Can condemned exiles win souls for Jesus?
(Daniel 3:13-30; 6:1-9; Esther 2:1-10; 3:1-15; 4:1-14; 9:1-12) Blog 17-23 Dec. 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: God reaches out to save humanity and asks us to work with him for the salvation of others. We are to reach all classes of society in all parts of the world. This brings disciples into God’s church who fellowship together and continually desire to learn more about God.
In Exile
1. If you are an exile, refugee, prisoner, or condemned does that prevent you from reaching others for Jesus? No, Joseph, Daniel, Esther, & Paul all witnessed to the people of other nations who condemned or imprisoned them (Gen. 39:1-3, 20-22; Dan. 6:16; Est. 4:7; Phil. 4:22).
2. How did Joseph witness to his master, Potipher, in Egypt? Joseph served God & his master faithfully in everything even in not touching Potipher’s wife (Gen. 39:7-9).
3. When wrongfully cast into prison how did Joseph witness? In prison Joseph found favor with the prison keeper & was given charge of all the prisoners because God was with him. He also helped the prisoners in their trials (Gen. 39:21-23; 40:2-13).
4. When Daniel’s three friends were accused of breaking the king’s command how did they witness for the true God? They openly confessed the power of their God & their willingness to be loyal to him though it meant death (Dan. 3:17-18).
5. How had Daniel’s life under Darius influenced the king when Daniel was condemned to the lion’s den? King Darius spent all day trying to find a way to deliver Daniel from being cast into the lion’s den for he had observed Daniel’s excellent spirit (Dan. 6:3, 14).
6. While a prisoner in Rome did Paul cease being a witness to those around him? No, even some of Caesar’s household were converted to Christianity while Paul was a prisoner in Rome (Acts 28:16-17; Phil. 4:22).
At the Persian Court
7. What act of Mordecai brought his good behavior to the attention of King Ahasuerus? Mordecai reported & thwarted a plot against the king’s life (Est. 2:21-23; 6:1-3).
8. When Haman threatened to destroy all the Jews in Medo-Persia, what did Mordecai ask Esther to do? Mordecai asked Esther to go in before the king & request deliverance for her people (Est. 4:8).
9. What great problem did Esther face if she was to talk to the king? King Ahasuerus was holding court & the law of Medo-Persia decreed death to anyone who should interrupt him there (Est. 4:11).
10. How did Esther respond when Mordecai told her that it was likely she was in her position for the very reason of preserving her people? Esther responded by asking all the Jews in Shushan to fast & pray for three days & then she would enter the king’s court against the law, hoping to find mercy from him (Est. 4:16).
11. What may we conclude from the fact that the king showed mercy and extended his scepter to Esther when she entered his courtroom uninvited? We may conclude that Esther had always behaved respectfully to her husband, the king, & that he respected & loved her (Est. 5:1-3).
12. What resulted from Esther’s bravery as an intercessor for her people? By Esther’s bravery and tactfulness, the king was persuaded to make a way of escape for the Jews, Haman was hanged, Mordecai was made prime minister, the Jews were victorious over their enemies, & many people of the land became Jews (Est. 8:2, 8, 17; 9:1).
Lessons for the Displaced and Condemned
13. How did Joseph react when sold into slavery and confined to prison? Although very sad, Joseph determined to serve his God in every situation in which he found himself (Gen. 39:2, 21).
14. Did Daniel’s three friends resist arrest and being cast into the fiery furnace? No, rather they left us an example of non-resistance when falsely accused & they were honored of God giving witness to Nebuchadnezzar (Gen. 3:21).
15. What should we learn from Daniel’s response to the decree that Darius made? By continuing to pray before an open window three times a day, Daniel showed that his God was more to be feared than any earthly ruler (Dan. 6:10).
16. When condemned to death what did Mordecai and Esther do? They humbled themselves, sought deliverance from God, & made kindly petition to the king that their lives might be spared (Est. 4:1-3, 15-17; 5:3-4; 7:3-4).
17. Besides being a witness to Caesar’s household while a prisoner in Rome what other form of witness did Paul have? While a prisoner in Rome Paul wrote letters to the churches he had planted & these letters preserved in our Bibles have brought conversion & blessings to many in the ages that have followed (Eph. 4:1; 2 Tim. 1:8).
18. If condemned exiles can win souls for Jesus, what excuse do free people in their own homeland have for not witnessing? We have no excuse, but rather have every advantage to witness to others (especially to refugees & prisoners) (Est. 4:1-3, 15-17; 5:3-4; 7:3-4).