Esther, an Insightful leader

Esther 7.1-6

BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14

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GOLDEN TEXT

To understand that:

Queen Esther was in the right place at the right time;

Chances must be saved for the right time;

Esther's wise leadership secured the salvation of an entire nation;

OBJECTIVES

Once, King Ahasuerus offered a 180-day feast, to the representatives of his provinces. At the same time Vashti, his wife, held a feast for the women of the royal household (Esther 1:9). On the seventh day of the feast, the king sent for Vashti, to show her beauty to her guests; she, however, refused Ahasuerus' call. Vashti's attitude made the monarch furious (Est 1.10-12).

INTRODUCTION

Ahasuerus had a group of seven advisers, called "princes", who constantly saw his face and sat with him (Est 1:14). One of them, Memucan, considering Vashti's act serious, advised Ahasuerus to write a letter, in which it was stated that the queen could never again appear in the presence of the king; that his kingship should be given to another woman (Est 1:19-22).

INTRODUCTION

On the advice of those who served him, Ahasuerus sent for among all his provinces to find virgin girls of great beauty to be queen of Persia in place of Vashti. Among them, he found Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman.

INTRODUCTION

A JEWISH IN THE IMPERIAL PALACE

1- A JEWISH IN THE IMPERIAL PALACE

1.1 – The great leader does not seek to take personal advantage of his superior position.

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1.1 – A great leader does not seek to take personal advantage of his position.

Eager to obtain information about Esther, Mordecai walked every day through the courtyard of the women's house - also called the harem, part of the palace intended for the king's servants (Est 2.11).

1.1 – A great leader does not seek to take personal advantage of his position.

Women fulfilled an agenda with the monarch: each time one of them was summoned to appear before the king, she had the right to make some request. When Esther's turn came, she asked the sovereign for nothing, who was more pleased with her than with the others (Esther 2:17).

AN AGAGITE IN THE KING'S HOUSE

2 - AN AGAGITE IN THE KING'S HOUSE

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2.1. A genocide decree

2.1.1. Ahasuerus lets himself be led by Haman's hatred

2.1.- A genocide decree

The king promoted Haman, an Agagite, to the chief man on his throne (Est 3:1). By order of the king, when Haman passed by the people, all of them should bow down to him (Est 3:2 Mordecai never bowed to Haman. As a Jew, he said he would never do such a thing (Est 3:2-4).

2.1.- A genocide decree

Thus, to take revenge on Mordecai, Haman decided to exterminate all the Jews who were scattered throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus (Est 3.5,6).Taking advantage of his free access to the monarch, Haman told Ahasuerus that there was a rebellious people, with different customs and laws, who did not comply with royal orders and who, therefore, should be exterminated.

2.1.- A genocide decree

If the king consented to that great genocide, he himself would give ten thousand talents of silver for the king's coffers (Est 3.8,9).

2.1.1. Ahasuerus lets himself be led by Haman's hatred

The king appreciated the idea; thus, in agreement with Haman, the date for the collective death of the Jews who inhabited the entire Medo-Persian Empire was set. Then a document was sent to all the princes and governors, announcing the day of collective execution (Est 3.10-15).

2.1.1. Ahasuerus lets himself be led by Haman's hatred

Upon hearing the news, all Jews went into a state of mourning.Mordecai went out through the middle of the city of Shushan, dressed in a sack of ashes, with a loud and bitter cry (Esther 4:1-3)

Although the word “God” does not appear even once in the book of Esther, this writing does not hide that every act of humiliation, fasting and prayer was offered to the Lord. Amid the great concern that affected everyone, his only hope was in God.

GOD USES A JEWISH WOMAN TO OVERCOME AN AGAGITE IN THE PERSIAN COURT

3- GOD USES A JEWISH WOMAN TO OVERCOME AN AGAGITE IN THE PERSIAN COURT

Esther remained aloof from events outside the palace; until the girls and the eunuchs who cared for her informed her about what was happening, giving her the knowledge that Mordecai was at the door, dressed in cilice (Est 4.4).

