For such a time as this: The story of Esther

Overview

• I’m going to tell the story of Esther
• Even though the book does not mention the name of God, we’ll definitely see God working
• As we go through, I want you to spot God’s interventions
• Some of these we will see at the end when we look back at the amazing working of God in preserving his people.

Esther 1

1. Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,
2. in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the capital,
3. in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants...

Esther 2:16–18

16. And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign,
17. the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18. Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther’s feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.

Esther 4:12–14

12. And they told Mordecai what Esther had said.
13. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.
14. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 6:1–4

1. On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
2. And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
3. And the king said, “What honour or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
4. And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

Esther 9:32

32. The command of Queen Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.

Esther 10:3

3. For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.

Part of a pattern

The repeating pattern of the Enemy trying to destroy the royal line of David, or all of God’s people, to prevent the promised birth of the “Seed of the Woman” is something we see throughout the Old Testament.

Summary

• God is preserving the Jews who went back
• Plus the Jews who were dispersed through the empire
• This prepared the way for the Gospel to travel eastwards
• We can be encouraged today at the extraordinary lengths God will go to to bring about his plans
• Just as God was with Esther, he is with you “for such a time as this”