Series: Bible Characters Esther – (Esther 4:14b) 1. The name “Esther” means “star.” Her Hebrew name is “Hadasseh” which means “myrtle.” 2. She was an orphan girl who was adopted by Mordecai her cousin (Esther 2:5-7). She was probably only 10-11 years of age when king Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes) came to throne. 3. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah deal with the remnant who returned to Jerusalem. The book of Esther takes place between Ezra chapters 6 & 7. 4. What we need to learn from the story of Esther is that no matter how bad the world’s condition is, God is still in control. I. WORLDLY SITUATIONS A. The Players. 1. At this time, Israel is no longer a nation because they have been absorbed into the most dominant power in the world at that time, Persia. 2. One of the most important people in the world at this time is a key player in this story. His name is Ahasuerus. a. He reigned in Susa. b. His empire spanned over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. c. For six months he had the biggest party the world had ever seen. During that time, in one of his drunken stupors, he decides to show off his queen Vashti to his guests. 1) Some feel that he asked the queen to prance around naked in front of the guests. 2) She refuses to do so, and in his rage he banishes her from being queen. He regretted that later, but the law of the Medes and Persians could not be revoked, so he would need a new queen. 3. This is where the next key players enter – Esther and Mordecai. a. (2:7) tells us that Esther was fair and beautiful. (v. 8) states that the women were “gathered together,” this was possibly by force. She was around 17-18 when she would have gone before the king (2:16). Notice how God already begins to work in her life. 1) (2:8-9) She found favor with the keeper of the women. 2) (2:15) She found favor with all that met her. 3) (2:17) She found favor with the king above all the other women. b. Three godly traits of Esther. [1] 1) She was gracious – (2:9) “pleased him” lit. means “lifted up grace before his face.” Even though she was in an unfair situation, she didn’t complain or gripe. There was no sourness in her attitude. 2) She was teachable – (2:13, 15) Though she could have had anything she wanted, she only took what Hegai appointed her. She had a teachable heart and listened to advice. 3) She was submissive (2:10, 20) She listened to Mordecai’s instruction. c. Mordecai was a descendent of a Jewish family that was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar. God immediately begins to work through Esther by allowing Mordecai to discover a plot to kill the king (2:21-23). B. The Problem. 1. Because of the vacancy in the court, Ahasuerus appoints Haman as a high ruler (3:1). a. Haman was an Agagite, a descendent of Agag. b. Agag was killed by Samuel and it is possible that Haman had nursed a hatred for the Jews for many years. 2. The beginning of the problem is found in (3:2-6). a. Jews would have bowed before the king (2 Sam. 14:4; 18:28; 1 Kings 1:16). b. When the Persians bowed they were saying that the person was a divine being. Mordecai refused to bow giving the reason in verse 4 that he was a Jew and could only give worship to God (Deut. 6:13) “Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.” c. This infuriates Haman and he realizes that just killing Mordecai would not solve the problem, all of the Jews would have to die, so he presents his plan to the king (3:6- 11). 1) Haman has lots cast to see what would be the best month to kill all of the Jews (3:7). 2) The lot falls on the 12th month (Feb.-Mar.) 3) He then basically offers the king a bribe of 10,000 talents of silver which he expected to gain from the Jews (3:9). 4) The king is completely indifferent to the fate of the Jews insomuch that he doesn’t even ask who the people are that Haman wants to destroy. 5) The king gives Haman his ring which gives Haman complete power to do as he wishes and to make a law which cannot be revoked. Haman’s hatred of the Jews is reminiscent to Hitler’s and the Palestinians of today. “Adolf Hitler was not the first person that attempted to destroy all the Jews, nor will he be the last. Throughout history, nations have taken their stand against God and His people. Human reasons may differ, but behind all the different schemes and strategies is the enemy of the Lord, [2] Satan. Using pliable, godless men, he tries one stratagem after another. Satan’s reason is not simply rooted in war against God, but in the reality that from the Jews would come the “seed” promised to Eve that would one day crush his head. If Satan were successful in destroying the Jews, he could thwart God’s plan for his own demise. But Satan is no match for the sovereign Lord. Often we are deceived into the erroneous view that somehow Satan is the complimentary opposite of God as the two wage war to see which will reign supreme. But God has no equals, and He has no opposites. He alone is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Satan is a created being with all the limitations of any other angel. If Satan is the opposite of anyone it would be the archangel, Michael. He is no match for God! Every time Satan comes up with a new stratagem, God is way ahead of him. Before Haman even came up with the idea of wiping out the Jews, God had already put Esther in place. What Satan meant for evil, God turns around and uses to bring blessing to His people. The perfect example of this principle is taught in God’s dealings with the cross. Satan thought that through killing the Messiah he would be victorious. Yet God turned his plan around and used it to seal both Satan’s defeat and our salvation. That is the power of providence. Today we will look at how Haman’s plan materialized, and how God used Esther to turn it into His good.”1 II. GOD’S SOVERIEGNTY A. God’s Plan. 1. The mourning of Mordecai (4:1-3). a. Immediately, Mordecai puts on mourning clothes and goes to the center of the city as well as the king’s court and wails (vv. 1-2). b. Many other Jews do the same throughout all the provinces (v. 3). 2. The messenger of Esther (4:4-17). a. Esther hears about it and sends a messenger to Mordecai to find out what is happening (4:4-7). b. Mordecai sends a copy of the decree and a plea that Esther would go before the King on behalf of the Jews (v. 8). 1) Esther basically tells Mordecai, “sorry, I can’t help you” (vv. 9-12). 2) Mordecai’s reply (vv. 13-14). a) God puts us in His place to accomplish His will in His time (v. 14d “and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this”). b) To fail to do God’s will means that we will lose the blessing, and God will give it to someone else (v. 14a-b “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place”). 1 Following God, Wordsearch. [3] c) To disobey God in performing His will means to suffer punishment under the hand of God (v. 14c “but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed”). c. Esther consents to go before the king on behalf of the Jews (vv. 15-17). 1) She had all the Jews as well as herself bathe this mission in prayer (v. 16a-c). 2) She left her fate in God’s hands (v. 16d “and if I perish, I perish”). 3. The miracle of God (chapters 5-7). a. The favor of the king (5:1-3). b. The feasts of the queen (5:4-8). c. The final boast of Haman (5:9-14). d. The found mistake (6:1-3). e. The forced honor (6:4-14). f. The found secret (7:1-6). g. The frightful end (7:7-10). B. God’s Product. 1. Mordecai is exalted (8:1-2). a. He is given the entire estate of Haman. b. He is given the position of chief minister – this is the same position Joseph held. 2. Esther is entreated (8:3-8) 3. The Jews are encouraged (8:9-17). 4. The victory is enjoyed (9:1-19). 5. The feast of Purim is employed (9:20-32). 6. Mordecai’s testimony is everlasting (ch. 10). [4] .