Esther 1

Study Guide 45: Esther GOD’ S PROVIDENTIAL CARE Overview Events in this book are set in the era of the Persian Empire, sometime between 483 and 471 b.c. Xerxes the Great ruled: the same Xerxes who invaded Greece, but was thrown back. Chronologically Esther comes between the return of a first group of Jews to Judah from Babylon (538 b.c.) and the return of a second group led back by Ezra (458 b.c.). Events are set not in Babylon but at Susa, which lay closer to the Persian Gulf. Archeologists have not recovered documents that mention either Esther or her uncle, Mordecai. But the detailed descriptions of Persian court practices and customs in Esther have been shown to be completely accurate. The Book of Esther is unusual in that nowhere is God mentioned. Yet again and again the story told there shows our sovereign God working quietly, behind the scenes, shaping events so that His good purpose for His people is achieved. Another important contribution of Esther is to document what happened to the Jews who did not return to Judah. Esther 3:8 shows that they had scattered throughout the empire “ among the peoples in all the provinces” of the empire, and that there they kept “ themselves separate.” PROVIDENCE. The word is not in the Bible. But the doctrine that God is in full control of all events is taught — and is illustrated fully in Esther.

Commentary The Book of Esther should be read at a single sitting, and read as a story. It is a story, filled with drama and excitement, with plots and subplots. And most exciting of all, this story is true! And, like the rest of Scripture, the Book of Esther has a living word for us today as well. We can sense the impact of this great book by looking at three aspects: the story, the heroine, and the message.

The Story Xerxes (Zurk-seez) was holding one of the drinking parties for which history tells us he was famous. When his wife ignored a command to visit the party, Xerxes set her aside. There would be no “ women’ s lib” in Persia! Immediately a search was begun for a new queen, while the king gave his attention to the four-year process of gathering an army to invade Greece. It was not until after his defeat in the west that Xerxes finally chose a new queen. When he did, he chose Esther, the adopted daughter of a minor court official named Mordecai. The book then tells of the anger of a high court official named Haman when he thought he had been slighted by Mordecai. Haman determined to have his revenge. He would not only have Mordecai executed: he would have his entire race exterminated! When Haman asked Xerxes for permission, it was granted casually! But Mordecai had earlier warned the king of a plot on his life, and somehow his reward was overlooked. One night Xerxes could not sleep, and had the record of his rule read. Mordecai’ s act was reported there, but no reward was mentioned. Meanwhile, Mordecai had urged Esther to speak to the king for her race. She was afraid, but risked the anger of Xerxes, who was known for his instability and rages. She asked Xerxes and Haman to her apartments for dinner the next day. At that dinner, she requested the king’ s and Haman’ s presence at a second dinner the following day. The morning of the second dinner, Haman came to the palace and was asked advice on how to honor someone the king wished to reward. Haman, thinking he was the one to be honored, outlined what should be done — and then was commanded by Xerxes to personally lead Mordecai, clad in the king’ s own robes and riding a royal horse, through the capital, shouting loudly that this was one the king wished to honor. Then at dinner Esther accused Haman of wickedly plotting against her race, and revealed that she was a Jew. When one of the king’ s servants volunteered that Haman had actually had a gallows erected on which to hang Mordecai, whom the king had ordered him to honor, Xerxes had Haman and his sons hanged there instead. According to custom, once a royal decree had been published, it could not be revoked. So Xerxes gave Mordecai his seal and told him to write any decree in Xerxes’ name that would correct the situation. The new decree simply gave the Jews the right to organize, and to protect themselves by killing those who planned to kill them. No victims could be plundered, so the motives of the defenders could not be greed. When the appointed day came the Jews did defend themselves and many of their enemies were killed. Mordecai became a powerful figure in the empire, and used his position to promote the welfare of his people. The great deliverance reported in Esther is celebrated today by the Jewish people on March 13 and 14, and is known as the Feast of Purim. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT To get the impact of the Book of Esther it should be treated as it is — an exciting but true story. If you have an especially good reader in your group, have him or her simply read the story aloud from the Bible. This may take about half your group time. But reading will give all a unique feel for and sensitivity to this book. If you wish, you might divide up into listening teams. Team one: Listen for turning points. What were key events on which future happenings depended? Team two: Listen for Esther’ s character. What kind of person was she? What were her strengths and weaknesses? Team three: Listen for Mordecai’ s character. What kind of person was he? What were his strengths and weaknesses? After the reading, have listening team members discuss together what they heard. Then have each listening team share with the rest of the group.

