Esther: At Last, We Can Bake Bread and Raise Our Families

By Mary Vee
Esther 9

From Esther's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Esther. I am a Jew.

I have been Queen of all Babylon. A job I would have never imagined having. The only way I was given this position was because God worked out the details. 

The twelfth month came. The thirteenth day arrived and Haman's terrible decree happened. Soldiers and citizens who hated Jews raised their weapons and attacked with the full blessing of Haman's decree.

This was also the day Mordecai's decree took effect. Mordecai, the Jew and my cousin, pleased the king. He then asked permission to write a decree allowing the Jews to protect themselves. The king said yes because of the terrible crimes Haman committed.

The battle began rather early this morning. Many Babylonian citizens and officials fought with the Jews. 

Reports came in to the king throughout the day telling of the Jews success. 

Supper time ended and the last report came to the king. He turned to me and said, "Esther, my queen, the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men here in Susa. What is your request? That, too, will be granted because of Haman's terrible deeds."

This time I didn't need Mordecai to give me advice. I knew exactly what needed to be done. There were other men in Babylon who hated the Jews and wanted to kill all of us. I said, "If it pleases the king, give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day's edict tomorrow also, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on gallows." I wanted to make sure none of his sons ever tried what their father did.

"Very well," he said. "It shall be done."

Haman's ten sons hung on the gallows and 300 men who hated the Jew's were put to the sword. The Jews didn't touch any of the 300 men's possessions, even though they were given permission to take what they wanted.

In the rest of the providence, seventy-five thousand enemies of the Jews fell to the sword. None of their possessions were touched. On the fourteenth day in the rest of Babylon, the Jews and those who fought with them rested, making it a day of feasting and joy.

The Jews in Susa rested on the fifteenth day.

There is a calm in Babylon. The fighting and threats done by the Jewish haters has stopped. At last, the Jews can bake their bread and raise their families without great fear. All thanks to the Almighty. 



The story has much more to tell...come back to read what happens next.

*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. What was the date?
2. What two decrees took effect on this date?
3  What did the king ask Esther at the end of the day?
4. What did she answer?
5. Esther asked for only a certain city, which one?
6. What did the Jews and those who helped the Jews do the next day?

Jonathan Goforth-One Wild Field

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1879

Jonathan Goforth-fifteen years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jonathan Goforth. I will be a missionary in China some day.

God never gives us a job without first preparing us. Looking back to my childhood, He prepared me much more than I had realized.

During the months of November through planting season, my brothers and I went to school. I felt like I could never learn enough. Questions popped in my mind that needed answering. I couldn't settle for the "I'm not sure" and the "I don't know" answers. I spent time researching until that question found an answer. Hah. Once I had the answer another popped in my head.

I'm not completely sure if my Pa agreed with my findings, but he seemed mighty intrigued with my work on our family farm. By the time I reached fifteen he put me in charge of the second farm he bought to expand our business. I used the methods he taught me to set up each field. I plowed the fields turning the weeds to expose their roots to the sun. That of course killed them. 

As I worked, I wondered about the seed we used. Sure seemed like if we bought this other seed for sale in town that the plants would produce a better crop. I also tried new ideas with caring for the animals and saw the reward when my butter brought a better price than other farmer's. 

Pa came to the farm to see my work and nodded. Didn't really say much until we came to one field that had never been farmed. Not sure why the previous owner didn't use it. Maybe he couldn't keep up with the extra work.

Pa looked at the field and pointed. "I want you to get this field ready for planting. I'll be back to inspect your work."

This was the first time I took a field of weeds and prepared it for farming. I use all the same ideas that worked for the other fields, plowing to expose the weed roots, buying the best seed, planting them in a way that scientifically seemed logical. I put the time and care into the field that it needed. Like a little child, it needed extra care.

The wheat grew tall and healthy. Pa stopped by the farm. "I want to see that new field, son." So I took him out to the field. On the inside I felt a bit nervous. I had tried my best. Used all the skills I had learned. The field seemed good, but would Pa think so?

We stood at the field's edge for a long time. Him just standing and looking. Me, anxious to hear what he thought. He walked to another edge and looked for a long time, then another. He walked through some of the rows, bent down and checked for weeds. He didn't find any. At last he stood, looked at me and smiled.

Translation: "You did a mighty fine job, son."

On the inside I was leaping up and down. On the outside, I nodded back to Pa.

This is what God wants us to do with all the jobs He gives us. Ask questions. Study. Prepare. Do. Check. Recheck. 

To me, there is nothing better than to hear from my Father, "Well done." 



Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Esther-The Thirteenth Day

By Mary Vee
Esther 9

From A Nobles' Journal

Photo Courtesy

I am a noble. A man of wealth and name living in Babylon. A month ago, I chose to join with the Jews knowing this day was coming.

