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Esther’s Faith, the second Bible study devotional, in the Faith Series Devotionals, focuses on the mysterious book of Esther. Author Mary Jane Humes brings the people and events alive to touch your time and your circumstances. In this book, she utilizes Biblical fiction to “flesh” out the characters.
Learn the deep lessons God has for all of His children as you follow along with Hadassah, re-named “Esther”, the orphan, who was kidnapped, made part of the king’s harem, became his queen and saved her people.
She was needed in her particular position “for such a time as this”.
In the book where neither, God nor prayer is mentioned, God has many lessons for each of His children to become His favorite. Each of us has an unique and singular purpose. Learn about yourself and you follow along with the woman Esther and grow your own personal faith in God.
Each day of this 30-day Bible study devotional for women includes:
- A suggested portion of God’s Word for you to read – to help you make Bible reading a daily practice.
- Short Bible lesson A- to deepen your knowledge and understanding of Scripture.
- Fictional perspective of a character in the story – to understand the characters.
- Practical, modern-day spiritual application – to apply in your Christian life and service to God.
- Related Scriptures to meditate on – to help you grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ.
Order “Esther’s Faith” directly from Mary Jane or secure your copy from your favorite online retailer.
Increase your own faith and trust in God because you may find yourself needing to act like Esther, “in such as time as this”.
What Readers are Saying About Esther’s Faith…
Great devotional even for a man. It’s Bible, Amen!
This devotional book is one of my favorites! I highly recommend this book. It says for women but I am part of the bride of Christ, so I can read this and still learn about the Bible and grow spiritually. I pray that more people find this book and buy it.
Josiah Molina
Great insight into a suspense story in the Bible.
This book is quite readable. It is a “filet” of practical application to the book of Esther. You feel that you know her personally, and that she could give you insights into how she reacted to circumstances. It helps you view your own difficulties with wisdom.
Charles J. Brown
Below is the first chapter of Esther’s Faith. I hope you will enjoy it!
Day 1 –“The King”
Bible Reading: Esther 1:1–8
Bible Lesson:
The book of Esther begins by introducing King Ahasuerus. “Ahasuerus” actually may have been a title rather than the personal name of the king. There are scholars who believe the king mentioned in Esther was Xerxes I “the Great” of the Persian empire, who ruled from 486 to 465 BC.
Regardless, Ahasuerus in the book of Esther was a real person in history. Not only was he real, but he is also, in biblical typology, a picture of God Himself. In observing Ahasuerus, the book of Esther gives us a glimpse of the character of God.
Ahasuerus was a great king and world leader. His kingdom stretched over three continents, as the Bible records in Esther 1:1, “from India even unto Ethiopia,” and was comprised of 127 provinces.
He was very powerful, he was royalty, he was rich, and he was famous. And if the scholars are right, and the biblical Ahasuerus was indeed Xerxes the Great, then it is recorded that he had a terrible temper. His word was law. He literally held the power of life and death over his subjects, so it was not wise to make him angry.
The book of Esther starts with the king being in a good mood and feeling very generous. He held a great feast for his court and members of his ruling elite for 180 days. Obviously, he was generous with his time-off policy, for after those days of feasting were ended, he followed with another feast―a shorter one, which lasted only seven days for all of his subjects in his kingdom.
This lavish banquet was held at the king’s palace in the capital city of Shushan, and all his subjects were invited to come, enjoy, and partake of the king’s generosity. This was an occasion for great rejoicing and festivity throughout the entire city.
The ornate furnishings and vibrant colors of the elaborate decorations that graced the palace are recorded in the first chapter of Esther. It was the custom of this culture for people to eat and drink while reclining on couch-like beds.
A Guest Speaks:
“The king was so good to give us this feast. I was invited, but I was afraid to go. The king is so great, and I am just a commoner. My friends said it was all freely given, there was no catch. They said the food and the wine were the best they ever had. Now the feast is over, I wish I had gone!”
Tips on Pleasing the King:
At the king’s feast, his wine flowed freely, but it is noted that “none did compel.” The Bible records in Psalm 104:15 that “wine maketh glad the heart of man.” (KJV)
The king freely offered heart-gladdening wine to all of his guests, yet it was up to the individual as to how much of the king’s bounty he opted to receive.
There were no limits to the king’s generosity. The only restrictions were the ones each guest gave himself.
This royal feast is a picture of what God offers all people. He, the Creator of this wonderful and beautiful world, generously gives life to each person to freely enjoy, whether or not he believes He exists. This lavish party called “life” is a gift from God Himself.
God is the great King. He is the Creator, and He owns all things. He is the exalted One. He is the Lawgiver since He made the natural laws of the universe. God holds the power of life and death over all His creation.
Now God graciously offers eternal life to all who will come to Him. The Bible records that all have fallen short of God’s perfection, and there is none worthy to enter His holy habitation called heaven.
The Bible also records in the first part of Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death.” This is not only physical death, but spiritual death, eternal separation from God in hell.
Heaven is so wonderful that no human is good enough to enter it. But God graciously offer to impart the sinless perfection of His Son to sinful humans in order that they, too, can enjoy heaven with Him.
The last part of Romans 6:23 reads “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
God desires that all come to Him to enjoy heaven, and He freely offers salvation from hell, but He will not compel anyone. Like King Ahasuerus’s wine, God’s free gift of salvation will gladden the heart of all who partake of it, but He will not compel any to take of His free gift. It is entirely up to each individual as to whether or not he will partake of His gift.
Just as some of the people in King Ahasuerus’s day did not partake of his great feast but perhaps looked on it from afar, so, too, today people do not accept God’s gift of eternal life.
They enjoy physical life given by their Creator, but out of fear, unbelief, or some other reason, they reject the free gift of eternal life He graciously offers.
Just as King Ahasuerus was pleased when his subjects came to his feast and took what he offered, God is pleased when we come to Him for salvation. If you want to please God, accept His free gift of eternal life―today. If you already have done so, take some time and thank Him for His great salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Words from Our King
Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. (Proverbs 9:5–6) (KJV)
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1) (KJV)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) (KJV)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) (KJV)
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) (KJV)
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