Lesson Seven Reaping What is Sown Esther 7 For Such a Time as This Life Lessons from the Book of Esther LAST WEEK IN REVIEW Lesson 6 brought us to the beginning of the climax of the Book of Esther. In it we saw the hand of God’s providence displayed like nowhere else in the Bible. All of God’s chess pieces were in place, and He began to unfold the moves that would lead to a divine pronouncement of “Checkmate!” It was amazing how this unfolded: A providential insomnia fell upon Ahasuerus, causing him to ask for a reading from the chronicles; out of 12 years’ records of his reign the attendant just happened to select the text about Mordecai’s actions saving the king’s life A providential arrival of Haman into the king’s court, of course with his own intentions, but to have an unknowing role in the honoring of Mordecai A providential narcissism blinded Haman to the point he himself chose the great honor to be bestowed on his very enemy A providential irony displayed as Haman led his enemy around town proclaiming his greatness, then rushed home in shame and mourning while Mordecai humbly returned to his duties A providential downfall begins for Haman, with even his own wife and friends proclaiming that he was on the way out as long as he opposed Mordecai This week we reach the climax of the story as we read of the ultimate downfall of this man. Chapters 8–10 will record the resolution of the remaining details of the story, as well as giving us a glimpse of the Jewish holiday of Purim and its significance. DAY ONE: The Generous Offer Please carefully read Esther 7:1–2 and answer the following questions. 1. As you remember from last week, we read that the servants came to interrupt Haman’s pity party and took him to Esther’s banquet. What do you think his attitude would have been in facing the things that lay before him that afternoon? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 1 2. In the latter part of the feast when the wine was being served, what did Ahasuerus ask (v. 2)? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ NOTE: The second day means that this was the second feast as mentioned in the last chapter, not that this feast was two days long.1 3. Ahasuerus was quite generous with his offer to Esther. This serves as a picture of God’s generous offer of listening to and responding to our prayers. He wishes us to come before Him with our needs and intercessions. The word petition in Hebrew meant a request, prayer, something that was obtained by entreating another,2 and request meant a desire or something sought, especially in a request made to royalty.3 What are some things that you read about God’s generous offer of hearing and responding to our petitions and requests from the following passages? Psalm 50:15; 91:15 ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Jeremiah 29:12–13 ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Matthew 7:7–11 ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ John 15:7; 16:23, 24 ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Romans 8:26, 27, 32; Ephesians 3:20 ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 2 Scripture Memory: This week we will be memorizing Galatians 6:7–8. Review the passage several times throughout the day each day this week, and by the end of the week, you should have it memorized completely. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:7–8 (NKJV) DAY TWO: The Unexpected Revelation Please carefully read Esther 7:3–4 and answer the following questions. 1. We can easily imagine that Esther’s heart was pounding, and that she quickly prayed that God would give her the exact right words to say. After probably taking a deep breath, how did she begin her two-fold request (v. 3)? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ NOTE: As we saw in an earlier study, favor meant grace, loveliness, charm, kindness, or preciousness, while pleases meant to be good, beneficial, favorable, well pleasing, or to be lovely.4 2. What explanation does she give of this strange and unexpected request (v. 4)? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ NOTE: These are the same words used in Haman’s declaration to the people of Persia (Esther 3:13). They meant to utterly destroy, annihilate, commit homicide, and leave the Jewish people in utter ruin and desolation.5 The Amplified Bible puts this, “For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, slain, and wiped out of existence!” 3. Bible scholars describe verse 4 as one of the most difficult passages in the Book of Esther to translate, but that it most likely meant that the Jews were to be destroyed, which would have been an economic loss for the king, so Esther had to speak up about it.6 Either way, Esther boldly identified with her people in this. Of course to this point neither Ahasuerus nor Haman had a clue that Esther was Jewish, but now had come the time to stand up and proclaim that truth. We should never be ashamed to stand for Christ and say that we are His children. What strong words did Jesus have about this (Luke 9:26)? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 3 4. What should our attitude be toward the fact that we are Christians and identify with our Lord (Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:8–10, 12)? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Scripture Memory: Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today. Do not be deceived, God is not ____________________; for whatever a man sows, that he will also ____________________. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap _____________________________, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit ________________ everlasting life. Galatians 6:7–8 (NKJV) DAY THREE: The Shocking Accusation Please carefully read Esther 7:5–6 and answer the following questions. 1. What was Ahasuerus’ shocked response to this threat to his beloved queen (v. 5)? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 2. The phrase dare to presume in his heart meant he filled his heart with such an idea.7 Ahasuerus was shocked to know that there was such an evil traitor who would seek to kill his queen. There would later be another traitor with even more wicked intentions, yet was influenced by the same ultimate enemy. Who was this, and what led him to fill his heart to do such a thing (John 13:21–30)? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 3. No doubt there were further moments of silence before Esther responded. Who did she accuse of such a thing, and what was the reaction (v. 6)? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________