Esther 8:The Irrevocable Edict Meets an Unstoppable Force 1. What was the difference in the way Esther first approached the king and the way she approached the king the second time? Note that she no longer hid the fact that she was a Jew. 2. There was a major shift in the attitude of the king in chapter 1 (attitude toward Vashti) and 3:15 (attitude toward chaos in Susa) compared with his attitude in Chap- ter 8 and response to Esther. What was the cause of this change of attitude? (see 5:3, 7:2, 8:1, 9:12) 3. Dan. 6:8, 12, 15 document the fact that an edict signed and sealed by the king could not be revoked. Thus, even though Haman was dead, the consequences of his evil lived on. There is a principle truth here that can be seen even today. What is it? 4. What is your reaction to Mordecai’s decree? Do you believe it was God-inspired? 5. The new edict and Mordecai’s ascension to power following the demise of Haman was a cause for great celebration. It was also the cause for many to become Jews. Why? (Reflect on the phrase “the dread of the Jews”. What does this imply?) 6. There are a number of dramatic reversals in this book. Make a list of them (there are at least four). 7. Summarize the principle that is implied by these reversals. 8. How does this story affirm the following: (a) There is no heart so hard that God cannot soften.(Prov. 21:1) (b) There is no law so permanent that God cannot reverse. What are the New Testament ways of understanding these statements? (Consider Romans 7, Eph. 6:11-13) 1.