From the preface of The Power of Faith
Two Women: Ruth and Esther
One faced destitution,
The other destruction.
One was a stranger in the promised land.
One was in a strange land as a daughter of promise.
One went from famine to feast,
The other from feast to fasting to feast.
Both women were led into strategic marriages.
One found redemption through childbirth.
The other found salvation through fasting.
Both mustered courage, faced the odds, and the odds blinked.
All of this was made possible by the power of faith.
It may sound trite and obvious, but we face challenging times. Pandemics, lockdowns, riots, electoral controversy, and economic uncertainty cause people to wonder what's next and how to navigate forward. These things also create a lot of anxiety and fear.
Yet, there have been even more dire times and trying circumstances. They could even be described as existential threats.
Scenario One: Imagine what it's like to lose your livelihood and spouse, without any government safety net or family support for protection. Famine could be at the door.
Scenario Two: As bad as this first scenario is, imagine something worse: though the heroine lived in palatial luxury, she faced a diabolical and nearly successful attempt to annihilate her entire ethnic group - the Jewish people.
In both cases, when all human resources had been exhausted, the characters involved were compelled to turn to Almighty God Himself as a last resort. As they discovered, when God is all you have, He will be all you need.
What is even more amazing is that the heroes in both narratives, which are true stories, happened to be women, who possibly faced additional limitations and restrictions because of their gender. The two women came from different countries, theologies, and generations. Neither was born with impressive credentials and connections. The first, Ruth, was a Gentile who came from a heathen nation hostile to the people of God. The other, Esther, was Jewish but was born in exile, orphaned, and raised in poverty. Yet, a God-given door of opportunity opened for both of them, and they utilised it for good. Their accomplishments were so great that the Bible books that record their stories bear their names: Ruth and Esther.
When did their turnaround begin? It began when they exercised faith in the living God. In The Power of Faith, we will enjoy a survey of these two Biblical books. Since it is God's Word, we also want to consider prayerfully what the Holy Spirit is saying to us today. So practical principles for victorious living will be highlighted. In the Book of Ruth, we will see how Ruth went from tragedy to triumph. In the Book of Esther, we will see how the Lord raised Esther from her orphaned state to become the Queen of Persia for such a time as this. This strategic location positioned her to rescue her people - the Jewish people - from sure annihilation and to bring them into a place of honour and promotion. Faith and right actions made the difference. For Ruth, her faith led to redemption; for Esther, it was salvation.
As we learn more about these daughters of destiny and the books that chronicle their faith story, may you be inspired to walk in their footsteps and reap their rewards.
