Esther

For such a critical time as this, God chose a young orphan named Hadassah to be the Queen who our Father uses to save His people. The riveting true story of Queen Esther includes lots of drama, rejection, danger, surprise, courage, and deliverance. Hadassah’s parents were killed and as a teen she was violently abducted into the king’s harem. She had to obey the rules or die.

The plot. The Persian king Xerxes in Susa — hosted a banquet that lasted 180 days. For six months his current wife, queen Vashti endured a husband who had undoubtedly took pleasure in other women. When she refused to submit to his request to appear naked publicly before a drunken king, in a rage, the king banishes Vashti. The kings men suggest that he conduct a search for a new queen. Hundreds of pretty teens throughout the kingdom were abducted. Hadassah, an orphan being raised by her cousin Mordecai is taken to the palace to be groomed for a year before her night to perform for the king. Hadassah means righteousness, but her cousin Mordecai warned her NOT to disclose that she was a Jew, so the name given to the officials upon her kidnapping was Esther. King Xerxes chooses Esther as his queen, while he continues to enjoy a harem of teens. Haman, the high-ranking minister to the king, convinces the king to decree a genocide of the Jews. Urged into action by her cousin, Esther fasts and prays for 3 days and is given a plan from God. She invites the king and Haman to a dinner party. Haman was incensed to malicious anger when Mordecai refused to bow down, and he had gallows built to hang the Jew. All the details were part of God’s plan of vengeance and salvation. Haman is hung on the very gallows he intended for Mordecai. By decree, the Jews were legally allowed to plunder the goods of their enemies. Mordecai is given the political position once held by Haman. The central ritual of Purim is the reading of this biblical book aloud in synagogue as a celebration of Jewish salvation and the defeat of anti-Semitism.

🔥 In 2023 Purim begins at sundown March 6 and ends evening March 7. A Jewish celebration of what God accomplished through Esther. Victory over their enemies. John 1:4 “In Him was life and the life was the Light of all people. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” 🔥 Revelation 21:23 “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction by an evil plot by Haman. Esther was called according to His purpose, to deliver the Israelites from certain death. We were all chosen, and we all suffer cruelties and things that are not fair in life, even while serving the King of kings. As His royal subjects, who knows what good He will manufacture out of our life challenges.

Esther was not spoiled by her grand elevation, she was kidnapped into a position that God intended for His purpose. Satan works through people to destroy God’s people, the Jews, the Church, and even Jesus Christ. But God promises “the gates of hell shall not prevail.” against His church. (Matthew 16:18). The Feast of Purim is celebrated annually to this day to memorialize the deliverance of the Jewish people from death. Esther was beautiful, modest, winsome, obedient, humble, courageous and loyal. A great character who did the right thing, at the right time, as she trusted God completely. “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (Es 4:16) Esther was willing to sacrifice her life for God’s people. LESSON: God will deliver His children.