Tag: bsf lesson 14 day 3

photo of Esther 3-7 focusing on the tension between Esther, Ahasuerus, and Haman at one of the banquets, symbolizing Haman's downfall and Esther's triumph from bsf exile and return study www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 14, Day 3: Esther 4

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Esther 4

Many Jews were in mourning because of the edict, and Mordecai put on sackcloth and wept bitterly. Esther found out Mordecai was in distress. Through an attendant, Mordecai asked Esther to beg the king for mercy for their people.

Esther cannot approach the king without being summoned. Mordecai told Esther that she was put in this place for such a time as this.

Esther asked Mordecai to gather the Jews in Susa to fast for her (and she would too) for three days. Then she will go to the king, and if she dies, she dies.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 14, Day 3: Esther 4

6) Mordecai’s public mourning prompts a secluded Esther to send an attendant. Mordecai reveals Haman’s genocidal decree, sends Esther a copy, and charges her to go to the king to plead for her people. Esther responds in terror, explaining that approaching the king uninvited is a capital offense.

7a) Mordecai said that her family will die and that she was put in this position for such a time as this. Mordecai boldly challenged Esther by completely dismantling her justifications for inaction and reframing her royal position as a divine responsibility.

b) Esther asked Mordecai to gather the Jews in Susa to fast for her (and she would too) for three days. Then she will go to the king, and if she dies, she dies.

c) They discussed it and came up with a plan and a compromise in order to offer the Jews the best chance of survival. Esther and Mordecai teach that courage isn’t an absence of fear, but acting despite it. We must use our influence “for such a time as this,” as silence doesn’t guarantee safety. Their story shows the power of bold truth-telling and spiritual preparation (fasting) before taking a necessary, costly risk.

8 ) Unsure. Fear. Probably uncertainty if this is indeed what God wants me to do. I can move forward in prayer, however.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 14, Day 3: Esther 4

This is a great look at how ancient kings ran their courts. What a time to have been ruled by absolute power.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 14, Day 3: Esther 4

Remember that Mordecai’s integrity was the cause of this fiasco.

Esther had not heard the news, living in the palace.

Haman wanted the Jews’ money, too.

Esther had not seen her husband for a month. There apparently was not a lot of intimacy.

Mordecai asked Esther twice to intercede. His faith was in God to send someone to help them if Esther would not do it. Mordecai saw now why Esther was the queen from God’s hand to save His people. Now, he had to convince Esther of this.

God puts all of us in a place for a reason. We need to follow God’s plan for us, too.

Serve God where you are.

Esther needed to prepare to see the king. Sometimes, we need to pray before we step out in faith or face a battle.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Esther 4 is the crucial turning point of the book, marking the moment Queen Esther is forced to move from passive concealment to courageous, life-threatening action.

Interpretation

  • The Crisis Revealed: The chapter opens with Mordecai’s intense public mourning in sackcloth and ashes. This alerts a secluded and unaware Queen Esther that something is terribly wrong.
  • The Life-or-Death Dilemma: After learning of Haman’s genocidal decree, Mordecai charges Esther to go to the king and plead for her people. Esther is terrified, sending back a message that approaching the king uninvited is a capital offense, punishable by death unless he extends the golden scepter.
  • “For Such a Time as This”: Mordecai sends back a powerful, challenging response. He warns her not to think she will be safe in the palace and then delivers the famous line: “who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
  • Esther’s Resolve: This challenge transforms Esther. She makes a decisive choice, ordering Mordecai to gather all the Jews in Susa for a three-day fast. She and her attendants will do the same, and then she will go to the king, “which is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.“

Conclusion

This chapter is the story’s pivot. It is the moment Esther accepts her identity and her dangerous, providential role. Her decision to risk her life and act on behalf of her people, supported by the fasting of her community, sets in motion the entire plan that will lead to their salvation.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 14, Day 3: Revelation 8:6-13

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 8:6-13

The first 4 trumpets were sounded:
  1. Hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down on earth, destroying a third of the earth
  2. Something like a huge mountain on fire was thrown into the sea, killing a third of all sea life and ships
  3. A star on fire fell from the sky, turning a third of the river waters bitter
  4. A third of the sun, moon, and stars turned dark

An eagle called out to beware of the next 3 trumpets about to be sounded

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 14, Day 3: Revelation 8:6-13

6) Angels are sounding their trumpets, releasing destruction upon the earth and its inhabitants.

7a) God is giving mankind more chances to come to Him, using this as a warning. He is showing mercy to those who survive.

b) God is merciful, powerful, wonderful, loving, and caring.

c) It gives me awe that God cares so much about us that he delays his judgment, giving all a chance to come to Him. Such a wonderful God we worship!

8a) “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

b) I am comforted because I know God is in control and I am saved by the blood of Christ, so I will not face his judgment.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 14, Day 3: Revelation 8:6-13

I love how merciful our Lord is. He warns us what will happen, and even in the midst of judgment, He gives us second chances. He is like this in life, too, how in the midst of our trials, He is there, offering us a helping hand up.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 14, Day 3: Revelation 8:6-13

“There came” is the divine passive.

