Dear Azy, Rumi, and Ari,
Today, we’re going to jump to a story about Esther. This is a beautiful story about how God has a plan for all of us in our lives. And if we listen, and obey him, he will work our lives where we can serve the greater good of all his people.
The story begins around 486 BC, about 500 years after king David. The story is set in the country of Persia, where Mommy and Daddy were born. There was a King Xerses who was married to Queen Vashti. In the 3rd year of his reign, king Xerses threw a huge banquet for all his officials for 6 months followed by another celebration for everyone at his palace for another 7 days. During the celebration, King Xerses had a lot to drink and asked Queen Vashti to be brought out in front of his guests so they could see and admire her beauty. Queen Vashti refused to come because this was partly against their custom at the time. But to refuse the king was the ultimate violation of the law. The king was mad and talked to his advisors about what should be done about this situation. The advisors said the queen was setting a bad example by not honoring her husband’s wishes. Now all wives in the kingdom are going to think they can do the same thing and disobey their husbands. So they recommended the king banish the queen from his presence and start looking for a new queen. And that’s exactly what king Xerses did.
The first lesson is learn to honor the rules and follow them. The number one rule here is to honor the wishes of the king. As long as the laws do not go against God’s laws, you must honor them. Second, we have to realize our actions don’t just affect us, but serve as an example for others. When we do something wrong, it gives people permission to do the same. And when we do something right, it inspires others to do the same. When the queen disobeyed the king, his advisors feared it would serve as a bad example that others would follow, especially with her being the queen. And she lost her status as queen. So try to always do the right thing because God is watching and he would be pleased knowing you’re setting a great example for others to follow. Last, the king made all the decisions that led to the queen being banished while under the influence of alcohol. He acted impulsively and got angry more than he needed to without taking time to think. Alcohol impairs our judgment and keeps us from making wise decisions, especially when we drink a lot of alcohol. That’s why daddy doesn’t like to drink alcohol anymore. So the lesson is don’t drink too much alcohol where it keeps you from making wise decisions.
So the king went on a search for a new queen. Many women were brought to the palace and prepared to meet the king. At the time, there was a good man named Mordecai who was Jewish and served as the king’s guard at the entrance of the gates. His cousin Esther was beautiful and one of the women taken to the king’s palace. Mordecai had taken care of Esther ever since she was a child because her parents had returned home to heaven to be with God. Hegai, the king’s main servant, who was preparing the women for the king, liked Esther because she was not only beautiful, but kind and loved to help people. So he gave her special instructions on how to be with the king that would serve her. When the king did meet Esther, he was blown away by her beauty and her kindness. He liked her more that any other women brought before them so he made Esther queen. Mordecai was very happy for Esther and told her to not tell others she was Jewish to keep her safe because Haman, the king’s second in command, did not like Jewish people.
A while later, Mordecai overheard a plan at the king’s private quarters where two of the kings guards were angry with him and were plotting to destroy him. So he told queen Esther who told then told the king and gave credit to Mordecai for it. The plot failed thanks to Mordecai. The king forgot all about this until God reminded him of this later in our story.
In the meantime, Haman, the king’s second in command, was gaining power in the kingdom. It was customary for people to bow before him but Mordecai never did because he knew how Haman wanted to destroy his people, the Jews. This bothered Haman very much. So, one day, he went before the king and said, there are certain groups of people who are within your kingdom that don’t follow your laws. If it pleases the king, issue a decree, or law, to have them destroyed. The king, trusting Haman, and without further questions, agreed so Haman wrote a decree that said on a certain day, all Jewish people can be attacked and destroyed. Lots, similar to dice, were cast, and the date was set for March 7th of next year.
Now Haman did not know Queen Esther was Jewish. And when Mordecai and Queen Esther found out about Haman’s decree, they got concerned not only for their own safety but the well being of their people. Then Mordecai told Esther maybe that’s why God made you queen. So you could serve our people at a time like this. Esther took this to heart and came up with a plan. But it would involve risking her own life so she asked all the Jews of the palace to pray and fast for her for 3 days.
Now there was a custom that the Queen would only appear before the king if he called upon her. The only other way was for the queen to go to the king’s court, but she would have to hope that that king would accept her by raising his golden scepter. Those who were not accepted were destroyed.
So after 3 days of fasting, Queen Esther appeared before the king’s court. As soon as he saw the queen, he raised his golden scepter and said, what would like Queen Esther. Even if it’s half my kingdom, I will give it to you. Queen Esther requested for the king and Haman to attend a special banquet she would put together for just them. They both gratefully accepted. During the banquet, and while they were having fun and enjoying themselves, the king asked Esther, now tell me what it is your really want. The queen said if it pleases the king, I request his presence and Haman to a second banquet tomorrow. Then I will explain what this is about. The king and Haman graciously accepted.
On the way home that night, Haman was feeling special for being invited to a banquet by the queen that was only for him and the king. But he saw Mordecai guarding the gates and not bowing again which made him mad. So when he went home and advised with his friends, they said, you should ask the king to destroy Mordecai tomorrow morning before the banquet. After all, who is this Mordecai when you’re the queen’s special guest. Then you can be merry and go to your second banquet.