This is the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. 

The day Haman's decree gave permission to the army to attack and kill all the Jews.

You may wonder, why did I join with the Jews then? Did I want to be killed?

No way.

Haman was found guilty of several crimes against the king and was hung. The king promoted Mordecai, a Jew to take his place. In the last several months Mordecai has proven himself to be an honorable and wise man. The king gave him permission to write a new decree. One that gave the Jews permission to defend themselves.

The Jews, on their own, may not have had the power to fight off the army. BUT, Mordecai had grown in favor with the king. Other nobles, administrators, and leaders feared him, as did I. Not because he was cruel--he wasn't. It was because the king favored him, and the king had the power to punish anyone he pleased with death.

Most of the leaders and nobles chose to side with the Jews on this day. Only the fools did not. This morning, I ate breakfast then went out to the city square with my sword and stood with the Jews, ready to fight their enemy with them.

Just as I suspected, the fools who let their hate for the Jews consume them attacked. 

The Jews and those of us who supported them raised our weapons. The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them. Five hundred foolish men lay dead in the citadel of Susa alone. 

More were killed in cities across the Babylonian empire. 

The decree gave the Jews permission to go to the houses of their enemies and take whatever they wanted. I was surprised to see that they didn't. They had no interest in taking those things. I must admit, their actions gave me great respect for them.

Clearly this battle belonged to the Jews and their God.



The story has much more to tell...come back to read what happens next.

*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. What was the date?
2. What two decrees took effect on this date?
3  What did many nobles and administrators do on this date?
4. Why did the nobles and administrators choose to side with the Jews?
5. Who won the battle?

Esther-The Nobleman Who Lived to Tell the Story

By Mary Vee
Esther 8

From A Nobles' Journal

Photo Courtesy

I am a noble. A man of wealth and name living in Babylon. Those of us who have had family living here for years have had to deal with a lot lately.

Earlier this year, Haman, the man King Xerxes appointed to be in second position in the kingdom issued a decree in the king's name saying that all the Jews were to be killed in the twelfth month.

Haman was later found guilty of serious crimes. King Xerxes had Haman hung and gave the position to Mordecai, a Jew. Sounds odd, right? It turns out, Mordecai saved the king's life. 

Mordecai, with permission of the king, then wrote a new decree giving the Jews power to defend themselves and kill any enemy on the day Haman's decree took place. I and the other men of power watched the Jews prepare the last six months for the day. I must admit, we've been frightened. 

Mordecai is a fair man, he has served the king well, but he is also a man to be feared. He has such power. So much so that I and several of my friends have become Jews to insure the safety of our lives. Many men and their families from all nationalities have joined satraps, governors, and kings administrators to help the Jews.

There are the fools who have let their anger grow against the Jews. They will not be able to stand against the Jews tomorrow, the appointed day. What fools.

Already the Jews have gathered in the cities in all the provinces to attack those who want to kill them and their families. 

I went to bed that night, hoping my family would remain safe. In truth, I didn't see any problems with the Jews. They had their own celebrations and foods, but what does that matter? It's not worth eliminating them. No. I will stand on the side of the Jews. 

The next morning the enemies of the Jews started the battle. The Jews struck down all their enemies, as the king has given them permission to do. Throughout all of Babylon, the enemies of the Jews were killed. Even though they had permission from the king to take all the possessions of their enemies, the Jews didn't touch any of it. 

Maybe they are better than I thought. I wonder about this God of theirs. Maybe I will ask.



The story has much more to tell...come back to read what happens next.

*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. Why was this noble concerned?
2. What did the noble choose to do?
3  Why did he think about the Jews?
4. What didn't the Jews do, even though they had permission from the king?
5. Was the nobleman spared?

Jonathan Goforth-Not Afraid

By Mary Vee
Year: February 1874

Jonathan Goforth-ten years old

Dr. Andrew Vining's Journal

Photo Courtesy- 1864 map

My name is Dr. Andrew Vining. I'm going to interrupt Jonathan to tell you a story about him.

Long ago, when we were just young fellas we went to school together.

Jonathan was one of eleven kids. That was a big family. Big families have a lot of advantages, plenty of playmates right in your house, lots of laughter, probably yelling too, I imagine. 

One disadvantage is a kid in a big family has to work to get noticed. It strengthens his spirit or squashes it. For Jonathan, his   big family strengthened him. He wasn't afraid to stand up and defend what he though was right. No sir.

One day at the schoolhouse, it was one of those one-room buildings with an outhouse, a few of the older kids started picking on me. I was shorter and younger than Jonathan and a lot smaller than the kids making my life unhappy.

Jonathan Goforth was in the schoolhouse looking at a map of the world. He studied that thing nearly everyday at recess. I had no idea that God was working in him way back then. Anyway, I was outside the window, pinned up against the building. The teacher was talking to a few other kids on the other side of the playground and didn't see these bullies picking on me.

