QT: Life in a hostile environment. Week 47: Day 4: 17/11/2023, Fri

Life in a hostile environment
https://www.esv.org/Esther5:1–14
Week 47: 17/11/2023. Fri

Queen Esther prepared two banquets for the king, to prepare for her request to save her people (5:1–8). Haman's wife and friends, on the other hand, suggested that Haman make a gallow to hang Mordecai on it (5:14)!

Living as God's people in hostile environments then and now, we see that God frequently uses people to carry out His plans and represent His characters well. Much of the time, the people that God had used exhibited much courage.

In Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remained committed to God even though the hostile environment put much pressure on them to confirm to that hostile culture (Daniel 3:8–30).

Esther faced much political and ethnic antagonism. Sometimes, these pressures are more subtle, like promotion or special bonuses. At other times, it might be outright threats of death in an attempt to induce a change in their commitment to God.

We only need to look back at how God rescued His people from Egypt (Exodus 18:10), so as to continue to trust Him in the hostile environment of all kinds that you might find yourself in today.

在恶劣环境的生活

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+1&version=CNVS

以斯帖王后为国王准备了两场宴会，为她请求拯救她的子民做准备（5：1-8）。哈曼的妻子和朋友则建议哈曼制作绞刑架，把末底改吊死在上面（5：14）！

作为神的子民，无论在过去还是现在，在充满敌意的环境中生活，我们都能看到神经常使用人来执行祂的计划，并很好地表现出祂的品格。在很多时候，神所使用的人都表现出了极大的勇气。

在巴比伦，沙得拉、米煞和亚伯尼歌仍然对神忠心耿耿，即使敌对的环境给了他们很大的压力，要他们顺服敌对的文化（但以理书 3：8-30）。

以斯帖面临着许多政治和种族性的攻击。有时，这些压力比较微妙，比如晋升或特别奖金。在其他时候，可能是直接受到死亡的威胁，试图诱使他们改变对神的忠心。

我们只需回顾一下神是如何将祂的子民从埃及拯救出来的（出埃及记 18：10），你就能在今天在各种敌对环境中继续信靠祂。