Esther

The Hidden Hand of God

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Pub Date Aug 18 2020 | Archive Date Aug 05 2020

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Description

Through this 10-week study, readers will discover how Esther, a book that does not mention God directly, implicitly points to our Lord Jesus Christ. Part of the Flourish Bible Study Series.

Through this 10-week study, readers will discover how Esther, a book that does not mention God directly, implicitly points to our Lord Jesus Christ. Part of the Flourish Bible Study Series.


A Note From the Publisher

PDF may not be compatible with all reading devices

PDF may not be compatible with all reading devices


Advance Praise

“If you’ve participated in women’s Bible studies, you know there is no shortage of studies on Esther written for female audiences. Why consider this one? First, because it devotes a full ten weeks to moving line-by-line through a mere ten chapters, employing excellent and accessible study skills along the way. But even better than that, Esther: The Hidden Hand of God points us beyond Esther herself to the One she served. Here is a study intent on making disciples who know and worship their God.”
—Jen Wilkin, Bible teacher; author, Women of the Word; None Like Him; and In His Image

“The brilliant and beautiful mix of sound teaching, helpful charts, lists, sidebars, and appealing graphics—as well as insightful questions that get the reader into the text of Scripture—make this a study women will want to invest time in and will look back on as time well spent.”
—Nancy Guthrie, Bible teacher; author, Even Better than Eden: Nine Ways the Bible’s Story Changes Everything about Your Story

“If you’re looking for a rich, accessible, and deeply biblical Bible study, this is it! Lydia Brownback leads her readers verse-by-verse through Esther, providing maps, timelines, commentary, and questions that probe the text in order to glean understanding and application. She settles us deeply in the context of the book as she highlights God’s unfolding plan of redemption and rescue. You will learn, you will delight in God’s word, and you will love our good King Jesus even more.”
—Courtney Doctor, Coordinator of Women’s Initiatives, The Gospel Coalition; author, From Garden to Glory and Steadfast: A Devotional Bible Study on the Book of James

Esther: The Hidden Hand of God provides a visually engaging study with accessible content to help women understand the content of the book of Esther in the context of the whole counsel of Scripture. As a women’s ministry leader, I am excited about the development of the Flourish Bible Study series that will not only prayerfully equip women to increase in biblical literacy but also come alongside them to build a systematic and comprehensive framework to become lifelong students of the word of God.”
—Karen Hodge, Coordinator of Women’s Ministries, Presbyterian Church in America; coauthor, Transformed: Life-taker to Life-giver and Life-giving Leadership

“Lydia Brownback’s Bible study on Esther is a sturdy and faithful guide for us. Providing rich insights into context, guiding our investigation into details of the text, and encouraging us to respond to the character and work of the unmentioned God, it helps us better know our Bible and our saving and sovereign Lord. I will recommend it for years to come for those looking for a wise, Christ-centered study that leads toward the goal of being transformed by the word.”
—Taylor Turkington, Director of Women’s Training Network, The Gospel Coalition

“If you’ve participated in women’s Bible studies, you know there is no shortage of studies on Esther written for female audiences. Why consider this one? First, because it devotes a full ten weeks to...


Available Editions

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ISBN 9781433566615
PRICE $14.99 (USD)

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Average rating from 18 members


Featured Reviews

Great study in seeing God's hand in our lives. Loved the knowledge delivered on the book of Esther and on tying in both Old Testament Scriptures and New Testament Scriptures. Definitely recommend for a deep=dive study into one of my favorite books.

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As a first time user of a bible study, I found this very good as a solo study. You can really self reflect and relate this to your life and see what changes you could, or should, make. Personally, I think that this works better as a physical workbook, as opposed to an ebook. It is one thing to answer the questions out loud, entirely another to write things down. That said, I can see using this in a group setting - though whilst good for a beginner, a more advanced group may find it to hold your hand a little too much - I do think that this study opens to floor to some lively conversations!

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This is a 10-week Bible study on the book of Esther, a book about a young Jewish girl who becomes queen.

You can very well use this study as a group or for a study for just yourself as I did. Instead of doing it for 10 weeks, I decided to do it for 10 days. A chapter a day. With each lesson, you study one chapter. You’re prompted by questions to answer that will help you dive deeper into the Word. There is also insight, information, and facts about this time that I found helpful and interesting as well.

