ESTHER - The Orphan Who Became Queen and Saved a Nation)

The king had already signed the death order. In less

than a year, all the Jews in the Persian Empire

would be killed, men, women, children. No one would be spared.

In the city streets, fear gripped every one, while in

the palace a young queen hid a dangerous secret. She

too was Jewish. What no one knew was that years before,

God was already preparing everything, placing an orphan without family

on the throne of the greatest kingdom in the world.

How did esther get there? And how could one woman

alone save her entire people. Let's go back to the

beginning of this incredible story, when everything began with a

great feast that would change Israel's destiny. Our story begins

here in the year four hundred eighty three BC in

the greatest empire the world had ever seen. Persia ruled

from India to Ethiopia one hundred and twenty seven provinces

under the command of one man, King Xerxes, also known

as Ahasueras. His capital, Susa, was a city of endless

riches where gold decorated even the palace walls. It was

in the third year of his reign that Xerxes decided

to do something no one had ever seen. A banquet

lasting one hundred and eighty days, half a year of

NonStop celebration. All the princes, governors, and army chiefs were summoned.

The king wanted to display his power, his wealth, and

make it clear to everyone that he was the most

powerful man on earth, as the Bible says in esther

one pood four. For a full one hundred and eighty days,

he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the

splendor and glory of his majesty. There was the finest wine,

endless food, music, day and night. The palace gardens were

decorated with white and blue curtains fastened with cords of

fine linen and purple. The couches were made of gold

and silver, and the floor was of marble in every color.

After these six months, the king threw another feast, now

for seven days, for all the people of Sousa, from

the richest to the poorest. In the palace garden, everyone

could drink as much as they wanted from golden goblets,

each one different from the other. Meanwhile, Queen Vashti was

also hosting her own feast for the women in the

royal palace. On the seventh day, when the wine had

gone to the king's head, something happened that would change everything. Xerxes,

wanting once again to show that he had the very

best of everything, sent his seven most important servants to

fetch Queen Vashti. She was to come wearing her royal

crown so that all the men could see how beautiful

she was. The king wanted to display his wife as

he displayed his treasures. But then came the answer no

one expected. Queen Vashti said no. She refused to come.

Silence fell over the hall. No one dared breathe. A

woman had just said no to the most powerful man

in the world. The king's fury burned like fire, as

the Bible recounts in Esther one twelve. But when the

attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come.

Then the king became furious and burned with anger. Xerxes

summoned his seven wisest DEAs advisers. What should be done

with a queen who disobeys the king? He asked Memucan,

one of the advisers, saw a greater danger there, your majesty.

This isn't just about you. If the women of the

empire learn that the queen disobeyed the king, they will

all start disobeying their husbands. It will be chaos in

every household. The decision was swift and harsh, as written

in Ester one nineteen. Therefore, if it pleases the King,

let him issue a royal decree, and let it be

written in the laws of Persia and media which cannot

be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the

presence of King Xerxes. Vashti was removed from the throne.

She could never again enter the king's presence. Letters were

sent to all one hundred and twenty seven provinces declaring

that every man should be ruler in his own household.

The entire empire learned not even the queen could disobey

the king. But now there was a problem. The throne

beside the king was empty. When his anger subsided and

Xerxes calmed down, he remembered Vashti and what he had lost.

His servants, seeing the king sad, suggested something, your majesty,

how about we search for a new queen. Let's bring

the most beautiful young women from throughout the empire, the

one who most pleases, you will become the new queen

in Vashti's place. The idea pleased the king. Orders were

sent to every corner of the empire. As the Bible

describes in Esther two point three, Let the King appoint

commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all

these beautiful young women to the harem in the Citadel

of Susa. In every province, officials began searching. Every beautiful,

unmarried young woman would be taken to the palace. They

would spend a year preparing with the finest beauty treatments,

and then one by one would be presented to the king.

The chosen one would become the most powerful woman in

the empire, after the king himself. Meanwhile, in a corner

of the city of Susa lived a Jew named Mordecai.

His people had been taken there when Jerusalem was destroyed,

and with him lived a young woman who had lost

both father and mother. Her Jewish name was Hadassah, but

everyone knew her by her Persian name Esther. Mordecai cared

for her as if she were his own daughter. Esther

was more than beautiful. There was something special about her

that made every one who met her like her immediately,

but she kept a secret that Mordecai had told her

never to tell any one she was Jewish. When the

king's officials came looking for young women for the palace,

their eyes stopped on Esther, and so, without any choice

in the matter, the Jewish orphan was taken to the

King's palace. She didn't know it, but God was beginning

to write one of the most impressive stories of salvation.

