all the provinces of Kings Xerxes was March 7 of the
next year. A copy of this decree was to be issued as law in every
province and proclaimed to all peoples so that the Jews would
be ready to take revenge on their enemies on the appointed
day. So urged on by the kings command, the messengers rolled
out swiftly and fast horses bred for the king's service. The same
decree was also proclaimed in the fortress of Susa. Then
Mordecai left the king's presence, wearing the royal robe
of blue and white, the great crown of gold, and an outer
cloak of fine linen and purple, and the people of Susa
celebrated the new decree. The Jews were filled with joy and
gladness and were honored everywhere. In every province
and city. Wherever the king's decree arrived, the Jews
rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a
public festival and holiday. and many of the people of the land
became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to
them.
Esther chapter nine. On the 13th day of the 12th month, the month
of a dar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out.
On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower
them. But now the tables were turned in the Jews got the upper
hand over those who hated them. The Jews assembled in their
cities and all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those
determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them,
because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid
of them. and all the nobles of the provinces the satraps, the
governors and the kings administrators helped the Jews
because fear of Mordecai had seized them. Mordecai was
prominent in the palace. His reputation spread throughout the
provinces and he became more and more powerful. The Jews struck
down all their enemies with a sword, killing and destroying
them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.
In the citadel of Judah, the Jews killed and destroyed 500
men. They also killed par Chanda delfont as paisa for raitha. A
Daliah era data for Masta era SCI era die and via the 10 Sons
of Haman son of hammer data, the enemy of the Jews, but they did
not lay their hands on the plunder. The number of those
killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that
same day, the king said to Queen Esther, the Jews have killed and
destroyed 500 Men and The 10 Sons of Haman in the citadel of
Susa. What have they done in the rest of the kings provinces? Now
what is your petition? It will be given to you what is your
request? If it will also be granted if it pleases the king
Esther answered, give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out
this day's edict tomorrow also, and let Heymans 10 sons be
impaled on poles. So the king commanded that this be done. and
edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled the 10 Sons of
Haman, the Jews in Susa came together on the 14th day of the
month of a dar, and they put to death in Susa 300 men but they
did not lay their hands on the plunder. Meanwhile, the
remainder of the Jews who are in the Kings provinces also
assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their
enemies. They killed 75,000 of them but did not lay their hands
on the plunder. This happened on the 13th day of the month of a
dar and on the 14th they rested in made it a day of feasting and
joy. The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the 13th and
14th. and then on the 15th day they rested and made it a day of
feasting and joy. That is why rural Jews those living in
villages, observed the 14th of the month of a dar is a day of
joy and feasting a day for giving presents to each other.
Mordecai recorded these events and he sent letters to all the
Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes near and far to have
them celebrate annually. The 14th and 15th day of the month
of Vadar is the time when the Jews got relief from their
enemies. and as the month when their sorrow was turned to joy,
and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to
observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving of
presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. So the
Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun doing
what Mordecai had written to them. For Haman, son of ama
data, the aggregate, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted
against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast the pier that
is the lot for their ruin and destruction. But when the plot
came to the kings attention, he issued written orders that the
evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come
back onto his own head, and that he and his sons should be
impaled on poles. Therefore these days were called Pure him
from the word pure, because of everything written in this
letter, and because of what they had seen, and what had happened
to them, the Jews took it upon themselves to establish the
custom that they and their descendants, and all who joined
them should without fail, observe these two days every
year in the way prescribed, and at the time appointed. These
days should be remembered and observed in every generation, by
every family, and in every province and in every city. and
these days of pure him should never fail to be celebrated by
the Jews. Nor should the memory of these days die out among
their descendants. So Queen Esther, daughter of Abba Hale
along with Mordecai, the Jew, wrote with full authority to
confirm this second letter concerning purine. and Mordecai
sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes
kingdom, words of goodwill and assurance to establish these
days of pure I'm at their designated times as Mordecai,
the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them and as they had
established for themselves and their descendants in regard to
their times of fasting and lamentation. estrous decree
confirmed these regulations about PRM and it was written
down in the records
Esther chapter 10. In Kenya has us imposed tribute on the land
and on the islands of the sea. Now all the acts of His power
and His might, in the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to
which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of
the chronicles of the kings of media in Persia? For Mordecai,
the Jew was second to King a has you eres, and was great among
the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren,
seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his
countrymen.
