The Story of MORDECAI GOD IS FAITHFUL AND IN COMPLETE CONTROL, EVEN WHEN EVIL IS A PERSON’S GOAL. “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9 (ESV) Long, long ago, God’s special people had been taken far away from their homes to live in the land of Persia. They were made to be slaves for many years. Their lives were very hard and very sad. These people were spe- cial to God, but not to the other people in the kingdom. Even aer God’s special people were freed and no longer slaves, many people didn’t like them, and some still wanted to hurt them. Written by Kathryn Mendoza Illustrated by Elsie Mendoza Design by Jennifer Abbatacola Read by Sarah Portz Thank you to the team: Amanda Taitel, Bridget Keeran, Dave Pearson, Susan Kopp, Malissa Szwiec, Gaby Baltazar. Copyright 2020 Harvest Bible Chapel God is faithful and in complete control, even when evil is a person’s goal. 1 Among God’s special people, was a man named Mordecai. He is kinda famous. Not because he was smart or could say the alphabet backwards. Not because he could run the fastest or do great tricks on his bike. Mordecai is famous because he believed God would always take care of him even if other people caused him harm. He believed God would keep every promise He made to His special people. This gave him great courage. Mordecai cared for his young cousin named Esther. When her parents died, Mordecai adopted her and raised her as his own daughter. God is faithful and in complete control. He wants faithfulness to be our goal. Many years later, the king of Persia, King Xerxes (X-Zerk-seys) was looking for a wife. He wasn’t looking for a wife for the right reasons. He only wanted the most beautiful young woman who could be found. King Xerxes decided he wanted to marry Esther. Mordecai didn’t understand why God would allow Esther to be King Xerxes wife and the new queen. God is faithful and in complete control, even when evil is a person’s goal. 3 King Xerxes really liked Esther but didn’t know she was one of God’s special people. Nobody in the palace did. Mordecai and Esther decided they should keep this a secret because someone might want to hurt her if they knew. Mordecai was very worried about her and knew he needed to keep an eye on her. But he wasn’t a big, important man that spent time hanging around the palace. How would he be able to watch out for her and make sure her secret was safe? Mordecai took a job at the palace gate. God is faithful and in complete control. He wants faithfulness to be our goal. 4 One day while he was working at the king’s gate, Mordecai found out about an evil plot to kill King Xerxes. He passed the information on to Queen Esther, and she told the king. King Xerxes was very grateful and dressed Mordecai up in his royal robes to be paraded around the city square on his royal horse. God is faithful and in complete control, even when evil is a person’s goal. 5 Meanwhile, an evil, powerful man named Haman, who also worked for the king, wanted everyone to bow down before him. Mordecai knew he should only bow and worship the one true God, and not this wicked man. Haman demanded to know why Mordecai wouldn’t bow to him. Mordecai shared it was because he was a Jew, which meant he would only worship the one true God. It was risky to tell this to Haman, but the Lord gave Mordecai courage. God is faithful and in complete control. He wants faithfulness to be our goal. 6 Haman was so angry that Mordecai wouldn’t bow down to him. He came up with a plan to kill not only Mordecai, but all of God’s people. When Mordecai found out, he rushed to Esther and pleaded with her to ask the king to stop Haman’s evil plan. It was risky, but they knew she had to act in order to save all of God’s people. Mordecai was just one man, but God had placed him at work in the palace to hear Haman’s evil plan. God had also placed Esther in a position that would allow her to ask the king to save God’s people. God is faithful and in complete control, even when evil is a person’s goal. 7 Esther knew if she made King Xerxes angry, he could do anything he wanted to her. He could hurt her. She had to be smart and she had to be brave. Esther arranged a special feast for the king where she could make her request. During the feast, the king was so pleased with Esther, he asked, “What is your wish, Queen Esther?” He offered to give her anything, even if she wanted half of his kingdom. Esther knew this was the moment. She had to ask carefully. God is faithful and in complete control. He wants faithfulness to be our goal. 8 Esther told King Xerxes about Haman’s evil plan to kill all of God’s people, and revealed that she too was one of those people. She asked for the King to save her people. The King was furious at Haman and stopped him from hurting all of God’s people, including Esther and Mordecai. God is faithful and in complete control, even when evil is 9a person’s goal. God is faithful and in complete control. He wants faithfulness to be our goal. 10. King Xerxes promoted Mordecai to a powerful job. It was a powerful job. Mordecai also became very great among God’s special people because he was faithful to God believing God was in complete control. Today, right now, God is still faithful and complete control, even when evil is someone else’s goal. 10 11 God is faithful and in complete control. He wants faithfulness to be our goal. 12 13 Today, right now, God is still faithful and complete control, even when evil is someone else’s goal. 14 15.