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God’s Purpose in Esther’s Life

Our Bible Journaling verse today says, “Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.” (Esther 7:3 ESV)

As we look further into the Book of Esther, the story unfolds.  Queen Esther has won the favor of King Ahasuerus.  Her cousin, Mordecai, who sits at the king’s gate, has uncovered a plot to kill the king and he tells Esther, and she informs the King.  The perpetrators are found and hanged.  After this King Ahasuerus promotes a man named Haman to sit with the princes who sat with the king.  Haman is the son of an Agagite, descendants of the Amalekites and dreaded enemies of the Jewish people.  All those within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, except Mordecai.  This angered Haman, and he set out on a vendetta against the entire Jewish race when he found out that Mordecai was Jewish.  Haman and the others who bowed down to Haman, cast Pur, or lots, as to when the Jews were to be destroyed.  The lot fell to a time a year later.  Haman tells the king that the Jews do not obey the king’s law.  He convinces the king to write a declaration that all Jews are to be destroyed.  The king writes the decree that all Jews are to be killed on the 13th day of the 12th month, which is Adar.  Haman told the king he would give a reward of 10,000 talents of silver is to be given to those who would destroy the Jews, to be then given to the king’s treasury.

Mordecai hears about this and begins a period of mourning, tearing up his clothes, weeping, and sitting in ashes at the king’s gate.  All the Jews in the land also mourned.  Esther’s maids and eunuchs told her what Mordecai was doing and why.  Esther is very distressed at this news and sends clothes to Mordecai and asks him not to sit in sackcloth and ashes, but he refuses.  Mordecai gave a copy of the decree to one of Esther’s eunuchs and said to tell Esther to see the king and plea for her people.  Esther sends back word to Mordecai that she can’t just walk in and see the king, she must be invited. If she sees him without an invitation, it will mean her death.  Mordecai sends word to tell her that she will not escape this edict, and encourages her, “Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?’” (Esther 4:13-14 NASB1995) 

Esther told Mordecai to gather the Jews together to fast and pray, and she and her eunuchs and maids got together and fasted and prayed also.  She went into the King’s court, and the King was pleased to see her and granted her an audience with him.  She requested that the King and Haman join her for a banquet.  Haman is still angry with Mordecai because he refuses to bow to Haman, and Haman orders gallows be built to hang Mordecai.  That night the king couldn’t sleep, and he asked for the book of the record of the chronicles to be brought to him.  When he read about the two gatekeepers who plotted to assassinate him, he remembered Mordecai and decided to reward him.  The next day he sees Haman and asks him what he would do for a man who delighted the king.  Thinking that the king was talking about Haman himself, Haman tells the king to honor the man by giving him a royal robe and a horse the king has ridden and to parade him around so that all could see. So, the king tells Haman to have this honor given to Mordecai.  Haman is mortified!

That night Haman goes to the banquet with Esther and the king. The king asks Esther what her request is. That’s when Esther pleads for her people (Esther 7:3) Esther tells of the plot to destroy her people, and that Haman is behind it.  When the king finds out that Esther is a Jew and Haman wants to kill all the Jews, he becomes angry with Haman and orders that he be hung on the very gallows Haman had built for Mordecai.

God had a plan and purpose for Esther’s life and the Jewish people.  He placed her in a position of influence with the King so that she could help save her people from annihilation.  There are times we wonder why God is allowing something to happen in our lives, or why He has placed us in a certain place.  God has a plan for each one of us.  Each life is precious to Him, and the plans for us are for our good.  (Jeremiah 29:11) Esther was willing to risk her life to save her people, and although we may never be called upon to risk our lives for others, Esther is an example of someone who was faithful to God and obedient to His call upon her life.  When life seems confusing and you’re asking, “Why am I here?” remember that you may be right where God needs you to be, and just trust that He knows what He’s doing.

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Donna Knuth Rice

I am trying a blog for the first time in my life, and frankly, I feel like I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing! But, here goes. I work at a Christian Television network in the Correspondence Department, where I write letters and emails to our viewers, pray with them for their needs, and send materials they request. I am a Christian. I was saved at the age of 11 during a youth meeting at my church. My pastor led me to the Lord, and to say the least, my life has been an adventure. I am a widow. My late husband, Allen, passed away after 34 1/2 years of marriage. He had been sick the last seven years of his life, and it was a struggle, for him and for me. We met as part of a singing group that was affiliated with a Christian Radio station, and we sang together all through our lives together. We both worked in television and radio all through our married life, mostly for Christian stations. Besides singing I also play flute. I had the luxury of having parents who started out as music teachers...so music was in our house constantly. Some people describe me as being a loud-mouthed lime type...can't disagree with that. I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth more times than I can count! I also have a tendency to say exactly what's on my mind...which is why I get myself in so much trouble! LOL! Trust me, that's something me and God have been working on for a very long time. I have no children here on earth, although I have a baby in heaven. My baby here is my dog Jack. He's a black lab/ chow mix. He's a big boy....thinks he's a lap dog! Can't think of much else to say. The reason I started this blog is because a few months ago in church, a guest pastor came and delivered a message, and when he asked for those of us who wanted prayer to come forward, I did. When he came to me he asked me if I did any journaling. I told him no 'cause I wasn't very good at it. He told me to start, and prophesied over me that my journal thoughts would impact other people. I wasn't sure just how I was to go about doing this. In fact, I was a little hesitant at first. I started journaling at home, and our assistant pastor's wife asked me to submit something for our Senior newsletter. I didn't the first edition, but something I had heard on Christian radio a long time ago and has stuck with me all these years, came to mind so I submitted an article. That article will be my first post. I don't claim to have all the answers, and my thoughts may seem a little "out there", but I feel God has been prodding me to do this, and so here I am. I hope what I post will bring encouragement, and "Something to Think About".

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