The palace was a world unlike anything Esther had known.

Hundreds of young women from every corner of the empire

were there, each one dreaming of becoming queen, each one

preparing for her single night with the King, when she

would have only a few hours to win the heart

of the most powerful man in the world. In charge

of them all was Hagui, the servant responsible for the Harem,

and something about Esther caught his attention from the very

first day. From the very first moment, he Guy, the

man responsible for all the young women, noticed something different

about Esther. There was a grace about her, a natural

kindness that made her stand out without even trying. As

the Bible recounts in Esther two point nine, she pleased

him and won his favor. Immediately, he provided her with

her beauty, treatments and special food. He assigned to her

seven female attendants selected from the king's palace, and moved

her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.

Esther received the best quarters, the best servants, the best food,

but she never became arrogant. She treated all the other

young women with respect, the servants with kindness. Before long,

everyone in the harem liked her. It was impossible not

to like Esther. Meanwhile, outside the palace, Mordecai lived in agony.

His adopted daughter was trapped in a place where he

couldn't protect her. Every single day, without fail, he would

walk to the courtyard of the harem. He couldn't enter,

but he would stand there waiting for news, wanting to

know if Esther was well. The guards already knew this

Jewish man who appeared every day asking about one of

the young women. Esther knew that Mordecai was out there worried.

Through the servants, she would send word that she was fine.

But there was something she never told anyone, not even

her closest servants. Mordecai had been clear don't tell anyone

that you're Jewish. Don't speak about your family or your people,

and Esther obeyed. As written in Esther two ten. Esther

had not revealed her nationality and family background because Mordecai

had forbidden her to do so. An entire year passed.

Twelve months of preparation, six months with oil of mirth,

six months with perfumes and special cosmetics. The young women

learned to walk like queen's to speak with elegance, to

behave before royalty. Each one could choose any dress or

jewelry from the harem for her night with the king.

It was their only chance. One by one, the young

women were called. At night, they would go to the

king's quarters. In the morning, they would return to another

part of the harem where the concubines stayed. Unless the

King asked to see one of them again by name,

they would never return to his presence. Most had only

one night and then spent the rest of their lives

waiting for a second chance that would never come. The

other young women came and went, but Esther waited. She

saw some return crying, knowing they hadn't won over the king.

Others came back thinking themselves victorious, certain they would be chosen,

but the throne remained empty. Finally, in the tenth month

called Tebeth, in the seventh year of Xerxes's reign, Esther's

turn came. Four years had passed since Vashti had been

removed from the throne. When Esther went to prepare herself,

Hagee approached her. Listen. He said, I've known the king

for many years. Let me choose what you should wear.

Esther could have asked for anything, the most expensive jewels,

the most luxurious dresses, but she trusted Hegey. As the

Bible says in Esther two point fifteen, when the turn

came for Esther, she asked for nothing other than what Hegey,

the King's eunuch, who was in charge of the harem, suggested,

and Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.

That night, when Esther entered the royal chambers, something happened

that no one expected. King Xerxes, who had seen hundreds

of beautiful women, who could have any woman in the empire,

looked at Esther and his heart stopped. It wasn't just

her beauty, it was something more, a dignity, a sweetness,

a quiet strength he had never seen before. The King

spent the entire night talking with her. Esther was intelligent,

knew how to listen, spoke with wisdom. When she smiled,

the entire hall seemed brighter. Xerxes realized he had found

not just a beautiful woman, but someone truly special. The

next morning, the King didn't let Esther leave. He had

already decided, as written in Esther two seventeen. Now the

king was attracted to Esther more than to any of

the other women, and she won his favor and approval

more than any of the other virgins. So he set

a royal crown on her head and made her queen

instead of Ashti, the Jewish orphan, had become queen of Persia.

The king held a great banquet to celebrate Esther's banquet.

He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed generous gifts.

Everyone celebrated the new queen, but no one knew who

she really was. Esther continued keeping her secret. Mordecai, who

had once stood outside the harem, now had a position

at the palace gate. He could stay closer to Esther,

continue watching over her, even from afar. It was thus

that one day, sitting at the gate, he heard something

that made his blood run cold. Two of the king's officers,

Bigthana and Teresh, guards of the door to the royal chambers,

were whispering. They were furious with the king for some reason,

and were planning to kill him. Mordecai heard all the

details of the plan. Without wasting time, he sent the

information to Esther. Esther went straight to the king, Your majesty,

she said, Mordecai, the Jew who sits at the palace gate,

has discovered that two of your guards are planning to

kill you. The King ordered an immediate investigation. It was true.

