If you're being honest, when was the last time you went too far?

Too much anger, too many words, too little restraint.

The answer is probably more recent than you'd like to admit.

Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall

connects a defining moment in the battle every one of us fights, the battle for self-control.

The Jewish people had been given an unlimited license for revenge. What they did with it

reveals something extraordinary about the spirit of God at work in human hearts.

Teaching from Esther chapter 9, Chuck titled today's message,

The Limitations of Retaliation.

In order for there to be some kind of stoppage of vengeance, self-control must be applied.

One of my volumes that has helped me in the study of Esther writes this,

though in the book of Esther the tables had been turned on those

who would have killed the Jews, the Jews had behind them all the theological conditioning provided

by their scriptures, and their understanding of permission to avenge themselves would have been

adjusted accordingly. Instead of having to avenge themselves would have been adjusted accordingly. Instead of having to endure

slaughter without any means of self-defense, the new legislation permitted them to fight

for one day against those who attack them and to kill them.

The fact that this surprising change in the circumstances had taken place was awe-inspiring.

It pointed to a providential ordering of their affairs not to be taken lightly.

To be sure, it was wonderful.

And a cause of rejoicing, but arrogance and presumption were ruled out together with all bullying, self-assertive superiority, which in turn would

call for God's condemnation and punishment.

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