Esther Esther was an orphan girl brought up in the home of her uncle, Mordecai. As a young woman Esther was presented to the palace as a candidate to replace the deposed queen of Xerxes. She was pleasant as well as beautiful, and became a favorite of the eunuch in charge of the king’ s harem. He advised Esther, and by following his advice she pleased the king more than the others. As a result Xerxes made Esther queen, and proclaimed an empire-wide holiday. Esther seems to have been a responsive and compliant personality, eager to please people in authority. Esther 2:19-20 tells us that she even continued to respect Mordecai and follow his instructions, just as when he was bringing her up. The picture we have is of an attractive but somewhat uncertain young woman. She is eager to please others, but perhaps not one who was used to taking personal initiative or responsibility. It must have been particularly difficult for Esther when suddenly the fate of her people appeared to depend on her taking responsibility, and acting with strength and initiative. Esther 4:1-17 of the book describes Esther’ s time of stress. When the king’ s decree to destroy the Jews was published, Mordecai, like other Jews throughout the kingdom, wept and tore his clothing, to show the intensity of his grief and to humble himself before the Lord. When Esther heard of Mordecai’ s behavior, she sent a trusted servant to find out what was wrong. Mordecai explained the situation and gave the servant a copy of the edict, with instructions to show it to Queen Esther “ and explain it to her” (Esther 4:8). Mordecai also urged Esther to go to the king and beg for mercy for her people. Esther listened to the explanation. But she was unwilling to go to the king! She reminded Mordecai what everyone in the kingdom knew: “ 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 30 days have passed since I was called to go to the king” (Esther 4:11). Mordecai answered bluntly and perhaps a little harshly. “ 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?” (Esther 4:12-14) Mordecai’ s response seems to confirm the picture of Esther as a rather unsure and timid person, whose advancement rested not so much on her character as on her beauty and her eagerness to please. Now her uncle warned her harshly. If she did not act, the Jews would survive somehow. But she would not. And Mordecai added the thought that perhaps God had been at work in the circumstances of her advancement: she may have come to her royal position for just such a time as this. Esther finally decided. She asked Mordecai to have all the Jews fast for three days. She and her staff would fast too. Then she would risk going to the king, “ even though it is against the law.” And, she added, “ If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). There are several things to encourage us in this story. First, even a person not noted for courage can rise to the occasion when it is necessary. Esther was able to act against her normal character. The possibility to live beyond our normal potential exists for all of us. Second, when a person faces his or her fear, that fear can be dealt with. The text suggests that Esther was still — and understandably — afraid. Yet she faced her fears and determined to act anyway. Esther would do what she had to do, realizing that she could not control the outcome. Finally, Esther determined to act in faith. While “ prayer” is not mentioned in the text, fasting was associated in Israel with appeals to God for deliverance from danger and other religious observances (cf. Judges 20:26; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Ezra 8:21; Nehemiah 9:1). Esther realized that what happened to her depended entirely on the will of God. Esther then approached the king. He raised the gold scepter, sparing her life, and called her to him. Though the king urged her to make a request, Esther hesitated. Instead of telling him the situation and appealing for her people, Esther invited Xerxes and Haman to her apartments for supper. There, at a second banquet, she accused Haman and begged for her own life and the lives of her people. The king flew into one of the rages for which history says he was famous. When a servant volunteered the information that Haman had built a gallows for Mordecai, “ who spoke up to help the king” (Esther 7:9), Xerxes had Haman hanged on it. Mordecai had been right. Esther had come to her royal position “ for such a time as this.” While the traits that led to her rise were traits that made it more difficult for her to act with initiative, she found the inner strength to do what was right when act she must. How good to realize that, like Esther, we are not trapped even by our weaknesses. God uses us as we are, placing us where we can serve Him and others. If a time comes that we must step out of character to do His work, the Lord will give us the grace to live beyond our capabilities. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN The story of Esther can help boys and girls to choose God’ s way by trusting Him when afraid, just as Esther did. Point out that Esther was afraid to go to the inner court where the king was. Point out that Esther knew it was right to try to save her people. So she trusted God and did what was right, even though she was afraid. Then ask your boys and girls to draw a diagram of some place where they may be afraid. This can be a place at home, or in school, or in their neighborhoods. Have each child explain his drawing and tell where and why he or she is sometimes afraid. When a child has explained, put a star(s) on the place(s) identified, as you did on the palace diagram. Say: “ I know you’ ll be brave and do what’ s right when you’ re afraid, Julie, just as Esther did.” You may want to give each child one or more gummed stars to put in the home or school location where they are afraid, as a reminder in that situation to be like Esther and do what is right when afraid.

