HERO'S OF THE BIBLE: Esther

Today we're going to look at one of the greatest hero's of the Bible whose name is Esther.  Her name means "star." This is one of the greatest stories in the Old Testament.  This is the stuff that best-selling novels are made of.

This story begins with a party.  It was a party that lasted 180 days.  At the end of the 180 day celebration – there was a seven day feast in the Palace.  This books begins with Queen Vashti who refuses to obey an order from her husband, King Xerxes who was a very impulsive man.  He wanted to display her beauty before his friends.  She wouldn’t submit and was then banished.   The search began for a new Queen.

So…  because of Vashti’s resistance to her husband… she is vanished from the kingdom. The king sends out a decree to gather together all the beautiful women in his empire to the kings harem. Whoever pleased the king would then be chosen (2:1-4).  They would be given beauty treatments for twelve months (2:9;12).  (2:17) tells us that the king loved Esther more then all the other women.  She was then made Queen.

Meanwhile, Mordecai, Esther’s older cousin become a government official.  This upset a guy named Haman who felt he should have the position(2:21-3:1). He had already set it up with the king that people would bow to him wherever he was (3:2).  But Mordecai would never bow to him – which just upset him more (3:3-5).  They found out that Mordecai was a Jew. Haman thought of a plan to get rid of Mordecai – kill all the Jews everywhere  (3:5-11). He persuaded the king to issue a decree that condemned all Jews to death (3:12-15).

When Mordecai found out what they had done – he takes off his clothes and puts on an old sackcloth and puts ashes on his head.  He goes into the middle of the city and starts wailing – loudly (4:1-2). People in every city start weeping and wailing – putting on sackcloth and ashes. (4:3)

Eventually, Esther finds out about this great tragedy.  This is where our story begins…

1. She allowed her inner beauty and character to win the heart of the king – (2:15)
2. She was willing to risk her life for what she believed in – (4:11-17)
3. She was willing to allow God’s destiny to be her destiny – (4:14)
4. She was willing to seek advice from others – (4:13  ff)
5. She was willing to prepare herself for battle – (4:16)
6. She gathered others around her in fasting and prayer

As a result of her willing to be obedient to God - a king changes his heart and the fate of the Jews turned from defeat into victory.

(Gen 50:20 NKJV) - "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."  

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