Part 1 -Esther - An Orphan becomes Queen

In the book of Esther, We see and read about a woman who was so beautiful, she found favor with a King and saved her people. Esther realized her mission and utilized her status to free her people. God placed her in a situation of leadership to help her people, just like he placed Joseph in a place to help his family and an entire kingdom, just like he placed Moses, Joshua and David all in places, circumstances and situations to help their people and save them. 

God has used women in the bible many times to help people. 

Today, we are going to read about the story of a woman named Esther,  whom God used to free an entire nation and save them from destruction. 

In the Book of Esther in the Bible, we begin the story of Esther, but first let's look at her and discover who Esther was.  Esther was a  very beautiful young girl when her parents died.  She was then taken in by her older cousin, Mordecai whom she apparently respected as he encouraged her and persuaded her decisions.  Esther did not realize she was going to be used as an instrument in God’s divine purpose and plan to save a nation of Jews. Esther was proud of her heritage but had to keep it secret because the Jews at that time  would not accept her as a future queen. But God, had different plans for her. 

The Bible's Story of Esther

Book of Esther - Chapter 1

Esther lived in ancient Persia about 100 years after the Babylonian captivity of Israel. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah, When Esther's parents died, She was adopted and raised by her older cousin Mordecai. 

One day, the king of the Persian Empire, Xerxes I,  ruled over 127 provinces. He threw a lavish party for all his nobles,  officials and military leaders.  He wanted to show off to the people of his kingdom. This banquet lasted 180 days.  But he was not finished with that. He  then threw another banquet in his garden for everyone in the city of Susa.  He spared no expenses in decorating and providing food for all, even the commoners.  

King Xerxes

He displayed his wealth, he had couches made of gold and silver, on a pavement of mosaic marble, mother of pearl and other expensive stones. He served his royal expensive wine in gold goblets, each goblet different from the other.  The wine flowed without limit to his guest. This banquet lasted seven days. 

On the final day of the festivities, he called for his queen, Vashti, eager to flaunt her beauty to his guests. But the queen refused to appear before Xerxes. Filled with anger, he vanished Queen Vashti, forever removing her from his presence in the palace.

Queen Vashti   

 Book of Esther - Chapter 2

Xerxes hosted a royal beauty pageant to find his new queen. The king sent out a decree throughout all of his provinces to bring all the beautiful young virgins into the harem in the City of Susa.  Mordecai, a Jew had a young female cousin that he raised who was very beautiful and had a lovely figure.  Hegai was one of the King’s eunuchs and was entrusted with the job of caring for the young virgin candidates.  Esther  found favor with Hegai and he provided her with beauty treatments and special food.  He assigned her 7 of the King’s female attendants and moved her into the best place in the  king’s harem.  Esther was treated to 12 months of preparation to appear before King Xerses. She  among the other virgins received  months of oils of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics. 

Anything Esther wanted was provided to her. Her cousin Mordecai became a minor official in the Persian government of Susa. He persuaded Esther to not reveal that she was a Jew to the King and anyone else. Esther agreed.

Esther was presented to the king in the 7th year of his reign. The King was attracted to Esther more than any of the other female women. The King set a crown on her head and made her queen. The King gave her a great banquet  to celebrate his new queen before all of his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a royal holiday throughout his kingdom and distributed great gifts liberally among the people.  Esther kept the secret about her heritage from the King.  

During one of the times when Mordecai was sitting outside the King’s gate, there were two of the king’s officers who guarded the gate plotting to assassinate King Xerxes, Modecai found out about the plot and told Esther, who in turn told the King what Modecai had told her about the plot, thus giving Mordecai the credit for discovering the plot.  The King had the two men hanged and killed after the investigation revealed it was true.  

Stay tuned for Part 2 ….coming soon