Esther - Not Your Average Girl Part II

Background Chapter 3
After Esther was crowned queen, the king honored a man named Haman. He was an Agagite, an enemy of the Jews. King Xerxus gave Haman a high position. The position was the highest anyone could receive. Mordecai would not bow to Haman. The royal officials asked Mordecai to do so. The officials told Haman about Mordecai. Haman was furious. He went to the king. Haman said “there is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the kings best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them and I will put ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasurer for the men who carry out this business.” (Esther 3:8-9 NIV) The king granted Haman what he wished. Word got out all through the kingdoms the new law said all the Jews would be killed.

After Thoughts
As you can see this kind of was a big problem. God’s people were going to die. Who could help them? Was there any help? We’ll see in the next chapter!


Background Chapter 4
Mordecai was horrified when he found out. He tore his clothes and put on sack cloth and yelling in the streets. He wasn’t the only one, most all the Jews were. Esther found out through Hathach. He met Mordecai out in front of the gate. Mordecai wanted Esther to go before the king and tell him she was there to represent her people. Esther said you have to be summoned to the king or you die. Mordecai encourages her by saying “and who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14b NIV) Esther said “go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will go fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:15-16 NIV)

After Thoughts
Esther is very brave in doing this. She’s saving her people, hopefully. In this chapter there are two very important quotes – Esther 4:14b and Esther 4:15-16. With Esther be able to go before the king? Will she die? Will love save her? Will her people be killed or saved? All these questions. Well tune in here tomorrow and see what happens.

Submitted by Sarah Swiney, age 14