Esther was a Jewish girl raised by her uncle in a foreign land during the reign of King Ahasuerus as king over the kingdom of Persia and Media. Her story is in the Book of Esther in the Bible. The Book of Esther has a total of 10 chapters.
King Ahasuerus reigned from modern day India to Ethiopia, total of 127 provinces. He had a queen named Vashti. As part of his display of his kingdom, he invited Queen Vashti to appear before all his guests and the queen declined. The king was upset and asked counsel on what to do the queen. He was advised to replace the Queen. To avoid other women from disrespecting their husbands.
Esther 1:17 Women everywhere will begin to despise their husbands when they learn that Queen Vashti has refused to appear before the king.
The wise men of the law decided Queen Vashti had to be replaced.
A search took place to find a Queen for King Ahasurues. Hegai had the responsibility of caring for all the women contesting to replace the queen.
The women were young beautiful virgins. Only the one who pleased the king will he choose to be his queen. (Esther 2:4) Esther, a Jewish young virgin, Mordecai’s cousin was one of the women vying to be queen. (it’s not very clear if Esther was born in before or after the exile)
Hadassah also named Esther. Mordecai and Esther’s parents were part of the Jews carried in exile during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
Esther pleased Hegai and found favor with him. (Esther 2:9) When it was her turn to appear before the king, she also pleased the king and found favor with him. So much so that the king chose Esther to be queen.
What was it about Esther that was pleasing to these men?
Esther won favor in the eyes of all who saw her. Esther 2:15
Esther asked for nothing except what Hegai advised her.
Esther 2:17-18 Esther became the queen in the kingdom of Persia and Media.
Esther never declared what her nationality to the king, Hegai or anyone else. Why? How was that possible?
Bightan and Teresh were 2 of the king’s servants. They were angry with the king and planned to assassinate him. Mordecai found out and told Esther who told the king. The king’s life was spared, the men were executed, and the good gesture was recorded in the books of history.
The king promoted Haman to be second in command. Mordecai would not bow down to Haman. This made Haman angry, and he planned to not only kill Mordecai but his people along with him. They cast lot (Purim) to choose a day to execute the plan. So Haman went to the king, paid a huge sum of money to the king’s treasury 10,000 sacks of silver to have the Jews destroyed. He told the king the Jews were different, and their culture and people do not support the king. This was not true however since the king did not know it was a lie, he agreed and put his stamp on it to destroy the Jews.
One man’s decision led to a decision to destroy all the people.
The people were very sorrowful. Mordecai was mourning the terrible decision and words got to Esther. When Esther asked after Mordecai and what was happening, he asked Esther to use her place of influence with the king to help save the Jews.
Esther naturally wanted to help but was not sure how. Being a humble, obedient and respectful lady knew she was not to appear before the king except invited. Mordecai reminded her; this situation was different. It was a matter of life and death. So Esther asked for prayers, and fasting, prayers of the people and she prayed and fasted too.
What do you do in difficult situations?
Have you had similar situation in life when you have to do something out of the norm to save a life? How did you handle it?
Esther prayed. All the Jewish people prayed and fasted. Esther trusted God for favor. The favor of God that had brought her to the place of influence she was in. she was willing to risk it all to perhaps save her people.
“Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
Esther 4:13-14
So Esther went in to the presence of the king. Contrary to what should have happened, she experienced God’s favor with the king. The king extended his golden scepter, which meant she was welcomed even though not invited. The king was willing to give Esther up to half his kingdom. Such great favor!
Esther had a strategy – she invited the King and Haman to a banquet. She invited Haman and the king to a banquet on 2 different occasions. The second time she made her request to the king.
God’s providence, the power of prayers was displayed. Between the first and second invitation to the banquet for Haman and the king, the king could not sleep. So asked to read the history books and discovered a record of Mordecai’s good gesture that saved the king. Then he asked what was done to reward Mordecai. Nothing they replied. The king asked Haman what to do to a man who pleased the king, Haman recommended the reward for Mordecai’s good gesture. Thinking it was for him. Mordecai was rewarded and clothed with royal robes as Haman suggested.
Zeresh, Haman’s wife already sensed trouble after this occurrence. Esther 6:13 When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had happened, his wise advisers and his wife said, “Since Mordecai—this man who has humiliated you—is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him.”
Haman was fighting with the people of God.
At the banquet second time, Esther made known what was going to the king. The king of course was furious. Haman was hanged on the pole he had prepared to hang Mordecai.
So Mordecai was rewarded for his good gesture and Haman for his pride, lies and wicked acts.
Since the king’s order had already gone out to destroy the Jews and the king’s order cannot be reversed, another order went out giving the Jews he authority to defend themselves.
The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies.
Esther 8:11
So on the same day the Jews were to be attacked and destroyed they were also to defend themselves.
Esther 8:17b And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them.
Esther 9:5 So the Jews went ahead on the appointed day and struck down their enemies with the sword. They killed and annihilated their enemies and did as they pleased with those who hated them.
Feast of Purim
Esther 9:22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
Esther10:3 For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.
Lessons from the Book of Esther
- Their is power in prayer. The prayer of the people of God. The people prayed and God orchestrated every thing to work in their favor.
- It will take courage to overcome and gain victory in difficult situations.
- Beauty is beautiful but it is not enough. Esther was a combination of beauty and virtue
- Our choices impact generations and people around us either way. Choose wisely
- Our past don’t dictate what we can accomplish in life. Esther was an orphan living in a foreign land. Let your past be a story of victory and not victim
- Recognize the mentors in your life and listen and learn.
- When in difficult situation, pray, fast then face your fears like Esther.
The Jews had to fight to defend themselves. They had to pray. We have a role to play in the victory. It starts with prayer and trust in God.
Mordecai stood up for his people all though his time. Stand up for what is right in prayer and when necessary use words and action. Make an impact for generations.