Bigthana and Teresh confessed and were hanged, as the Bible

records in Esther two twenty three, and when the report

was investigated and found to be true, the two officials

were hanged on a gallows. All this was recorded in

the Book of the Annals in the presence of the king.

Mordecai's name was written in the royal records as the

man who saved the King's life, But strangely, at that moment,

the king gave him no reward. The record was made

and forgotten. No one could imagine how important. This detail

would be later. Esther was now queen, but she remained

the same humble and wise person. She had the king's love,

the court's respect, but she still obeyed Mordecai's advice as

when she was just an orphan living in his house.

Every day he would send to know how she was,

and she would send news back. In the most powerful

palace in the world, a Jewish orphan wore the queen's crown.

God had placed Esther exactly where she needed to be,

but the real test was yet to come. A storm

was approaching, and when it arrived, the life of the

entire Jewish people would depend on the courage of a

single woman. Five years had passed since Esther had become queen.

Life in the palace followed its routine of luxury and power,

but something was about to change drastically. King Xerxes decided

to promote a man named Hayman, son of Hamadatha the Agagite,

to be his prime minister. Hayman became the most powerful

man in the empire after the king himself, As the

Bible tells in Esther, thus Threetish one to two. After

these events, King Xerxes honored Hayman's son of Hammedetha the Agagite,

elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher

than that of all the other nobles. All the royal

officials at the king's gate knelt down and paid honor

to Hayman, for the king had commanded this concerning him.

Hayman loved power. He adored seeing everyone bowing when he passed.

The officials, the servants, the guards all fell to their

knees before him. It was as if he were a god.

But there was one man who remained standing, a Jew

at the palace gate who refused to kneel, Mordecai. Every day,

the same scene repeated would pass, everyone would bowed except Mordecai.

The other officials didn't understand. Why do you disobey the

king's command, they asked. Mordecai simply answered that he was Jewish.

For him, kneeling before a man as if he were

divine was against everything he believed. He only bowed before God.

At first, Hayman didn't even notice, but the officials made

sure to tell him there's a man who doesn't bow

when you pass, a Jew named Mordecai. Hayman began to

pay attention, and it was true. There was Mordecai standing

looking straight at him while all the others were prostrated

on the ground. Hayman's fury grew like a wildfire. How

dare someone not bow before him? But when he discovered

that Mordecai was Jewish, his anger transformed into something much worse.

Killing only Mordecai wouldn't be enough, as written in Ester

three six. Yet, having learned who Mordecai's people were, he

scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead, Hamon looked

for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews

throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. Haman began plotting the

most terrible plan imaginable, a complete genocide. He wanted to

erase the Jewish people from the face of the earth.

In the first month of the year, the month of Nissan,

Haymon called his advisers. They cast the pur which means lot,

to choose the best day to execute the plan. The

dice fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

With the date chosen, Hamon went to the king. He

knew exactly what to say. Your Majesty, Hayman began, in

his most convincing voice, there is a certain people scattered

throughout your empire who are a problem. They have their

own laws, they don't obey the King's laws. It's not

in your best interest to let this continue. If it

pleases the King, let's destroy them. I myself will put

ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury to

cover the costs. The King didn't even ask what people

this was. He trusted Haman completely. He took off his

ring with the royal seal and handed it to him.

Keep your money, said the king, and do with that

people whatever seems best to you. With the King's ring

in hand, Hayman had absolute power. He called the scribes

and dictated the cruelest decree in his way, As the

Bible describes, in Ester three point thirteen, despatches were sent

by couriers to all the king's provinces with the order

to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, young and old,

women and children on a single day, the thirteenth day

of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to

plunder their goods. The decree was written in all the

languages of the empire. Sealed with the king's ring, it

became a law that could not be changed, Not even

the king himself could go back on it. Horsemen rushed

out to all the provinces. In eleven months, on the

thirteenth day of Adah, every Jew was to die. When

the decree reached Susa, the city was in shock. In

the streets. People didn't know what to think. Many had

Jewish friends, neighbours, business pasersness. How could they kill them?

But it was the law. To disobey meant death. Meanwhile,

as written in Ester three point fifteen, the King and

Hayman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa

was bewildered. In the Jewish quarter, despair took hold. Mothers

hugged their children, crying. Fathers looked at each other, not

knowing what to do flee well. The Persian Empire dominated

the known world. There was nowhere to run. In eleven months,

everyone would be dead. When Mordecai learned of the decree,

he tore his clothes. He dressed in sackcloth, covered himself

with ashes, and went through the city streets crying aloud.