Beloved, I have a question for you. Do you believe that God
orders the events in the lives of people to accomplish his
plans? There are some people who believe that once God finished
His work of creation, he stepped away, took his hands off, and
let events on earth happen on their own. To me, that seems
sort of foolish, but that's what some people think. Well, here in
estar, we have an example of how God does orchestrate the events
of man for his purposes. The king was unable to sleep on the
very night that Haman was plotting to kill Mordecai. So
the king does what many of us do, he decided to read a book
hoping that that'll make him sleepy. Think of it has
awareness is the king of the most powerful kingdom on earth.
So he could have done almost anything for a diversion. But he
chose to read a book. He orders that a book of remembrance is be
brought to him. Now he had a kingdom of 127 provinces so I
can imagine that this book of remembrance is probably had
several volumes, can't you? But the person who was tasked with
bringing the book brought the volume that included the account
of how Mordecai saved the king from assassination. and the
servant opened the book to the very page with that record. What
are the odds? Well with God, the odds are 100%. Without God, who
knows? There had to have been many remembrances in that book.
But on this specific night, this specific page was opened.
Coincidence? I think not. Do you believe that God orders events
in the lives of people to accomplish his plans? Of course
he does. Has God ever intervened in your life like this? Can you
remember a time where the course of your life was changed by a
seemingly random event? Let me tell you about a time this
happened to me. and some of you know this story. But it happened
in 2004. It was a Saturday in September, I think it was. and I
turned on the radio to listen to a talk show about technology.
This was normally a callin type show where people would ask the
host for help with their tech devices. But when I turned on
the radio, the host was interviewing a guy. and the guy
was telling the host about this new thing he had vented where
radio type shows would be automatically downloaded to
people's computers. and better still, every time a new show was
created. The new episodes would just show up on their computers,
and then they could transfer the new shows onto their portable
mp3 player, and they could listen to them whenever they
want it. Well, this idea sounded pretty interesting to me having
been in radio in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Of course, this
new invention was podcasting. The interviewer was Leo Laporte,
and the interviewee was Adam curry, whom I am now happy to
not only call my friend, but ecstatic to call my brother in
the Lord. But that's a different story. Well, just a week before
I heard this interview, I had asked God, what more I could do
to serve him. I was already the tech guy at my church and
putting in a lot of time in that. But I wanted to do more
for God's since he had been so very good to me and had blessed
me with a wonderful wife, great kids, a business that paid the
bills, and a home. I just wanted to be available to do whatever
God had for me. I prayed and I asked God, what more I could do.
and his answer was a very clear almost audible proclaim My name.
So was it just a random event when I heard Adam curry telling
Leo Laporte about podcasting? I don't think so. God prompted me
to turn on that radio at just the right time. and on November
13 2004, I uploaded the world's first Christian podcast to my
church's website. and within days, I received emails from
around the world telling me stories of how God was using my
podcast to bring them to Jesus. God was using my little podcast
in miraculous ways. But the story doesn't end there. From
that first podcast that I called Lifespring. I created several
other podcasts, one of which was the Lifespring family Audio
Bible. and because of that show, a person asked me to record the
entire Douay-Rheims Bible. and because of that project, I wrote
Webb ZZ Bible names Pronunciation Guide, which was
published in 2012. and it's helped many, many people as they
study and teach and preach God's word. and also because of
podcasting, I've got a career doing voiceovers for radio and
TV commercials and videos for companies around the world and
church videos and so much more. Something I never would have
dreamed would happen. My life was changed when God
orchestrated events on that September Saturday in 2004. Do
you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to
accomplish his plans? I sure do. Have you seen God's hand in the
events of your life? Let me know about it. Tell me how do you do
that? Well send a Boostagram or call the Lifespring family
hotline or go to the comments page or write an email. How do
you do any of those things? I'll tell you in a few minutes.
Tomorrow will be Psalms Wednesday, we'll close this the
longest book of the Bible with chapters 149 and 150. and we'll
have our last prayer time together. Be sure to have your
praise report or prayer request in by five o'clock Pacific time
today to be included.
James Garner came in today with $40 With this note, he said,
"Hello. I was going to wait until later to do this but my
life with four kids and multiple renovations that are ongoing by
a team of one me tells me that I will not get this done unless I
sit down and write this on a break right now. Your podcast is
going to get me to complete the one of many new year's
resolutions that I actually stuck with. I wanted to get
through the Bible by January 1 and as of next week, I will have
done it been to church on and off my whole life but never
actually dove into it. So it turns out I pretty much knew all
of the information. So I have read more than I thought I had
only a few surprises came up. So for getting me to my goal, I'm
throwing in a few shekels your way. I found value in that.