The blood could be the color of the hail and fire or what emerges afterward.

Many believe that the “mountain-like object” will be a meteor.

The sea reference is to the Mediterranean Sea. Remember, this was before the discovery of America, and man’s knowledge of the vastness of the earth was limited.

The star could be a meteor as well.

Wormwood is an herb that is bitter.

The 4th trumpet will result in darkness.

The eagle’s announcement should be heeded because 1/3 of humanity is about to die.

Note that each judgment only destroys 1/3 of the earth.

Here, God is showing His power and His mercy. God is destroying man’s subsistence (food, water, shelter, light).

God is warning all to repent before it is too late.

When “woe” is spoken, doom usually follows.

Are you heeding His warning?

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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 14, Day 3: John 10:7-21 with Psalm 23

by atozmom, posted in BSF John's Gospel: The Truth 2023/2024

SUMMARY OF JOHN 10:7-21

Jesus repeats to listen up. Jesus is the gate, and all who enter through him will be saved and have life. The good shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep; a hired hand will not. The hired hand will abandon them.

Jesus is the good shepherd. Jesus lays down his own life for the sheep and will take it up again.

Summary of PSALM 23

The Lord is my shepherd. He leads me and refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths. He is with me and comforts me. Your goodness is with me all the days of my life. I will dwell with you forever.

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 14, Day 3: John 10:7-21 with Psalm 23

6a) He is the only way to God and eternal life.

b) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

c) Gentiles

7) Jesus laid down his life willingly as a sacrifice for our sins. He rose from the dead, giving us the gift of eternal life.

8 ) That Jesus knows my name. Think of how most of us are bad with names, and we can’t remember others’ names. So, how many people know your name? Jesus does! And, I know his voice. How comforting that we are following him!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 14, Day 3: John 10:7-21 with Psalm 23

Love how personal our God and Jesus are. They intimately know us, as we strive to intimately know them. How awesome!

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 14, Day 3: John 10:7-21 with Psalm 23

John 10:7-21

5th “I am” Statement: I am the gate.

In truth, Jesus is about life; the false shepherds are about death.

The shepherd usually blocked the door of the pen of his sheep at night, protecting them. Therefore, Jesus is the door, the protector and Savior.

Fun Fact: This is the first time in the book of John we come to see the church as Jesus describes how he has come for the Gentiles, too.

Jesus says those who came before him (the current religious leaders) were from the devil.

But Jesus’ sheep do not follow the false shepherds. They will be saved and have life abundantly.

The good shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep.

God loves Jesus more because of his self-sacrifice. He will rise again.

Jesus divided the people with his words.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 14, Day 3: Joel 2:18-32

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF JOEL 2:18-32

God took pity on his people and their cries. “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations.” Joel says to not be afraid for the Lord will now bless the land and protect them from their enemies. The Lord will pour out his spirit during the day of the Lord on the people who will be saved.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 14, Day 3: Joel 2:18-32

6) That the Lord took pity on his people. That he would sendgrain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy them fully; never again will He make them an object of scorn to the nations. Joel says to not be afraid for the Lord will now bless the land and protect them from their enemies.

7a) God gave all people the Holy Spirit to be with them always. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord and Jesus will be saved.

b) I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

c) God is faithful. He cares for His people. He forgives them when they turn from sin with the right heart. This is encouraging for me in my sin, too.

8 )

John 16:7-15: The Holy Spirit guides us in the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Jesus because it is from Jesus that he will receive what he will make known to you. He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.

Acts 1:8:  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Romans 8:9-16: the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. You will have eternal life because the Spirit is living in you. The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. We have freedom and glory because of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. The Holy Spirit allows us to bear these spiritual fruits. The result of the work of the Spirit in a believer’s life is these attributes.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 14, Day 3: Joel 2:18-32

I love how God always is there to provide us with our needs and how the gift of the Holy Spirit is something none of us should take for granted.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 14, Day 3: Joel 2:18-32

God promises to provide for his repentent people and protect them from their enemies. God will restore His people fully, promising to bring rain and restore what the locusts ate.

Then there will be ultimate restoration and blessing and God’s Spirit will be poured out onto the people after Jesus dies. During Old Testament times, only certain people had the Spirit come upon them.

Joel’s prophecy would be fulfilled at Pentecost when 120 believers were the first to receive the Holy Spirit with signs from heaven.

All are eligible to come to God and to pray for Him to come into their lives.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 14, Day 3: Matthew 13:44-46

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 13:44-46

Jesus tells the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl. He says that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found the treasure, he hid it and then sold all he had to buy the field where the treasure lie. The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he sold everything he had to buy it.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 14, Day 3: Matthew 13:44-46

6a) Similarities in two tales: Both times the man sold all he had to acquire what he wanted. Something extremely valuable is discovered, desired, and purchased. Differences: the man could have kept the treasure the first time without having to sell everything he owned to acquire it.

b) That the man would give up everything he had to have what he desired.

