LESSON 10: Queen Esther

Esther was a young Jewish woman living in the Persian Empire, during the reign of King Xerxes. She was an orphan raised by her older cousin Mordecai. Esther was chosen to be the queen after King Xerxes dismissed his former queen, Vashti, for disobeying him. In a royal competition to find a new queen, Esther was selected for her beauty, charm, and grace, though her Jewish identity was kept secret at the advice of Mordecai.

The king appoints a man named Haman to a high position in the kingdom. Haman is a proud and ambitious man who expects everyone to bow to him. However, Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman because of his Jewish faith and his belief in worshipping only God. Angered by this, Haman plots to not only punish Mordecai but to destroy all the Jews in the empire. He convinces King Xerxes to issue a decree to kill all Jews. When Mordecai learns of the plot, he urges Esther to go to the king and beg for mercy for the Jewish people. Esther is initially hesitant because it is forbidden to approach the king without being summoned, and doing so could result in her death. However, Mordecai reminds her that her position as queen might be for the very purpose of saving her people.

Esther bravely approaches the king and invites him and Haman to a banquet. At the banquet, she invites them to another feast the next day, at which she will reveal her request.

At the second banquet, Esther reveals her Jewish identity and exposes Haman’s plot to annihilate her people. She pleads with the king to save the Jews. Furious with Haman’s betrayal, King Xerxes orders Haman’s execution. Mordecai is elevated to a high position in the kingdom, and Esther’s courage becomes a lasting example of faith, bravery, and God’s providence. The Jewish people are saved from destruction.

What can we learn from this lesson?

The story of Queen Esther highlights themes of courage, faith, and the power of standing up for what is right, even when faced with great danger. Esther’s bravery in speaking out for her people is seen as a profound act of divine intervention.