The book of Esther is one continuous story. God is never mentioned throughout the report. However, it significantly reflects God’s care for his people. In the case of our text, it came through a brave Jewish woman who became Queen of Persia. This occurred approximately 500 years before the birth of Christ. Since we are talking about the entire book of Esther, we need to select key points of our Scripture.
Point one: the book opens with the king hosting a marvelous banquet before many of his princes and servants. He bragged about his riches. At the same time Queen Vashti sponsored a feast for the women. King Ahasuerus demanded she leave her companions so that he might show her beauty to the men. Here probably is the first battle of the sexes. She refused to join the king. He became angry and ultimately exiled her because he was afraid that the other women of the kingdom would follow her example and disobey their husbands.
Point two: a search was conducted throughout the countryside for the new queen. Esther’s uncle Mordechai raised her since both her parents were deceased. Among the many maidens that were brought before the king was Esther. She pleased him but her uncle advised that she not reveal she was a Jew. The king found himself loving Esther above all the other women that came before him. As a result, she was crowned the new queen. Shortly afterward a plan was developed to kill the king, but Mordechai learned of the plot, advised Esther, who told the king, resulting in the hanging of the conspirators.
Point three: later, the king promoted Haman to be above all the rest of the princes. However, Mordechai refused to bow to Haman when he came near during a procession. This enraged Haman causing him to develop a plot whereby he would seek to annihilate all the Jews. He tricked the king to make a declaration for this to occur. This was set in motion the first planned Holocaust of the Jews.
Point four: there was a law that no man or woman could approach the king unless he held out his scepter to that person. This was a very dangerous step that Esther intended because this could cost her life. She asked for prayerful support from other Jews and from her own maidens to the plan she had in which she would seek the king. Even though it was likely she could die, Esther said, “if I perish, I perish.” This one brave woman intended to offset the planned Holocaust of the Jews arranged by Haman. She was their only hope. Only she could divert Haman’s evil!
Point five: here’s the point where God intervened through a female because the king did hold out his scepter to her. She was wise enough not to confront the king directly about the planned Holocaust but instead invited him and Haman to dine with her. Haman’s wrath festered again toward Mordechai. His wife and friends encouraged him to build a gallows on which they could hang Mordechai. Because one night the king had insomnia, he called his servant to bring forth the records of his Chronicles. And then he discovered how Mordechai had saved the king’s life. His servants reminded him that he did not reward Mordechai for his good deed.
Point six: here’s a lesson for all of us! When all seems lost, when there seems to be no hope, God is still there working his miracles. At the banquet sponsored by Esther the king asked her what her petition was. She told him of Haman’s plot to kill the Jews begging that her people be saved. Even though the king’s decree could not be reversed, he issued a different decree saying that the Jews had every right to defend themselves against anyone that would try to do them harm. Consequently, Haman and his 10 sons were hanged on the very gallows that he had prepared for Mordechai. Instead of his death, Mordechai was promoted second to the king throughout all the provinces. The Jews celebrated, gave gifts one to another, and that day is observed on the Jewish calendar to modern times calling it Purim.
Isn’t God marvelous!!!!!!!!
Christian Writer 