After 70 years of exile, the exiles from the Kingdom of Judah begin to return in waves to the Land of Canaan. Wave 1 focuses on rebuilding the temple and is led by Zerubabbel. Wave 2, led by Ezra, encourages a religious revival and renewal of commitment to God. Wave 3, led by Nehemiah, coincides with a decree to rebuild Jerusalem issued by the Persian king, Artaxerxes.
Esther, a Jewish exile from the kingdom of Judah, becomes the queen of Persia after winning something like a beauty contest.
Soon, however, a villain named Haman becomes enraged when Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, refuses to bow down to him and convinces the king to issue a decree to annihilate all the Jews in Persia.
Esther risks her life by entering the king’s presence unsummoned and invites him and Haman to a series of banquets. At the second banquet, Esther reveals her Jewish identity and pleads with the king to spare her people. Haman is sentenced to death, and Esther and Mordecai write a new decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies.
On the designated day, the Jews overpower those who seek to annihilate them, and the holocaust is avoided.
Despite difficulties and challenges of the time, hope remains as the clock ticks towards the coming of the Messiah, the long-awaited king.
Consider
Mordecai told Esther that, if not through her, deliverance for the Jews would arise from another place. What did he mean by that? Why would Mordecai believe that?
Esther fasted and prayed along her community for 3 days before she approached the king. How did that help prepare her to potentially face death?
Is God calling you to be courageous in the face of awful consequences? What would it take for you to fulfill God’s call on your life?