3- GOD USES A JEWISH WOMAN TO OVERCOME AN AGAGITE IN THE PERSIAN COURT

3.1. The great leader discerns the timing of action

3.2. The great leader discerns the timing of the strategy

3.3. The great leader discerns the time of decisive clashes

3.1. The great leader discerns the timing of action

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Hathach, the king's eunuch, went to Mordecai, at the queen's request, to obtain more information about the extermination of the Jews. Mordecai explained everything in detail, including that Haman had offered the king treasures confiscated from the Jews.

3.1. The great leader discerns the timing of action

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Mordecai also sent a copy of the publication with the royal decision, taking the opportunity to ask Esther to plead with the king on behalf of the Jews (Est 4.5-8).Esther was very embarrassed by Mordecai's request, as she was at risk of death if she appeared in Ahasuero's presence without being asked.

3.1.1-Esther lets herself be led by the appeals of her people

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Mordecai insisted on his appeal, sending Esther to be informed that not even she would escape death, since the royal decree covered “all” the Jews — certainly the king would kill her, knowing that she was a Jew (Est 4.14).Esther dared to enter the inner courtyard of the house, in front of the king's chamber, at the risk of being killed, but she understood that it was her only opportunity to act.

3.1.1-Esther lets herself be led by the appeals of her people

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So she prepared herself for that moment; however, the king needed to be pleased with her (Est 4.15-17).When Ahasuerus saw her, he pointed the scepter he had in his hand at him; and Esther touched its tip (Est 5.1,2). Then he said to her, What is your request? And if you will. And what is your requirement? And it will be done, even to half the kingdom (Est 5.6).

3.2. The great leader discerns the timing of the strategy

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Wisely, Esther said she would hold a feast for the king the next day; therefore, he would like to have Haman present. The king consented and informed Haman (Est 5.4-8).Proud of such an honor, Haman hurried home to inform his wife and friends that he had received an invitation from the queen to feast with the king, and he (Haman) would take them with him (Esther 5:9-12).

3.2. The great leader discerns the timing of the strategy

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There was only one thing he was still deeply troubled by: the irreverence of Mordecai, who would not bow down to him (Esther 5:9,13). At his wife's suggestion, Haman prepared a gallows for Mordecai (Esther 5:14) who would have been killed by the conspirators had it not been for Mordecai's faithfulness.

3.2.2. Haman's humiliation

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Haman entered Ahasuerus' presence to report that he had prepared a gallows for Mordecai, but before he could say anything, the king asked him: What shall be done to the man whose honor the king delights in (Esther 6:4-6a)?

3.2.2. Haman's humiliation

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Thinking that the king was talking about him, Haman suggested that such a man put on royal robes and ride the king's horse, with the royal crown on his head, and that one of the princes whom the king was most pleased with should lead the horse by the side. hand shouting, Thus shall it be done to the man whose honor the king delights in (Esther 6:6b-9)!

3.2.2. Haman's humiliation

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To Haman's surprise, the king said that Mordecai was such a man, and ordered Haman to make haste to do everything exactly as he suggested (Esther 6:10).

3.3. The great leader discerns the time of decisive clashes

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At the time of the feast, the king remembered the promise made to Esther (Est 7.2).Until then, Esther had not asked for anything for herself. She had saved that credit, and she knew how to use it at the right time. The queen revealed herself to be Jewish and spoke of the evil done by “someone” against her people and the danger that surrounded them at that time.

3.3. The great leader discerns the time of decisive clashes

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Ahasuerus then asked him: Who is this? (Est 4.3-5).Esther finally said: The man, the oppressor and the enemy is this bad Haman. So, says the biblical text: Haman was disturbed before the king and queen (Et 7.6).

3.3. The great leader discerns the time of decisive clashes

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By order of the king, Haman was hanged on the rope he prepared to murder Mordecai (Est 7.10); Ahasuerus revoked the decree of killing the Jews (Esther 8); and Mordecai was promoted to second man after King Ahasuerus (Est 10.3).

God used Esther to lead a difficult situation and save an entire nation. His sensitivity to discern the times changed the history of a kingdom.The biblical text informs us that Ahasuerus issued a new decree, reversing the previous one, assuring the Jews to take control of all their enemies and haters (Est 9.1).

CONCLUSION

GOD BLESS YOU!

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