7a) In order to have the kingdom of heaven, you must be willing to give up everything you have. Philippians 3:8 says you must be willing to lose all things to know Christ. In  Colossians 2:2-3, Paul says his purpose is to that all of us have complete understanding to know the mystery of God and Christ where all wisdom and knowledge are hidden. Psalms 16:5-6 says God has assigned us our portion and cup and made our lot secure as our inheritance. Romans 8:32 says that God gave up his own Son for us and give us all things.

b) That we must be willing to give all we have to follow Christ.

8 ) It’s encouraging to know that the more you give up in Christ’s name, the more you will know him. This is sacrificing time to study the Bible, tell others about the Bible, and grow deeper in your relationship with God.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 14, Day 3: Matthew 13:44-46

It’s important to note the differences here. You must be willing to sell everything to follow Christ. However, do so smartly. For Christ, we are worth it. Is he worth it to you?

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End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 14, Day 3: Matthew 13:44-46

In the parable of the hidden treasure, the man is Jesus and the field is the world. Jesus gave everything to purchase his treasure (believers). At the time, whoever owned the land would get the treasure; not the one who found it.

Consider how rare it is to find buried treasure. That shows how valuable we are to Jesus.

So we go from corruption to value added in Jesus’s parables.

In the parable of the pearl, Jesus is the buyer of the pearl, and the believer is the pearl that is so valuable to him that he would be happy to sell everything to have it. A pearl in ancient times was extremely valuable and desired. People would have instantly recognized this value. This shows you just how much Jesus values you.

Fun Fact: “Kingdom of heaven” appears more than 60 times in the Gospels.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 14, Day 3: Genesis 15:1-11

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passage:  Abram received the word of the Lord in a vision:  Do not be afraid for I am your shield and your very great reward.

Abram questions God as to where is this promised heir.  God assures Abram he will have a son from his own body and his offspring will be as numerous as the stars in the heavens. God also reiterates to Abram that He brought him from Ur to give him this land.

Again, Abram questions God, asking for reassurances of this promise.  God tells Abram to bring him a heifer, goat, ram, dove, and a pigeon.  Abram cut these in half (except the birds).  As Abram awaits God’s arrival, birds of prey come to feed on the carcasses so Abram drives them away.

Questions:

5a)  In 12:7 the Lord tells Abram He will give this land to Abram’s offspring.  In 15:2-3, Abram asks God where is this promised offspring because without one his servant will be his heir.

b)  God clarifies to Abram that indeed he will have an heir from his own body and tells Abram that one day his offspring will be as numerous as the stars.  God reiterates again that He is the Lord who will give this land to Abram. (Don’t you just want to hit Abram over the head here?  God probably does!)

6)  That Abram knew (and rejoiced) that Jesus would come, that this day (the day Jesus is walking the earth) would come, and Jesus would be the promised Messiah.  And Abraham was glad!  This shows that Abram had faith in God’s words and believed in the promised Messiah!

7a)  Righteousness is by faith alone–always has been and always will be.  If you believe the Lord and believe in Him you are righteous.

b)  Personal Question.  My answer:  Faith is believing in what you cannot see and righteousness is being right with God through faith in Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross.  In believing Jesus is your Savior, you are wiped clean of sin and only when we are free of sin can we be with God and stand before Him–hence, we are “righteous” or right before Him.

c)  He finally believed he would have a son when God told him (again) and he finally believed his descendants would possess the land as God made a covenant (again) with him.

Some might say Abram made a covenant with the Lord when he cut the animals and God passed between them.  I would say no because in verse 18 we are told “the Lord made a covenant with Abram”.  Abram didn’t do anything but receive.  It’s a covenant God made alone with man out of His infinite love and grace for us piddly humans.  God even told Abram to go and get the animals.  It wasn’t even Abram’s idea!

Hence Abram didn’t “do” anything with regards to this covenant to prove his faith.  He merely received.

Conclusions:  This shows that even Abram, a man scholars would argue is the epitome of faith in the Bible, needed reassurance and signs from God in his life.  This applies to us as well.  God helps us even when we don’t know it.  He is there always even when we push Him away.  He picks us up and gives us a push in the right direction (His, NOT ours).

This also shows that it’s okay to question God.  For we, as humans, cannot understand Him and His ways.  It’s okay to ask Him for more clarification, for a sign, for confirmation, for direction, and for help.  Abram wasn’t for sure if the promised seed would be natural born or an adoptee so he asked God for clarification.  Abram wasn’t sure if he would possess the Promised Land and God told him he wouldn’t but his descendants would.

Throughout the Bible, prophets and others have questioned God and He has always answered.

He still answers.  And all we must do is have faith He will.