As the Bible recounts in Esther fourth to one. When

Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore

his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out

into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. Mordecai came to

the palace gate, but he couldn't enter dressed like that.

He stayed there, lamenting with all the other Jews who

had come to weep before the palace. Throughout the empire,

the same scene repeated, Jews dressed in sackcloth, covered in ashes,

fasting and weeping inside the palace. Esther knew nothing. Bad

news was slow to reach the queen's chambers, but her

servants came running to tell her that Mordecai was at

the gate dressed in sackcloth and ashes. Esther was desperate.

She sent clean clothes for him, but Mordecai refused, so

Esther sent Hathak, ones of the king's servants, to find

out what was happening. Mordecai I told him everything about

the decree, about Hayman, about the money offered to destroy

the Jews, and he gave Hathak a copy of the

decree to show Esther, But Mordecai sent more than information.

He sent a desperate request Esther should go to the

king and beg for the lives of her people. When

Esther received the message, her heart froze. She sent back

the answer, everyone knows that any person who approaches the

king without being summoned has only one law death. The

only exception is if the king extends his golden scepter

and the King hasn't called for me in thirty days.

Mordecai's response was harsh and direct, as written in Ester

fourthall sheet to thirteen to fourteen. Do not think that

because you are in the King's house, you you alone

of all the Jews, will escape. 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.

Mordecai's words hit Esther like an arrow. All her past,

all her journey, everything made sense. Now she hadn't become

queen by chance. God had a purpose. This was the

moment Esther made her decision. She sent this response to Mordecai,

Go gather all the Jews in Sousa and fast for me.

Do not eat or drink for three days and three nights.

My servants and I will also fast. After that, I

will go to the King, even though it's against the law.

If I perish, I perish. The die was cast in

three days, Esther would risk everything. The fate of the

entire Jewish people was in the hands of a woman

willing to die for them. Three days passed, three days

without eating, without drinking, only praying. Throughout Sousa. The Jews

cried out to God for the life of their queen

and the salvation of their people. In the palace, Esther

and her servants also fasted. The moment had come. Esther rose, bathed,

perfumed herself, and put on her royal robes. Each step

toward the throne room could be her last. The guards

saw her approaching and exchanged nervous glances. The queen had

not been summoned, they knew the law. When Esther entered

the hall, the silence was absolute. Kingerxies was on his

golden throne, imposing and distant. For a moment that seemed eternal,

his eyes met hers. Esther stopped waiting her life hung

by a thread. Then it happened, as the Bible records,

in Esther five two. When he saw Queen Esther standing

in the court, he was pleased with her and held

out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand.

So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

What is it, Queen Esther asked the king in a

soft voice, what is your request? Even up to half

the kingdom, it will be given you. Esther took a

deep breath. This was the moment to ask for the

lives of her people, But something within her, a wisdom

that could only come from God, made her wait. If

it pleases the king. King, she said, with a calm voice,

let the King, together with Hayman, come today to a

banquet I have prepared for him. The King was intrigued

Esther had risked her life just to invite him to dinner.

He immediately ordered, bring Hayman at once, so we may

do what Esther asks. That same afternoon, the King and

Hayman went to Esther's banquet. The table was perfect, the

food delicious, the wine the finest. While they drank, the

King asked again, now, what is your petition, Queen Esther,

what is your request, even up to half the kingdom,

it will be granted you. Once again, Esther waited. My petition,

she said, is that the King and Hayman come tomorrow

to another banquet. I will prepare. Then I will reveal

what I desire. Hayman left that banquet on cloud nine.

The queen had prepared a banquet just for him and

the king, and he was invited to another one the

next day. He walked through the palace as if he

owned the world. But as he passed through the gate,

there was Mordecai standing, not bowing, showing no fear. Homan's

joy turned to hatred in a second. He arrived home

furious and called his wife z Eresch and all his friends.

He told them about his wealth, his many children, how

the king had honored him above all others, and besides,

he boasted, Queen Esther invited no one but me to

the banquet with the king, and to morrow I'm invited again.

But Hayman continued angrily, all this gives me no satisfaction

as long as I see that jew Mordecai sitting at

the King's gate. His wife and friends had a cruel idea,

have a gallows built seventy five feet high tomorrow morning,

ask the King to have Mordecai hanged on it, then

go happily to the banquet with the Queen. The idea

pleased Hayman. That very night he ordered the gallows built.