That night, the king could not sleep so he woke up and had one of his servants bring the records of his reign and be read to him. When it got to the part about Mordecai serving the king by foiling the assassination’s plot against him, he realized he never rewarded Mordecai for his great act. Just then, it was morning and Haman arrived at the court. The king said, great, Haman, I have a question for you. What should I do to honor someone who truly pleases me? Haman, thinking the king was talking about him, said you should give him your kingly robes to wear and the horses that the king himself has ridden and parade him through the city square while having your subjects shout, this is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor.
The king said, perfect. I want to honor Mordecai, my guard at the palace gates. Let’s do everything you just suggested and leave nothing out. So Haman had to take Mordecai and put on the kingly robes on him, put him on the king’s horse, and parade him around the city square while everyone shouted, this is what the king does for someone he wants to honor. By the end, Haman felt completely humiliated and dejected. Mordecai’s status and power grew because of this. Needless to say, he could no longer ask the king to destroy Mordecai since he was now one of the king’s honored people.
Haman then goes to the second banquet. As the king and him are enjoying themselves, the king asks Queen Esther, tell me what it is you really want. Even if it’s half my kingdom, I will give it to you. Queen Esther then says, if I’ve been pleasing to the king, I ask that my life and those of my people are spared. If you were to sell us into slavery, I would not even bother the king, but please do not destroy us. The king was shocked and said, who would do such a thing? Queen Esther said it was Haman. He has been our enemy and trying to destroy the Jewish people. The king was so infuriated, he left the court to have some time to think. Haman, knowing his life was at stake, fell to the Queen’s couch to beg her to change her mind, but when the king came back, it looked as though he was attacking the queen right in his palace so he destroyed Haman. Later on, he also destroyed all of Haman’s sons as well.
The king asked what could he do to save the queen and her people. Queen Esther asked to write another decree that allows the Jewish people to defend themselves if they were attacked on March 7th, the day of Haman’s decree. The king gave her his ring and said write what you want and it will done. So Queen Esther had Mordecai write the decree and it became law. On that day, the Jewish people were able to defend their homes and win. One of the rules in war is, if you win, you get to take the other person’s property. But none of the people did this to show their true motivation was not to attack but defend their home.
After this day, the Jewish people celebrated their victory and it became known as the festival of Purim, or casted lots, where they celebrate how their people were saved by God through Queen Esther and Mordecai. Queen Esther was happy and Mordecai continued to help his people and raised in prominence with the king until he became prime minister, 2nd in command before the king.
There are many beautiful lessons from this story. The first, and most important, God has a purpose for each of us in our lives. That purpose is to serve his will. For Queen Esther, she went rom being a young girl to a queen at just the right time so she could save her people. Had Queen Vashti ruled, the king may not have saved her Jewish people. Mordecai saved the king but was not honored until the perfect time where God would not allow the king to sleep and made him review his records so he could remember to honor him the same morning Haman planned to destroy him. And even Haman’s decree was not until a year later giving Queen Esther and Mordecai time to pray and execute God’s plan. If it was a week later, they might not have been able to do it. So God has a plan for you too. It’s your job to pray to him and have a personal relationship with him. And he will let you know his will. Then it’s your job to obey and follow it. And then trust his timing. Thing may not happen when you want them to happen, but there’s a reason for it. Just like Queen Esther became queen and Mordecai was honored at just the right timing, or God’s timing, so it will be for you.
Second, neither Queen Esther or Mordecai were self-centered. When they found out about Haman’s decree, they weren’t focus on how to save themselves, but how they can save all their Jewish people. So when a problem strikes, don’t think about just yourself, but how you can help others to come up with a solution that goes from being self-centered to God-centered.
Third, Queen Esther prayed like everything was up to God and acted as if everything was up to her. She prayed and fastened for three days and asked for others to do the same. But then she took action. And that action involved her risking her life by appearing before the king. So the key is to not to do anything and at the same time to do it all yourself without God. Consult God, pray about it and take the action that will serve his people.
Fourth, Esther was a queen but she did not like to take security in her wealth, possessions, or status. She only took security in God. That’s why when she became queen she was still kind and helpful and thinking of others. So if God blesses you with things like money, or status, remember your identity is in God, not these ordinary things for they are temporary. You are a child of God and very loved. That is your main identity.
Last, Haman failed to follow God’s plan and tried to destroy God’s people, the Jews. That hatred let to his downfall, even though he was second in command to the king. God’s number one commandment for us is to love others the same way we love ourselves. That’s what we must focus on. Even if we don’t like someone or may not get along with them, we must learn to love them and pray for them. This is how God fills our hearts with love for everyone so we can honor his commands.
That’s it for the story of Esther and I hoped you liked it. The main thing to remember is God has a plan for all of us here while we’re on Earth and before we return home to heaven. Our goal is to build a personal relationship with God so we can talk to him an find out what that plan is so we can live according to his will. And don’t forget Daddy and Mommy love you very much. And happy mother’s day to Mommy! :)))
Love,
Daddy,
5/12/25
Mother’s Day 🙂
