The StoryFinding Your Story in God’s Story

“Queen of Beauty and Courage”

Series 2 - God Pursues His People

Review Chapter 19

“The Return Home”

Series 2 - God Pursues His People

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King Xerxes (Ahasuerus)

Haman – right hand man to the king

Mordecai

Hadassah – Persian name Esther

I. A New Queen is Chosen

Esther 1 – Queen Vashti is banished

Queen Vashti refuses the king’s order to be ogled

The king – call my lawyers Banish herDecree every man ruler of his home

Esther 2 – Esther becomes queen

PERSIA’S NEXT

Queen

Esther, along with many others are brought to the king’s harem to be groomed for 12 months

The king makes Esther queen

Her nationality is a secretMordecai exposes a plot to assassinate the King

II. Haman’s plot Esther 3

Haman is given high position in the empireKing commanded officials to bow to himMordecai refuses – he is a Jew

Haman filled with rage – plots a holocaust

Mordecai and fellow Jews go into mourningMordecai sends word to Esther to go to the king and beg for mercy

The risk of death approaching the king uninvitedThe risk of death if all the Jews are killed

Perhaps you were made queen for such a time as this

III. Esther’s Appeal

Esther 5-8A banquet for the king and HamanThe King’s sleepless nightThe Honoring of Mordecai – for saving the king’s life exposing the assassination attemptThe Humiliation of Haman

Esther exposes the plot, by this man Haman, against her people to annihilate them

Haman impaled on the pole set up to impale Mordecai

James 4:6 (NASB) 6  But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

Mordecai promotedJames 4:10 (NASB) 10  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Esther’s appeal to reverse the king’s law to kill the Jews

IV. The Preservation of a People

Esther 9:1-4

The preservation of the people through whom the Savior would come

Genesis 3:15 (NLT) 15  And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Revelation 12:5 (NLT) 5  She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne.

For such a time as thisGalatians 4:4 (NLT) 4  But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

Christ’s Crucifixion1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (NLT) 7  No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8  But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.

The hand of God involved in the affairs of man to bring about his purpose

Romans 8:28 (NASB) 28  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.