| Esther |
|
| Strengths LifeLessons |
| After Queen Vashti had been dethroned for refusing to present herself at King Xerxes' (king of Persia) request at a banquet, he sent out his men to find the most beautiful virgins in all his provinces. Esther, a Jew, was one of the young women that was brought back to the palace and she was given the required beauty treatments, lasting one year, as all the women were. During this time Esther's uncle, Mordecai, had refused to bow down to one of the king's officials, Haman. Haman had gone to the king and told him that a certain people had refused to bow down to him, it wasn't enough to just rid himself of Mordecai, and that he should decree that these people should be destroyed, the knig agreed, and it was decreed. Hearing of the decree, Mordecai tore his clothes, ptu on sack-cloth, covered himself in ashes, and went out to the city wailing loudly and bitterly. Esther recieved word of his distress and sent someone to find out was wrong. When she learned what had happened and what ahe had to do, she sent word to her people to fast, day and night, for three days, and she and her maids would do the same. Esther had not revealed her nationality as insisted upon by Mordecai, who had raised her after her parents had died. Knowing that it was against the law to approach the king without being summoned, she dressed in her royal robes, and stood just outside the king's inner court. King Xerxes saw her standing there and was pleased with her, he pointed his scepter at her to let her know she could approach. When she came up to him he asked her what her request was, that up to half his kingdom, it would be granted. She requested that he and Haman come to a banquet that she had prepared for him. They came, and while they enjoyed the banquet, the king asked her again for her request, and again Esther requested the two men come to a banquet the following night. The next evening the two men were enjoying the banquet that Esther had prepared and the king asked again what her request was, that up to half the kingdom it would be granted. '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 destuction and slaughter and annihilation...' The king asked, 'Who is he? Where is this man who has dared to do such a thing?' Esther said,' The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman.' Haman and all ten of his sons ended up being hung from the same gallows that he had built to hang Mordecai upon. The Jews were able to rise up and defend themselves against all those who had come against them seeking the money that Haman had offered for the death of the Jews. God knows the 'Big Picture' of what is going to happen and in setting the scenario for what He knows people are capable of and will do. He sees what is in our hearts, before we know what's there. He has obviously placed Esther in the right place at the right time. The message that Mordecai sent Esther was '..."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 that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"' {Esther 4:13,14} Esther looked to the Lord for guidance of how and when to approach the king and only after fasting, which usually closely related to prayer, did she recieve the direction she was seeking. 'Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai,: "Go, gather all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat 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 parish, I parish."'{Esther5:15,16} |
 |