Scripture: Esther

In Esther we see the origins of the Jewish celebration of Purim. It is intended as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and deliverance in the midst of adversity. When God is for you, you always have a reason to celebrate.

The story of Esther shows us the alternative to embracing the hand of God as He moves in this world is death. But, we can find life through Him who gave His life on our behalf.

In our study of Esther, we’ve learned that selfishness leads to sin and suffering. Haman and the king were willing to exterminate the Jewish people to serve their own needs. The book of Esther offers the opportunity to contrast their selfishness with the picture of a godly leader.

We’ve reached the point in the story where Esther will reveal that she is Jewish and put her life on the line. She exposes Haman’s plot against the Jews and his desire to eliminate them.

In Esther 6, we see the providence of God at work in directing King Ahasuerus to honor Mordecai and spare his life. The pride of Haman finally leads to his downfall.

In Esther 5, we see Queen Esther approaching the king with humility and honor in her desire to save her people, the Jews. Meanwhile, Haman, one of the king’s officials, is filled with pride, and his anger burned towards the Jews.

With the king’s decree ordering the death of all the Jews, Esther and Mordecai are faced with a crisis that could cost them their lives. We see them turning to trust in the Lord to save them.

What does it mean to “wait for the Lord?” In Esther 3, we see how selfish intentions and pride can cause chaos in all aspects of life.

In chapter 2, we are introduced to three complex characters. In the king, we see the lack of accountability in his attitude and behavior. We are also introduced to Mordecai and his cousin Esther as they are faced with choices of faith vs convenience.

In Esther 1, we see King Xerxes so wrapped up in himself that he makes a drunken, foolish decision. Instead of putting his wife’s needs first, he choose to demoralize and shame her. Today, we contrast this against the example of what a godly marriage should look like.