Esther Wrap -up

Intro

Let watch this video

History is an important thing for us to remember

We live and respond to the world around us using history and past experience in order to know how to respond in a situation

Its foolish for you to have burned your hand on the stove to go back and do that exact thing again right

Football shoulder injury

Scared to hit

My history taught me that

So what does history have to do with Esther

The bible gives us many stories that help us to know how believers ought to live

This story is one of them

its a story that is relatively easy to remember

it has a “happy ending”

and it is full of reminders and encouragement for the believer

It reminds us that evil exsists

It reminds us that God is working out his plan

It reminds us that God is faithful to deliver his people

It reminds us evil exists

King Ahashuerus and drunk self absorbed man

Haman a man bent on the destruction of the Jews

Thousands are killed because they hated the jews so much they wanted to destroy them

Its a reminder that as we live in an immoral world as exiles there is an evil that surrounds us

Let us be weary of that truth

Evil is everywhere when you see bad things happen identify it

Look at the evil in the world and dont try to justify or ignore it

Confront it call it what it is

And know that it doesnt escape Gods notice and he will work through it

It reminds us God is working out his plan

As was refrenced in the recap video This book was written without mention of God

But his fingerprints are everywhere

Coincidence or sovereignty? Thats the question we must answer as we read this book

Is this just a series of happy accidents or is there a God behind all of who is working

There is a theme of quite confidence through out this book

in fact in Esther 4 we are reminded that Mordecai knows God is working

Esther 4:13–14 ESV

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?”

Delivernece will rise for the jews

Through you esther or through some other means

God will work

Look throughout this story at the circumstance required to accomplish this deliverence

Esther becomes Queen

She has great favor with the King

Mordecai over hears a plot to kill king ahashuerus

The king cant sleep

He makes haman parade mordecai around

Mordecai is eleveated

What are the chances???????

Thats the point God is working throughout this story even though he seems invisible

In a world where God seems to be gone we are given a story that reminds us he is always working sometimes we just need to have a little more perspective

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

It reminds us that God is faithful to Deliver his people

Look again at Esther 4 Deliverance will rise for the jews

Esther 4:12–16 ESV

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?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

Mordecai has a steadfast faith in God’s deliverance of his people