Week of November 11th

Threat to the Jews

Study 7

Esther 3&4

In this part of our study we meet the wicked Haman.  We learn about his background (from the province of Agag in Media) and know that there is a long standing hatred between his ancestry and the ancestry line of the Jews.  Haman, with his manipulative and self-serving ways, has become elevated above all the nobles in the kingdom and is now 2nd only to the king himself!

Mordecai refuses to pay such a man honor, and will not obey the law in bowing down to him.  Thus begins the seed of fury in Haman whose wrath reaches the point in which he decides he wants to wipe out all of Mordecai's people.  He has the king sign a decree to wipe out all the Jews.  The king trusts him completely and doesn't even inquire about WHO it is that Haman is ordering to be destroyed (3:10).

Now Mordecai learns of this decree.  In the beginning of Chapter 4 we see how he puts on sackcloth and ashes, wails loudly throughout the city and goes to the gate of the palace.  The whole city is "bewildered" (3:15) by the decree, clearly this seems irrational.  And yet as we know, kings could do what they wished, and often did destroy people even within their own kingdoms.

Wearing sackcloth was customary in Judea and the East; tearing of one's clothes and wearing sackcloth and ashes is mentioned in Genesis 37:34 and Ezekiel 27:30:33.

Eventually he is able to communicate with Esther and they are able to discuss this crisis.  Mordecai urges her to act in 4:14 "and who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this".   What makes her jump to action in the next section?  What courage and bravery is this, in this humble queen, to say, "if I perish, I perish".  In verses 15-16 in Chapter 4 we suddenly see a determined, wise woman with a plan:

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “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 attendants will 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.”

After taking guidance from Mordecai all these years, she is now going to guide him - she will help lead him to help her try to save their people.

During the wrap up talk Jill stated "God puts people in positions to do his work" and "God puts people in positions to get on their knees for him".  Beautiful calls to us to SEEK to examine just where in our own lives does God want us working on his behalf?  For whom do we need to be in prayer and TO whom do we need to be sharing God's love and salvation?

For further thought:
In what ways do you see God giving free reign to evil in Esther?  in our world today?
In what ways do you see God exercising control over evil in Esther?  in our world today?
Would your faith grow stronger or weaker in Esther's situation? 
How difficult is it to trust God that he is in control over your circumstances?
How do you respond in times of crisis?

Homework for next week:
read the commentary on pp 37-38; complete the questions on pp 39-40