R³ Devotional - Day 266

 Esther was written to the people of Israel in approximately 470 B.C. Esther became queen in 479.  It was also written to demonstrate God’s sovereignty and His loving care for His people. The author of this book is unknown; it could possibly be Mordecai. Some have suggested Ezra or Nehemiah because of the similarity of the writing style.  

 Although Esther follows Nehemiah in the Bible, its events are about 30 years prior to those recorded in Nehemiah.  The story is set in the Persian Empire, and most of the action takes place in the king’s palace in Susa, the Persian capital.  

 Esther is one of only two books named for women (Ruth is the other). The book is unusual in that in the original version no name, title, or pronoun for God appears. This caused some church fathers to question the book’s inclusion in Scripture. But God’s presence is clear throughout the book.  

 The book of Esther is an example of God’s divine guidance and care over our lives. God’s sovereignty and power are seen throughout this book. Although we may question certain circumstances in our lives, we must have faith that God is in control, working through both the pleasant and difficult times so that we can serve Him effectively.

 DRAMA, power, romance, intrigue – this is the stuff best-selling novels are made of. But far from a modern piece of fiction, those words describe a true story, lived and written centuries ago. More than entertaining reading. It is a story of the profound interplay of God’s sovereignty and human will. God prepared the place and the opportunity, and His people, Esther and Mordecai, chose to act.  

 The book of Esther begins with Queen Vashti refusing to obey an order from her husband, King Ahasuerus. She was subsequently banished, and the search began for a new queen. The king sent out a decree to gather together all the beautiful young women in the empire and bring them into the royal harem. Esther, a young Jewish woman, was one of those chosen. King Ahasuerus was so pleased with Esther that he made her his queen.

 Meanwhile, Mordecai, Esther’s older cousin, became a government official and during his tenure foiled an assassination plot. But the ambitious and self-serving Haman was appointed second-in-command in the empire.  When Mordecai refused to bow in reverence to him, Haman became furious and determined to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews along with him.

 To accomplish his vengeful deed, Haman deceived the king and persuaded him to issue an edict condemning the Jews to death. Mordecai told Queen Esther about this edict, and she decided to risk her life to save her people. Esther asked King Ahasuerus and Haman to be her guests at a banquet.  During the feast, the king asked Esther what she really wanted, and he promised to give her anything. Esther simply invited both men to another banquet the next day.

 That night, unable to sleep, the king was flipping through some records in the royal archives when he read of the assassination plot that Mordecai had thwarted.  Surprised to learn that Mordecai had never been rewarded for this deed, the king asked Haman what should be done to properly thank a hero. Haman thought the king must be talking about him, and so he described a lavish reward. The king agreed, but to Haman’s shock and utter humiliation, he learned that Mordecai was the person to be so honored.

 During the second banquet, the king again asked Esther what she desired. She replied that someone had plotted to destroy her and her people, and she named Haman as the culprit. Immediately, the king sentenced Haman to die on the gallows that he had set up for Mordecai.

 In the final act of this true-life drama, Mordecai was appointed to Haman’s position, and the Jews were guaranteed protection throughout the land. To celebrate this historic occasion, the Festival of Purim was established.

 Because of Queen Esther’s courageous act, a whole nation was saved. Seeing her God-given opportunity, she seized it!  Her life made a difference. Read Esther and watch for God at work in your life. Perhaps He has prepared you to act in “such a time as this (4: 14).