Jonathan walked to the window and told the older kids to leave me alone. Right. That didn't work. He was inside the building and they were outside. They didn't listen to a word he said and kept picking on me.

He wasn't that old himself, but I heard him stomp across the inside floorboards toward the door. He bust out of there with his face red and his fists raised. He walked over to those bullies. "Leave him alone. He's just a kid."

I suppose that kind of talk came from his folks who found a way to keep a peaceful house with eleven kids. No one should be picked on, no matter their size.

The bullies didn't stop. Big mistake. Hah. I tell you it was worth getting shoved around to see what happened next. 

My defender, protector, Jonathan Goforth challenged and trounced that bully. Message communicated. The bully and his friends never picked on me again.

What did I learn that day? Jonathan Goforth was a man with convictions and willing to defend those convictions. Now can you imagine a man like that on the mission field? Yeah. This was a man God will use to fearlessly go to places others are afraid to go and tell the people living there about the God who loves them.

Amazing, right? I thought so, too. That's why I took over his story to tell you.



Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Esther- Surprise Party in Babylonia

By Mary Vee
Esther 8

From A Young Mother's Journal

Photo Courtesy

I am a young mother. My name is not important because my story is the same as all the Jewish mothers living in Babylonia.

Not long ago, a man rode through each town. He stood in the town square and called for all the people to gather around.

He read a decree stating all the Jewish people would be killed in the twelfth month. All men, women, and children. Not one would be spared.

We had been lamenting since we heard the news giving us only ten months to live. So many people, and why? What had we done to upset the king? None of us knew.

We'd worked hard to prepare our families.

I cried every morning then washed my face before my children saw my tears. They needed to enjoy what life they had left.

After the evening meal I cleaned the cooking area. My friends, Martha and Sarah, ran to my house. "Hurry, there is a man at the city square. He has a message for us."

"Should I bring the children? Maybe you should go and listen for me. Bring me a report back."

"I can't explain why," said Sarah. "But I have this feeling that the news will be good. Bring the children."

So I called little Aaron then Matthew my second oldest, and Jonathan my oldest. If only my husband, Simon were still alive, he'd know how to comfort me.

The four of us walked through the streets to the city square and stood at the back of the crowd. At least little Aaron could play that way.

The man unrolled a scroll and read:

By order of King Xerxes, king of Babylon, these words are hereby decreed as his order to all people. 

This edict grants the Jews in every city the right 
1. To gather together and protect themselves. 
2. To destroy and kill any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them, their women, or children. 
3. To plunder the property of their enemies. 

The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all provinces of King Xerxes is the thirteen day of the twelfth month,

The man rolled the scroll and left.

Just like that. 

The silence showed no one believed the words to be true. But they had to be. The decree came from the king. 

We shouted Hallelujah, for the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. I picked up little Aaron and squeezed him then hugged Matthew and Jonathan. The crowds cheered, sang, and hugged.

"What is making you so happy, Mother," said Jonathan.

"The Jewish people are allowed to defend ourselves against any person or soldier from the Babylonian empire who tries to harm us. God has saved us, Jonathan! God has saved us! 


The story has much more to tell...come back to read what happens next.

*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. Why was this mother sad?
2. What did her friends want her to do?
3  What news did the soldier bring?
4. What did the people do?
5. Why?

Esther-The Decree that Saved More than a Thousand Lives

By Mary Vee
Esther 8

From Mordecai's Journal

Photo Coutesy

I am Mordecai, a humble servant of the Almighty and a Jew.

I am standing in the court of King Xerxes. He has given me his signet ring and the honor of second in his empire to replace the evil Haman.

The huge problem facing me is although Haman has been punished by hanging from the gallows, the decree he wrote to kill all the Jews in the twelfth month still stands. 

Only moments ago, the king gave me permission to write a new decree that would address the problem.

See, once a decree has been written and signed with the king's signet ring, it can never be undone. So Haman's order to kill all the Jews in the twelfth month stands. I whispered a prayer to the Almighty, asking His help to create a decree that would undo Haman's.

King Xerxes called for the royal secretaries to record the decree. They've just arrived, and God has also given me the perfect words. I turned to Esther who was standing close by and smiled. "God has given me an idea. Trust me."

The concern on her face eased.

This is the twenty-third day of the third month. Nine months to prepare for Haman's destruction. I told the royal secretaries to write these words in the new decree:

This edict grants the Jews in every city the right 
1. To gather together and protect themselves. 
2. To destroy and kill any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them, their women, or children. 
3. To plunder the property of their enemies. 

I wrote King Xerxes' name at the bottom, sealed the decree with the king's signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers who rode their fastest horses especially bred for the king.