The Lesson of Esther The greatest contribution of the Book of Esther is to our appreciation for God’ s providential care. Bible miracles demonstrate God’ s ability to intervene directly in space and time. God is not limited in His power but is fully capable of controlling what happens in our “ real” world. The wonders of the Exodus, with its miraculous plagues on Egypt, its passage through the Red Sea, and the daily manna God supplied, were obvious interventions by God on behalf of His people. But the obvious miracle is not the norm in Scripture. Instead history, like our own daily life, tends to flow in a “ natural” way. There is a process, a sequence of events in which causes lead to effects, and both cause and effect can be traced and understood. To some people the flow is simply one of chance. You “ happen” to meet a person waiting in a line, and that “ happens” to lead to a job where you “ happen” to meet a person who becomes your spouse. How lucky, people say. To the ancient Greeks the flow of cause and effect seemed more grim. The Greeks tended to fix on tragedy, and so believed in a mindless “ fate” that ruined the hopes of people no matter what they did. It was still all chance. Not good luck, but bad luck. And there was nothing a person could really do to affect those things that shaped and influenced his life. And then, in Esther, we see another view. The God of miracles, who has at times intervened in obvious supernatural acts to benefit His people, is also at work in the flow of “ natural” events as well! God superintends the “ chance” experiences that prove to be the turning point in the lives of individuals and in the history of nations. This is the Christian doctrine of providence: the conviction that the God of the Bible is in full control of the details of every life. As we look at Esther we can see a number of turning points: events on which the story and its resolution hinge. We can, in effect, see God setting the stage for happenings that led to the deliverance of His people, the Jews. What are some of the turning points, the indicators of a God of providence at work, in this Bible book? Mordecai, a minor court official, adopted his beautiful niece when her parents died. He was in position to have her presented as a candidate for queen. Vashti, the queen, refused to appear at Xerxes’ command, causing her to be deposed. Hegai, the eunuch in charge of Xerxes’ harem, took a liking to Esther and helped her win the king’ s approval. Mordecai uncovered a plot against Xerxes, and through Esther saved the king’ s life. But the king “ overlooked” a reward for Mordecai. When Haman consulted diviners to pick the ideal time to carry out his plot to destroy the Jews, the lot fell on a time 12 months later. This delay gave Mordecai and Esther time to counter the plot (see Esther 3:7). Mordecai urged Esther to act, calling on her to realize that she might have come “ to royal position for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). The night before Xerxes and Haman were to come to Esther’ s banquet, the king was unable to sleep. He ordered the chronicles of his reign to be read to him, and “ happened” to come across the record of Mordecai’ s discovery of the plot against Xerxes’ life. The king asked how Mordecai was rewarded, and when he learned no reward was given, Xerxes determined to honor him. When Esther accused Haman at her banquet, one of the king’ s attendants told of a gallows Haman had built for Mordecai. The furious king ordered Haman to be hanged on it. In all these things, and especially in the timing of the events so that one circumstance led “ naturally” to another, each turning point channeled history to the reported end. The Jewish people were saved. But, we might ask, what about the events that led to the danger initially? What about Mordecai’ s refusal to honor Haman, which first aroused his anger and placed the Jewish people in danger? We can draw two possible conclusions here. Perhaps Mordecai’ s pride should be blamed, for his actions placed his whole people in danger. Many events in our world flow directly from human sinfulness, and while God rules in all things, He need not be held responsible for willful human actions. But another conclusion is also suggested. Even if Mordecai acted in foolish pride when he refused to honor Haman, God seems to have used Mordecai’ s weakness for good. For the Bible tells us that in the months between issuing the decree to kill the Jews and the time that Mordecai and Esther were able to reverse it, that “ in every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing. Many lay on sackcloth and ashes” (Esther 4:3). The danger led Jews everywhere to turn to God wholeheartedly! This is a perspective that each of us needs to gain. Even the disasters that strike us are intended for our good. God is in control, and He is able to sanctify even our tragedies. And so Esther teaches us many lessons about God’ s providential care. The events from which our lives and the history of nations are woven are not subject merely to change. They rest in the hands of a God who cares for us; a God who sometimes permits pain, but who is well able to transform pain into joy as we rely fully on Him.

Teaching Guide Prepare What events in your life show God’ s providential care?

Explore Read the Book of Esther aloud to your group, as you might read a story. See “ link-to-life” above on how to set up listening teams that will focus on different aspects of the story.

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1. Do a character study of Esther, drawing particularly from Esther 4:1-5:8. What was Esther like? What were her weaknesses? What were her strengths? What does Mordecai seem to have thought of her? Would it be easy or hard for Esther to take initiative and to take a personal risk on behalf of her people? What is one encouraging thing you see in Esther’ s story that can be applied to your own life?
2. List on the chalkboard the turning points identified in this unit. Or have your group members suggest the turning points after hearing the Book of Esther read. Explain the doctrine of providence, and show how this story with its many “ chance” happenings illustrates providence. Then have each group member think of a time in his or her life when a similar set of events proved turning points in his or her life. Write down the “ chance” events that set a new direction. In groups of three to five, share what each person has jotted down, and discuss: “ How do these events illustrate God’ s providential care? What has God done in your life or through you that hinged on the events you wrote down?”

Apply Discuss: “ Does the person who knows God see Him more clearly in miracle or in providence? Why might some find it hard to sense God’ s hand in seemingly ‘ chance’ events?” Close in prayer that your group members will learn to recognize God in all the events of their lives.