The final verses of Esther show Mordecai and Esther establishing a permanent feast. All subsequent generations of Jews are commanded to remember the 13th and 14th days of Adar as the Feast of Purim. Why celebrate days filled with so much death and destruction? Because, as Katie pointed out last week, those days represent the …
Deliverance Day
By Katie Kafka Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews …
A Great Reversal
By Gail Peo In Chapter 7 of Esther, the wicked, deceptive Haman was exposed as the orchestrator of the edict to destroy, kill, and annihilate the Jews, the people of Queen Esther. We felt great relief when Haman was hung on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Even the king’s anger was abated. But …
Justice. Is. Served.
Some commentators have criticized Esther for her silence when the king accused Haman of molesting her. She knew the truth. He was groveling, not attacking. Was she wrong to keep silent? Technically, Haman was executed for treason, a crime he did not commit. He did not knowingly try to kill the king’s wife, nor did …
God is in the Details
By Ashley Synowicki This week, in Chapter 6, we find the turning point of the story of Esther. The author of our story has highlighted this section in a clever way hinting to its significance. We find Chapter 6 in the very middle of the 6 feasts described in the book of Esther. Feasts are …
The Power of our Words
By Jessica McKillip "Then Haman said, 'Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's …
God Keeps His Promises
By Katie Kafka And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews …
Craving Respect
By Ashley Synowicki As chapter 3 of Esther begins, we are met with a shift of events. Readers expect to see how Mordecai is honored for his loyalty in exposing the plot against king at the end of Chapter 2. Surprisingly, we learned that Chapter 3 is five years in the future. Instead of Mordecai, …
God’s Hidden Hand
by Gail Peo Queen Vashti, queen to King Ahasuerus, in the kingdom of Persia, was dismissed fromthis position because she refused to come to the king when he called her. Later, theking’s anger abated, and he began to remember Queen Vashti. In response, the youngmen in the king’s presence suggested that he make some changes. …
Who Is My King?
By Jessica McKillip Who is your king? Esther 1 paints a picture of King Ahasuerus, the king of the Persian empire during our story of Esther. It’s not a pretty picture. King Ahasuerus is a volatile, egotistical ruler with a love of wealth and power. He tends to drink lots, be easily angered, and is …
Equip Her 