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Esther was a young Jewish woman who married King Xerxes of Persia and, thanks to her position as queen, managed to save the Jewish people from extermination. We find Esther's story in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book that bears her name.
Esther, also known as Hadassah, was an orphaned Jewish girl raised by her cousin Mordecai after losing her parents. She lived in the Persian Empire during the reign of King Xerxes. The story of how she became queen begins with the deposing of Queen Vashti, or rather, it starts with a grand feast.
The book of Esther begins with a lavish banquet hosted by King Xerxes for all the princes, governors, and other important people in his vast kingdom. At that time, the Persian Empire was enormous, and Xerxes’ influence extended to many countries.
During the feast, which lasted many days, the king asked his wife, Vashti, to appear before everyone wearing her crown to display her beauty, but she refused. This infuriated the king and humiliated him in front of all the guests. Xerxes feared that the queen's disobedience would influence other women to disrespect their husbands throughout the empire.
When Queen Vashti was deposed, King Xerxes sought a new queen, and Esther, an extremely beautiful Jewish girl, was selected to receive special treatment in the palace before the king chose his new queen. By God's grace and providence, Esther was chosen for her beauty and charisma. However, Mordecai, her cousin and guardian, advised her not to reveal her Jewish heritage.
Meanwhile, Haman, a high official of the king, became furious when Mordecai refused to kneel before him. He was extremely arrogant and proud. In revenge, Haman plotted to exterminate not only Mordecai but all the Jews in the Persian Empire and managed to have the king sign a decree for this.
Upon learning of the plan, Mordecai sought Esther's help. It was necessary to ask the king for intervention in this matter. Risking her own life, Esther presented herself to King Xerxes without being summoned, which could have resulted in her death. She invited the king and Haman to banquets, and during the second dinner, she revealed her Jewish identity and exposed Haman's wicked plot to the king.
Furious with Haman, King Xerxes ordered him to be hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Haman's evil decree could not be reversed, but the king allowed the Jews to defend themselves against anyone who tried to harm them. The Jews organized themselves and managed to defeat their enemies.
The story concludes with the celebration of the Feast of Purim, which commemorates the salvation of the Jews and the change in their fate, in God's gracious purpose. Esther and Mordecai are remembered for their courage and faith, which contributed to the preservation and blessing of their people.
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Lessons We Learn from the Story of Esther
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God guides our present with the future in mind: God directed Esther's life, leading her to become queen, which allowed her to help her people at the right moment. He knew what would happen and prepared her to be a help and blessing to the people of Israel.
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The strength of humility and wisdom: Esther faced struggles and suffering, losing her parents at a young age. Nevertheless, she remained under the care and authority of her guardian. She followed Mordecai’s advice, as if he were a father, by not initially revealing her Jewish heritage. Esther also accepted Hegai's instructions, showing humility and wisdom.
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Having courage and faith in the face of challenges: We must be brave in the face of the opportunities presented to us. Although the risk was great for Esther, she sought God's direction and strength, doing what she needed for the good of her people.
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The power of prayer and fasting in intercession: Esther fasted and sought God for grace and solutions to her problems. Sometimes, we forget that the prayer of a righteous person is very effective. The humility and brokenness that fasting brings help us focus on God in our consecration. God is good, hears, and answers prayers according to His good will. He rewarded Esther's bravery and intercession.
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The value of sacrificial love: Doing the right thing can come at a high cost or require great sacrifice, but it brings a reward. Esther could have been indifferent to her people’s suffering, but she risked her own life to save them. Her actions remind us of Jesus Christ, the true Savior, who offered Himself as a sacrifice to save us from eternal condemnation. To help her people, Esther risked her own life, and in the end, she succeeded in saving them from extermination.
Bible Study on Esther
How Esther Became Queen
After Vashti was deposed, King Xerxes decided to seek a new queen. A call was made for all the most beautiful young virgins from each province to participate in a sort of beauty contest, undergoing a preparation process in the palace. For one year, the young women would receive special beauty treatments, and the one who pleased the king the most would become queen in Vashti's place.
Esther was one of those young women taken to the royal palace. She was stunningly beautiful, and by God's grace, Esther found favor. When her time came to present herself before the king, she was prepared. The king fell in love with Esther and chose her as queen of the entire Persian Empire.
Esther's cousin, Mordecai, would often sit at the king's gate to learn news about her. As he had advised her, Esther did not reveal to anyone that she was Jewish. One day, while sitting nearby, Mordecai overheard two eunuchs conspiring against King Xerxes and informed Esther, who then alerted the king. The traitors were punished, and the story was recorded in the king's chronicles.
Esther Intercedes for the Jews
A certain man named Haman was elevated by King Xerxes. He was ambitious and arrogant, demanding that everyone kneel and bow before him. However, Mordecai refused, infuriating Haman. Furious, Haman sought information about Mordecai and decided that it was not enough to kill just him; he wanted to exterminate all his people.
Haman's malicious plan to annihilate all the Jews gained the king's approval. Xerxes was unaware that his wife Esther was Jewish. With the decree signed and published, the extermination of the Jews was set for a specific date. Mordecai and other Jews mourned deeply. He informed Esther about Haman's terrible plan and urged her to intercede with the king for their people.
Esther fasted and, risking her life, approached the king uninvited. She invited him and Haman to banquets. Haman prepared a gallows for Mordecai, but the king, remembering Mordecai's merits, ordered that he be honored.
At the second banquet, Esther revealed Haman's plot and pleaded with the king to save her people. Enraged, the king ordered Haman to be hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. However, the edict against the Jews could not be revoked. Nonetheless, the king granted the Jews permission to defend themselves against their enemies.
On the designated day, the Jews prepared and attacked their enemies. They fought for their lives against all who sought to harm them. Two days later, joy and celebration filled the Jewish communities across the provinces.
Queen Esther and Mordecai wrote letters instituting these days as the celebration of Purim in all cities. To this day, Jews celebrate Purim in remembrance of their fasting and mourning over the threats faced, as well as in praise to God for their deliverance from enemies and the salvation of their people.
Mordecai became second in power in Persia, while Esther remained queen alongside Xerxes in the vast Empire.
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