Tag: Biblical Characters

From a basic understanding, this book considers some of the people in the Old Testament who make mistakes (sinners) and who do good (saints). We can look at their errors to avoid their blunders or to correct our missteps. We can also look at their successes to celebrate what they did well and inspire us to do better.

A more correct understanding of sinners and saints, however, is to acknowledge we are all sinners: every one of us. This includes you and me. As such, we all fall short of God’s Old Testament expectations. 

Yet Jesus offers us a better way. 

When we repent and follow him, he makes us right with Father God, wiping away the penalty our sins deserve and giving us a clean slate. In this way we become saints. This sainthood—our right standing with God—is a gift freely available to anyone who wants to receive it. 

All we need to do is accept what Jesus offers. We don’t need to change our behavior to gain God’s attention or earn our salvation—we can’t. It’s impossible. Instead, God has prepared a no-strings-attached present that he graciously offers to us. 

It’s in response to this gift that we seek to change our behavior as a way of saying “thank you” to Jesus for the salvation he has given us. 

May the Old Testament characters of the Bible inspire us to move forward as we become more Christlike in response to our salvation. Here are some questions to consider and to spur us on:

• What Bible character inspired you the most?
• Which story surprised you?
• What are three errors (sins) you need to repent of and move away from?
• What are three errors (sins) you must guard against, so you don’t repeat those mistakes?
• What three characteristics from these Old Testament people can you celebrate and imitate?
• What three characteristics can you aspire to follow so you become more Christlike?

Contemplate your answers, and seek God to help you move forward. May he bless you as you read his Word and apply it to your life each day. May he receive your efforts as an act of worship, and may the world see your life as a powerful witness.

[Discover more in 2 Timothy 3:16–17].

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

Haman is the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, but the Bible doesn’t define what an Agagite is. It could be his race, or it could be a creed he holds. Given Haman’s actions, we can wonder if an Agagite is defined by anti-Semitism. Regardless of what Agagite means, we do know that Haman is, in fact, prejudiced.

As the valued advisor of King Xerxes, the king elevates Haman and commands people to kneel before him. Mordecai refuses. In retribution, Haman decides to slaughter Mordecai’s entire race—all the Jews. 

His plan is thwarted, however, when Esther intervenes for her people. As a result, Haman is executed, along with his ten sons.

Haman should have been pleased when the king elevated him in position and stature. He wasn’t. Haman should have been pleased to have people bow in fear and reverence before him. He wasn’t. 

Haman shouldn’t have let Mordecai’s attitude disturb him, but he did. His irrational anger and lust for revenge so controlled him that it resulted in his death. In the end he lost his life, along with the position and prestige the king granted him.

When have we been unhappy with what we’ve had and strived for more? When have we overreacted—in thought or in deed—to a situation or circumstance?

[Read Haman’s story throughout Esther 3–9.]

Hegai is not a well-known biblical figure. He’s virtually unheard of. His name only shows up four times in Scripture, all in Esther 2. At best, most readers consider him a footnote to Esther’s story. But his role may have been pivotal in her quest to find favor with the king.

Hegai, a eunuch, oversees the king’s harem of virgins as they await their turn to spend the night with him. Afterward, they join the king’s harem of concubines, under the direction of another eunuch.

As she awaits her turn, Esther wins the favor of Hegai. He gives her extra attention and a special place in the harem. When it’s her turn to sleep with the king, she seeks Hegai’s advice. We don’t know what he suggests, but he must have given her wise counsel, for the next day Xerxes proclaims Esther as queen.

Though this outcome is no doubt a result of Esther’s actions, let’s not dismiss Hegai’s role in this. God may have used his sound advice to bring about Esther’s success, putting her in position for what happens next.

When people seek our counsel, do we give them the soundest advice we can? Regardless of our job, do we always do our best?

[Read Hegai’s story in Esther 2:3–15.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

Mordecai is a descendant of the Jews exiled by Nebuchadnezzar when he conquered Judah. Mordecai takes care of Esther, his orphaned niece. In this we see Mordecai as a man of integrity who cares for his relative. He adopts her and treats her like a daughter.

Esther is beautiful, with an attractive figure.

When King Xerxes seeks a replacement for Queen Vashti, Esther is one of the virgins rounded up in the national initiative to find a new queen. 

Mordecai instructs Esther to keep her nationality and background secret. We don’t know why he does so, but it may be that he fears anti-Semitism from the king’s court. Mordecai does what he can to check on his adoptive daughter as she waits in the king’s harem.

Around this time, the king elevates one of his advisors, Haman, to a position of high authority. Everyone kneels in honor before Haman, as the king commands, but Mordecai refuses to do so. 

Though the Bible doesn’t explicitly say it, we can assume Mordecai sees bowing to Haman as being disrespectful toward God, who is the only one deserving his homage.

Mordecai’s refusal to bow enrages Haman. He embarks on an extreme revenge campaign, but killing just one Jew isn’t enough. To get back at Mordecai, Haman plans to kill all the Jews who live throughout the nation’s provinces. He wants to exterminate the entire race.

Mordecai’s refusal to bow before Haman could cost him his life—and the lives of all his people.

Are we willing to honor God even if it might result in our death? Will we maintain our integrity even if it puts other people’s lives in jeopardy?

[Read Mordecai’s story throughout Esther 2–10.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

At this point, some of God’s people have returned home from exile, but not all have. 

Back in Persia (formerly Babylon) the mighty King Xerxes shows off his wealth, splendor, and majesty to his people for a full 180 days, nearly half a year. Then he gives a weeklong banquet for everyone in the citadel, complete with an open bar.

At the same time, Queen Vashti gives her own celebration, a seven-day party for the women of the palace. 

On day seven, an inebriated Xerxes commands the beautiful Vashti to parade herself in front of his drunken guests. The virtuous queen, however, refuses to debase herself before their ogling eyes. 

Embarrassed, the enraged ruler asks his advisors what to do. Their answer is quick. 

They want to keep other women from following Vashti’s example of insubordination and thereby disrespecting their husbands. They fear widespread marital conflict. Therefore, they advise the king to immediately remove Vashti from her position as queen and forever ban her from being in his presence. 

With little thought, the king agrees to their proposal. He issues an irrevocable edict and sends Vashti away. 

Queen Vashti reacted to the king’s degenerate request with chaste virtue. She refused to stoop to his drunken depravity, regardless of the cost. In doing so, she paid a heavy price for her integrity. 

This is the last we hear of Vashti in Scripture.

How much value do we place on maintaining our integrity? How much will we risk to do what’s right?

[Read Vashti’s story in Esther 1:7–20.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.