Rolling the Dice

I just noticed today's church bulletin has the wrong date on it! I wonder if anyone realized that this morning. Well, in any event, the message is timeless.
Today's sermon was from the Book of Esther, wherein it seemed as if the destiny of the Jews was subject to “the roll of the dice,” but we discover that God is working behind the scenes to fulfill his purpose.
While the Jews were living in exile in Persia, Haman convinced King Xerxes to decree the extermination of the Jews in all 127 provinces. Whoever killed the Jews would claim their possessions. Haman cast lots (Hebrew pur or purim) i.e. he rolled the dice to determine the day to kill the Jews. Esther, a Jewish girl, is selected as Queen, and it is she who devised a plan to reveal Haman's evil plot. Thus it is not the Jews, but Haman, who is executed.

[Kerri]

Cool shot

[bkb in the city]

Nice shot and great lesson as well

[Rick Schies]

A definite turn of events

[Carole Imes]

What an interesting message. Sad that killing existed all through time and still does. "When will we ever learn" ....

[Allison Williams]

@cimes1 When will we ever learn? Since the beginning of time to the present, Man has shown greed and envy -- all those traits the 10 commandments were created to control. I sure don't see it getting any better, do you?

[Colleen]

Esther is one of the few women in the Bible that have such strength and devotion. Neat shot

[Bep]

I remember this story very well. When we were children my father used to read biblical stories to us every day.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

I don't have a calendar in front of me, but perhaps Feb. 11 was the day that Purim was celebrated this year? Otherwise- you caught a typo! If you ever have the chance to attend a Purim service, it is full of fun and congregational participation and especially geared towards children (which makes it even more fun!). I relate to Esther as she is at first reluctant to step out for God. But after some wise words from her cousin Mordecai, she prays, musters the courage to find a solution and then God helps her to spring into action (all without His name overtly appearing in the book). What a great message you heard! And this is a very good shot to illustrate it.

[Allison Williams]

@olivetreeann Two of my best friends in college were Jewish, and they put on a Purim play for us freshman year. I'll never forget it. It was hilarious. We booed Haman and cheered for Esther!

[Ann H. LeFevre]

@allie912 We attended a Messianic congregation once that really went all out- they even invented a cheer for the city of Shushan to give the congregation an extra reason to cheer. (o: