Esther 8:6
"For how can I endure to see the evil that shall
unto my people? or how can I endure to
see the destruction of my kindred?"
Noah
may have been close to God, but he neglected to care for humanity. He knew
about the flood and built the ark so he and his family could survive it. But in
all the years that he spent building the ark, Noah never once tried to save
others or get them to repent and avert disaster. We also don’t hear Noah asking
God to save the people as we do later when Abraham begged God to save the
people of Sodom when he understood God’s plans to destroy it.
The irony is that while Noah was only concerned with his own family’s survival, his downfall came after the flood when he simply couldn’t handle the fact that everyone was gone. He got drunk to escape reality and was discovered naked, in a shameful state, by his sons. There is an old saying, "One who saves only himself, even himself he does not save."
There are many characters in the Bible who corrected this wrong; those who took responsibility for the well being of others. Abraham, Joseph, and Moses were all individuals who recognized that we are all part of one whole and we cannot stand by while others suffer. Queen Esther expressed this exact idea when she said to King Ahasuerus: "For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people?" Esther could have said nothing and saved herself, but she recognized that she was part of a greater whole for whom she was responsible.
Today, we have a similar choice to make. We can take care of only ourselves, even as we are spiritually connected to God, but ignore the plight of others. Or, we can follow the lead of great leaders before us and speak up for the oppressed and take care of the needy around the world.
Amen!
The irony is that while Noah was only concerned with his own family’s survival, his downfall came after the flood when he simply couldn’t handle the fact that everyone was gone. He got drunk to escape reality and was discovered naked, in a shameful state, by his sons. There is an old saying, "One who saves only himself, even himself he does not save."
There are many characters in the Bible who corrected this wrong; those who took responsibility for the well being of others. Abraham, Joseph, and Moses were all individuals who recognized that we are all part of one whole and we cannot stand by while others suffer. Queen Esther expressed this exact idea when she said to King Ahasuerus: "For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people?" Esther could have said nothing and saved herself, but she recognized that she was part of a greater whole for whom she was responsible.
Today, we have a similar choice to make. We can take care of only ourselves, even as we are spiritually connected to God, but ignore the plight of others. Or, we can follow the lead of great leaders before us and speak up for the oppressed and take care of the needy around the world.
Amen!
Reading: (Esth. 8:1-17)
Ref: (HG SB)
May God Bless You
And Your Family
Minister Robert Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
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