15.1 Invite the group to share times when they've taken risks - either generally or for God. What's the biggest rick they ever took? Take a mini-poll; Does taking risks make life more: interesting? Fun? Exciting? Dangerous? Scary?
When we say something is 'risky', it means that there is no certainty of things working out; we have to trust in someone/thing/circumstance that it'll all come good. If something's 'risky', it's generally costly.
15.2 Esther was a Jewish girl who became a queen and went on to take a huge risk - probably bigger than any of us have ever done. We'll start at the beginning of her story. She lived in the days after the Jews returned to their land from their exile.. At the same time a guy called Xerxes was King over a land called Persia (Modern day Iran - Persia (Map in YB)). He had a wife called Vashti who was exceptionally beautiful - think Angelina. She had a very sexual, physical beauty and he liked to show her off. One day he commanded her to come and pose for his people and she disobeyed him. Naturally, as King, he figured that no-one had the right to disobey him - not even his wife. So he ditched her. A few years later, his servants suggested that he replace her and so, like Prince Charming looking for the wearer of the glass slipper, they organised a city-wide search for a 'beautiful young girl' to be the next queen. Read Esther 2:5-9 and 15-18 to see how Esther fits into the story.
15:3 Notice that Esther had a 'very pretty figure and face'. The writer of this book takes great pains to point out the difference between Vashti's and Esther's beauty. In fact, the writer uses two very different Hebrew words to emphasise this: the word for Vashti's beauty, yophiy, was, as said, a very physical, outstanding beauty. She was good, she was pleasing to look at. Towb, the word used to describe Esther, on the other hand, is better translated 'comely'. That is, she was physically attractive both in her figure and her general appearance but there was something else; something that naturally drew people to like her. She had a warmth, a loveliness; an inner beauty that radiated out of her. All of this made her attractive to the king's servants and maybe we can be challenged by this: what do our attitudes say about us? What do we miss out on by having bad attitudes, being rude or unkind? After all, if Esther had been physically unattractive or had had a bad attitude, the king's servants would never have noticed her - let alone the king!
Another thing to note about Esther's looks is that God had made her that way for his purposes. It can be easy to criticise - or boats of - our looks, but it is so important to remember that it is God who makes us the way we are - and He generally has a good reason for doing so. Just think: way, way before Xerxes ditched Vashti, before Esther was even born, God was planning on how He would create her on order to best use her for His kingdom. Invite the group to think of someone we've studied who ended up in a royal household through God's choosing and doing - not their own? (Joseph, Moses, David) It's clear to see from each of these lives that God is always at work behind the scenes.
15.4 During our earlier reading, we missed out some verses. Read Esther 2:10 and also 2:20. Here we see Mordecai instructing Esther not to tell anyone who she is. Invite the group to share their thoughts on why this might be.
Scripture doesn't make the reasons for this secrecy clear but, given the time that this was set in, there may have been some lingering fears amongst the Jews in general not to antagonise their enemies. On the other hand, Modecai's thinking may simply be, 'Think of the influence you could have; a powerful position - if you keep your bias secret - you could drop suggestions into the king's ear.' Whatever his reasoning, it is clear that it was God-inspired as that wisdom helped protect Esther when things kicked off. Read 3:1-6, 8-11.
15.5 During their time of exile, the Jews seemed to really learn a few lessons; one of them being not worshipping false gods. Mordecai shows a really godly attitude when Haman insists on people bowing him; instead of being quick to obey, Mordecai remembers that God said 'Worship me only' and knows it would be wrong to bow to - and worship - Haman. (remind you of anyone? Daniel, perhaps?) As a result, Haman develops a fierce hatred for the Jews. He thinks he's bigger and better than God and that he deserves their attentions and honour so, in his proud and vengeful heart, he develops a plot to destroy all the Jews. What is didn't count on was God. A God who hates pride (Proverbs 6:16-17) and who prtects his people over and over.
Read Esther 4:1-17. Here we begin to see and appreciate more fully God's purposes for Esther. By guiding her life so that she ended up a queen, God put her in a position where she could make a difference. And in this, we return to that concept of risks. In approaching the king at all, Esther recognised the possibility that she could lose her life. By telling him that she was a Jew she knew that she was putting her life on the line but, as we just read, this didn't deter her. She was willing to take the risk - to lay down her life - for the sake of her people. See what happened in 7:3-4, 8:5-8 and 8:16-17.
Week 15: Summary
Esther teaches us a lot about the way God sees us and what He requires of us - such as attitudes and willingness to obey, even at great personal cost. It also teaches us a lot about who God is - despite the fact that He isn't even mentioned once.
- He creates us uniquely, for His purposes
- He is always at work behind the scenes
- He hates pride
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