The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all provinces of King Xerxes is the thirteen day of the twelfth month, which happened to be the same day Haman had appointed for all the Jews to be killed. 

This edict was then translated to every language in the empire and read to all Jews and leaders in the land and gave the Jews plenty of time to be ready for the day to avenge themselves.


 
The story has much more to tell...come back to read what happens next.

*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. What had the king given to Mordecai?
2. What problem did Mordecai first see to take care of?
3  Why did the king call the royal secretaries?
4. Who did Mordecai ask to help him think of the right words?
5. What permission did the Jews receive from the king?
6. Why was this one day given to the Jews to defend themselves?

Jonathan Goforth-The Paper on the Wall Next to the Chalkboard

By Mary Vee
Year: February 1864

Jonathan Goforth

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy- 1864 map

My name is Jonathan Goforth. 

We started our journey last week. May want to scroll down and read the last story. Yep. That tumble out of a moving cart taught me a lesson or two.

I was supposed to start school in October. I'd turned five-years-old back in February and was real excited to go. The school was quite a walk from our farm. Mom didn't trust me to go alone, and Dad couldn't spare my older brothers from harvesting work. 

By the time November rolled around I finally had my first day of school. I'm really not boasting here, other than for my momma's training, but none of the other kids could read...at all. They didn't know their letters. 

I felt like I would have to wait forever for the others in my class to read as well as I did....and reading was pretty much what we did in that first year of school.

There was a large paper hung on the wall next to the chalkboard that captured my attention, though. I spent many of the boring reading class minutes just gazing at this large map on the wall. The teacher said it showed all the places on the earth. Then she showed us where we lived. A tiny mark showed our place in Canada. Imagine, all those other places with so many more people.

At times farm life got pretty quiet, even with ten siblings, animals, and machines. My teacher said there were millions of other people who lived in our world. 

Each day when teacher dismissed us for recess, and while the other kids ran out the door to play, I walked to the map. She'd hung it low enough for us to touch. I set my finger on the dot she'd made then found the closest big city. London, Ontario. I'd never seen London, Ontario. Dad said it'd take a long ride to get there.

Then I stepped back. The map was bigger than my eyes could see without moving. I wondered what it was like in the places so far away. Did the people eat the same food? Did they live on farms?

I wanted to know more about the places and people so far away from my home. When my classes became boring, I studied foreign places and people. 

During the summers, I thought about what I'd learned in those studies while working on the farm. That's when a ton of questions filled my mind. I wrote them down and promised to answer each one when school started again in October...or November for us.


I have many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Esther-A Plot to Undo a Plot

By Mary Vee
Esther 8

From King Xerxes' Journal

Photo Coutesy

I am Xerxes, king of all the Babylonian empire. I have always been a strong, decisive person. Always.

Except this second.

I mean, I'm still a decisive person, I have to be as king. The problem is Esther, my lovely queen who has been nothing less than the ideal queen, is on her knees begging, and her claim is valid.

A few months ago, Haman, the man who once held the position of second in my kingdom, conned me into allowing a decree to become official. Haman wrote the decree to get what he wanted. 

Apparently he became angry with a man, a Jew, and decided to blame the entire Jewish nation. He convinced me that these people would persuade others to turn away from me, that they did not respect or obey my commands, and much more. He seemed so convincing, and I was a fool. 

Well, the decree was signed ordering all Jews residing in Babylon to be killed in the twelfth month. I have since seen proof that Haman was the one who was not loyal or respectful of my commands. If there was a way to undo the decree, I would! I didn't even know Esther was a Jew when I gave the permission to Haman.

Now she is at my feet crying and begging for me to undo a decree. That is the one thing I cannot do. It is not in my power.

I said to her and Mordecai, "No document written in the king's name and sealed with his ring can be revoked. I cannot undo Haman's decree. But because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given you his estate. I have also hung Haman on the gallows he built to hang you, Mordecai. I realize this doesn't help undo Haman's decree."

I sat back and thought a moment. "There is one thing you could do. You could write a new decree in behalf of the Jews. Something that seems best to you. Then seal it with the king's signet ring."

Esther stood and wiped her eyes. She looked at Mordecai. 

He said, "I have an idea."

She looked back at me and smiled, "Thank you, your majesty."

"You're welcome."

I called the guards. "Bring the royal secretaries at once."

"Yes, your majesty." The guards left the room.

I invited Esther and Mordecai to stay. The new decree could be drawn up right here in my presence then immediately sent out to the whole empire.




 
The story has much more to tell...come back to read what happens next.

*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. What bothered the king?
2. What did Esther want?
3  Why couldn't the king do it?
4. What was the king's new idea?
5. Do you think Mordecai will be able to write a decree to stop the killings?


Remember, no decree could be undone.