Well, thank you, James. He said, Now since you're giving up the
reins, I would request a recommendation. I want to go
through it again. But I would not mind going through whole
books straight and not jumping around. I would also like a more
in depth analysis and or insight to the readings. If you know of
such a thing. I would gladly like to give it a try." Okay,
I'll stop reading James' note for just a moment right here to
respond. Now, James, you probably won't be surprised by
this. But with producing this show for so many years, I really
haven't had a chance to listen to other Bible reading podcasts.
I know there are many, but I can't personally recommend any
specific ones. Since I've not listened to them. I can't
personally vouch for their doctrinal accuracy. I'm sure
there's probably some great ones. I just don't have personal
experience with them. But on Saturdays closing show I will
have a Christian podcast recommendation. It isn't a Bible
reading podcast, but one that I do listen to twice a week. and
as soon as I see a new episode in my podcast app, I hit play.
I'll tell you more about it this Saturday. Okay, getting back now
to James's note. He said, "Also, the big thing I'm still hung up
on is basically the Trinity part. We have one group of
people Jewish, worshiping God and still go that route, not
using the New Testament, and then all the rest using the New
Testament." Alright, so we need to stop there for a moment. Just
to be clear. Our Jewish friends are very different in that they
reject Jesus as the Messiah, I'm sure you know that. That's why
they reject the New Testament. They do have much to teach us in
terms of the Old Testament, but because they reject Jesus, we
need to very carefully consider their thoughts even about the
Old Testament. As an example, one of my favorite people is
Dennis Prager, who happens to be a Jew. I've been a fan of Dennis
for more than 40 years. and in case you don't know, Dennis has
a radio show he's had for decades. That's when I first
became aware of him. I used to listen to him on KABC here in
the Los Angeles area, back when I was on the radio at the end of
the 70s and early 80s. In addition to his radio show, he's
written books, he has a podcast. He writes columns in syndicated
newspapers around the country, maybe the world, I'm not sure
how far is newspaper column is syndicated. But he's a really
prolific guy, I love him. He's in the process right now of
writing a set of commentaries on the first five books of the
Bible. He is a learned wise man. But when it comes to biblical
doctrine, I have heard him say many things that I as a believer
in Christ cannot agree with. I love him. and I pray that he
will one day come to realize that Jesus is the Messiah, that
the Jewish people had been looking for. Okay, James
continues, "It is said, God, Jesus in the spirit are one in
the same, but I don't feel God and Jesus are at all the same.
I'm speaking in the way that they communicate to people, et
cetera. I don't know if it's coming across the way I'm
intending but hopefully you get what I'm saying." Okay, I'll
stop there. James, if I'm understanding you correctly, I
think that you're misunderstanding the doctrine of
the Trinity. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are
not one in the same. Each person of the Trinity, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person is distinct from the
others with different roles and different functions, while at
the same time being one. It is a difficult concept to fully grasp
as a human, but I hope that helps a little. They're not the
same. They are different. They're distinct. and James, did
you hear the essential series that we did this season? On?
Episode s 13, e 136. I talked at some length about the Trinity.
I'll put a link in the show notes to that episode. and maybe
that'll help you. Also, please feel free to email me with your
questions even after the show's done. I'm not going anywhere. As
far as I know. Of course, I don't know what God has planned
for me. But I'm planning on being around for a while. And
James closes his note with this. "Anyway, I enjoyed your show
this year. Thanks for doing it. and thanks to no agenda for
hitting me in the mouth when I was open to taking on this
challenge. I see some things happening that make me more open
to this information than I have been in the past." And he
signed, "James Garner, not the actor." Well, thank you, James.
God bless you. You have me a little curious about your last
sentence, but I'm so happy that you have been part of the
Lifespring family. Thank you. I tell you I am so grateful for
each donation of time, talent or treasure that the Lifespring
families contributed this year. If you've been listening but
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Jingle: Lifespringmedia.com/support
Steve Webb: I'll thank you. Those who hear these episodes in
the future will thank you. And I believe that God will bless you.
I invite your comments and your questions send to Boostagram
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Lifespring family hotline and plus 1-951-732-8511 Or if you
have a prayer request or a praise report, go to
prayer.lifespringmedia.com by five o'clock today and send it
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a comment or a question, go to comment dot Lifespringmedia.com
or send an email to me at steve@lifespringmedia.com.
There are some people that have been just completely invaluable
to me this year. That team is Sister Denise Michael Haner
Scott Snider, Jason Paschall and sister Brittaney. Jason Paschall
did today's show, thanks to James Garner for helping to make
this episode possible. Thanks for your time, beloved, shall we
meet again tomorrow. Great. Until then, may God bless you
richly. I'm Steve Webb. Bye.
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