Jesus, You wanted Esther to be queen; and, You started making it happen in step one of God’s plan. It isn’t obvious to me why; but, because of God’s ability to see the future with greater clarity than I can see the things around me at the moment, He was getting things in place that would address a problem that hadn’t even started to happen yet. Help see that, that is the way my life has started going the moment I accepted You as my Lord, Savior, and King. Because of God’s foreknowledge of the future, help me be aware of the fact that He has my path all cleared out so I can be as successful as I am willing to be. Now, introduce me to step two of this interesting drama.

Est 2:21-23 (NIV) During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were hanged on a gallows. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

Est 3:1 (NIV) After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.

Jesus, help me be like Mordecai, being a Jew, would dishonor God, if he bowed down to Haman. Help me refuse to do anything that would compromise my relationship with You. Help me understand that this was a dangerous thing because even small infractions could get a person’s head cut off in those days. By refusing to bow down, Mordecai put his TRUST in God and RESISTED evil while putting himself at risk. Help me be that committed to You. Plus, help me see that this decision Mordecai made was a part of the special work God was doing that required Esther to be obedient to God.

Est 3:5-6 (NIV) When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. Jesus, help me always be aware that Satan hates the Jews; he does as much as he can to get all the other people on the earth (Gentiles) to hate them too. Help me see how great God is; He knew there was going to be a plot to kill His people and had already set things in motion to deal with it.

Est 3:8-10 (NIV) Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will put ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for the men who carry out this business.” So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

Jesus, this is so incredible: Luke 12:7 (NIV) Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Jesus, it is so amazing to me that God is keeping a running account of how many hairs are on MY head. You told me about this special attention God gives me so I won’t misunderstand how important I am to Him. Help me see that just like He orchestrated this counter measure to stop this plot against His people, He is doing what is necessary to take good care of me. Let this help me be willing to trust God and resist anything that God doesn’t want me involved with.

Est 3:13 (NIV) Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews--young and old, women and little children--on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. Jesus, help me see that God had been getting things ready to put a stop to this plot years prior to this. Show me that when I pray for help from God, my prayers don’t take Him by surprise. He knew I was going to face every issue long before I recognized it as a problem and prayed about it.

Est 4:5 (NIV) Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. Est 4:7-8 (NIV) Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

Jesus, help me see that Mordecai was right where God put him, Esther was right where God put her, and then it was up to Esther to do what God put her there to do. But, help me appreciate the fact that there was a life-issue Esther faced that required her to put her trust in God. Teach me that the evil she was going to have to resist was to not be willing to put her life in danger. She explained this problem to Mordecai:

Est 4:11 (NIV) “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

Est 4:12-14 (NIV) When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Est 4:15-16 (NIV) Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Jesus, help me be like Esther and decide to TRUST God even with my life and RESIST the temptation to try to save it.

Est 5:1-3 (NIV) On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

Jesus, it is so great that God spoke to the Kings heart and saved Esther’s life. And, I can see the miracle of God getting Esther into a position to tell the King what was going on against her people.

Jesus, I can see Esther’s wisdom of holding two special banquets with the King and Haman. You helped her reveal to the king, Haman’s evil plot to kill the Jews at just the right time.

Est 7:3-4 (NIV) Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life--this is my petition. And spare my people--this is my request. For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”

Est 7:5-6 (NIV) King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?” Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman.” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. Est 7:9-10 (NIV) Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it!” So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.

Jesus, help me realize that the Jews still needed a miracle because the king ignorantly allowed a law to be put in effect to kill the Jews and it couldn’t be recended. So, help me see that like in my life, You solved the problem. You gave the king wisdom and he allowed Mordecia to make this law:

Est 8:11 (NIV) The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them and their women and children; and to plunder the property of their enemies.

Jesus, help me appreciate the fact that through all of God’s incredible foreknowledge of the future and wisdom, the Jews were saved through a queen who yielded to God’s plan for her life. Since there are many other aspects of this account of Esther and Mordecai that couldn’t be covered in this study, if You want me to read the whole book, let me know.