I really liked this study! I grabbed a pen and paper and wrote down my answers as I studied each day which I highly recommend. Writing always helps me remember things and focus more and I found this to be even more true with this study. I know so much more about the book of Esther and noticed things I never had before when I’ve read it in years past which was really inspiring and got me even more excited about studying the Bible more intentionally!

The design is also very pretty and lovely for girls and women.

I’d recommend to anyone, especially women, who want to study the book of Esther and dig deeper.

*I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Good Bible Study material for the book of Esther. This was easy to follow and helped me to better understand the book of Esther and its context.

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This book covered the subject of Esther. I would have liked to see this as a print workbook rather than an ebook. Esther is one of my favorite books of the Bible and was well represented in this book. Even though God was never mentioned by name in the book of Esther it is understood that she followed God and exalted him.

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God fulfills his promises thru ordinary providence in everyday life. Nothing is wasted. No pain, no circumstances, nothing is wasted to bring about God's will.

Esther is a Old Testament book of the bible where the Jewish people were in captivity. There is history that leads to how God moved during that time. What is interesting and has been noted before is that God is not mentioned in the book of Esther. Is the hidden hand of God. From beginning to end, the plot takes a twist in the setting of banquets and feasts. Brownback gives deeper insight in the significance of the feasts and banquets during a dark time in Jewish history. It was a time that a plot was developed to destroy the Jewish race thus destroy any chances of Jesus coming to redeem the world.

This is a bible study for both beginners and those that a have a few under their belt. It is short but it packs a punch. It is developed for you to discover truth of God's word for yourself. Highly recommend.

A special thank you to Crossway Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

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Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Lydia Brownback's book on the psalms, I saw her latest release, Esther: The Hidden Hand of God, and I knew it would be a winner. Brownback is a trustworthy Bible teacher who leads readers to marinate their hearts and minds in God's Word. In this 10-week women's Bible study, Brownback provides a balance of cultural and historical background, personal Bible study and practical application. I appreciate most that the study is not full of fluff, but instead guides students to dig into God's Word for themselves. Readers will be delighted to see the Hidden Hand of God as they journey through the book of Esther discovering new insights they may have never noticed before. While it's designed as a group study, individuals will certainly find plenty to marinate on if they go it alone.

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

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( received complimentary e-book in exchange for review )

One of the stories in the Bible which I treasure the most is the Book of Esther. Whenever I find a resource which I have not seen before, there is always something new to pull from it. This title did not disappoint. Highly recommended for those who like to study in groups. Can easily see this used in a small group or online group study setting. Will certainly be revisiting this title in the future, for a more in-depth study.

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Lydia Brownback’s new Bible study, "Esther: The Hidden Hand of God" is a well-written, thought-provoking study of the book of Esther. This is the first release of Brownback’s “Flourish” Bible study series.

This 10-week study takes a deep look into the book of Esther. Each week covers approximately one chapter of Esther. Brownback includes a helpful introduction and several charts throughout, to aid in understanding the flow of the book. She provides background information for each chapter, and then walks the reader through Esther, verse-by-verse. Brownback does an excellent job of pointing out repetition, explaining historical context, and highlighting major themes throughout this study. She concludes each chapter with questions for the reader, to guide in points of application.

I have been studying the book of Esther with my oldest daughter. The questions I cover with her are based on Brownback’s book, though tailored to fit the emotional/maturity level of an eleven year-old. I appreciate that Brownback is teaching Bible study methods that will help my daughter develop good habits now, which she will be able to implement throughout her entire life. We are enjoying our study together, and I am thankful for this resource!

I highly recommend this author for those who seek a challenging inductive Bible study. This study can be used for groups or individuals alike. Brownback is set to release a study of 1 and 2 Peter in January. I look forward to seeing and working through more of her studies in the future. Her website gives a schedule of what studies to expect and when. A leader’s guide to the study of Esther can also be downloaded there for free.

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I am really excited about this series! This is the first of the Flourish Bible study series from Crossway on the Old Testament book of Esther. This study is on the lighter side for homework, but packed with good, solid content! Grab this for your bible study group this winter!

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I’ve had problems getting this book to download. I would love to read it; and I’m going to purchase my own copy. I am sorry I could not post a review.

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This study is one of the best I have read for women. I’m doing it as an individual study but really am considering it for the next Women’s Bible study series. I normally hate written studies. I like to go deep and so many are surface level, but this one isn’t! It’s got so much background that I love (I’m a seminary student) but is full of truth and application. I have wished stuff like this had been on the market for women and glad to see it here! Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to review this text!

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