While the workers raised the structure of death. Hayman dreamed

of the moment he would see Mordecai hanging. But that

night something strange happened in the palace. The king couldn't sleep,

tossing and turning. He decided to have the royal records,

the chronicles of the Kingdom, read to him. Perhaps hearing

about his deeds would help him fall asleep. The royal record,

the servant began to read, and by coincidence, or was

it divine providence, came exactly to the part about Bigthana

and Teresh, the guards who had conspired to kill the king.

And there was the name of Mordecai, the man who

had saved his life. What honor has Mordecai received for this,

asked the king. Reward nothing, your majesty. The servants replied,

nothing has been done for him. The king was troubled.

How had he forgotten to reward the man who saved

his life. It was six in the morning when he

heard someone in the outer court. Who is there? He asked.

It was Hayman, who had arrived early to ask permission

to hang Mordecai. Have him come in, the king ordered.

When Hayman entered, the king immediately asked Hayman, what should

be done for the man the King delights to honor.

Aymon thought to himself, who is there that the King

would rather honor than me? So he answered, full of greed,

the man the King delights to honor. Have them bring

a royal robe the king has worn, and a horse

the king has ridden one with a royal crest placed

on its head let. One of the King's most noble

princes robe the man and lead him on the horse

through the city streets, proclaiming before him, this is what

is done for the man the King delights to honor.

The king smiled, excellent, go at, once, get the robe

and the horse, and do everything you have suggested for Mordecai,

the jew who sits at the King's gate, do not

neglect anything you have recommended. Aamon's shock was so great

he almost fell Mordecai, the man he was going to

ask to kill, but he couldn't disobey, As the Bible

tells in Esther six' eleven. So Homan got the robe

and the horse. He robed Mordecai and led him on

horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, this is

what is done for the man the king delights to honor.

Every word Hamon shouted was like poison in his mouth.

The man he hated most was being honored by his

own hands. After going through the entire city, Mordecai calmly

returned to his post at the gate. Hamon rushed home,

covered his head in shame, and told everything to his wife.

Zeresh and his friends turned pale the royal robe. Since

Mordecai is Jewish, they said, you cannot stand against him.

You will surely come to ruin. While they were still talking,

the king's servants arrived to take Haymon to Esther's second banquet.

With a heavy heart and full of bad premonitions, Hayman

went at the banquet. While they were drinking wine, the

king asked for the third time, Queen Esther, what is

your petition? What is your request? Even up to half

the kingdom. It will be given to you this time.

Esther didn't wait, as written in Ester seven three to four.

Then Queen Esther answered, if I have found favor with you,

your majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life.

This is my petition, and spare my people. This is

my request for I and my people have been sold

to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. The king was furious,

who has dared to do such a thing? Where is he?

Esther pointed directly at Hayman, an adversary and enemy, This

vile Hayman. Haymon turned white with terror. The king got

up in a fury and went out to the palace garden.

Hayman fell on his knees before Esther, begging for his life.

When the king returned, he saw Hayman falling on the

couch where Esther was. Will you even molest the queen

while she is with me in the house, the king shouted.

The guards immediately covered Hayman's face, a sign that he

was condemned. One of the servants said, a gallows seventy

five feet high stands by Hayman's house. He had it

made for Mordecai, who saved the king's life, hang him

on it. The king ordered, as the Bible concludes, in

Esther seven to ten. So they hanged Hayman on the

gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's fury subsided.

That same day, the king gave Esther all of Hayman's estate.

Mordecai was brought before the king for Esther had revealed

that he was her cousin and adoptive father. The King

took off his signat ring, the same one he had

given to Hayman, and gave it to Mordecai. But there

was still a problem. The death decree against the Jews

could not be canceled. It was the law of Persia

and media. Esther fell at the King's feet, crying, begging

him to do something. The King extended the golden scepter

to Esther and said, write another decree in the King's name,

allowing the Jews to defend themselves. Seal it with my ring.

Mordecai wrote a new decree. On the day marked for

their destruction, the Jews would have permission to defend themselves

and destroy their enemies. Swift riders carried the new law

to all the provinces. When the thirteenth day of a

Dark came, the Jews were ready. Instead of being destroyed,

they defeated their enemies. The Feast of Purim was established,

forever remembering how God used a courageous orphan to save

his people. Esther remained queen and Mordecai became second in

command of the empire. The young woman who had hidden

her identity for years could finally live in peace as

both a Jew and a queen. And so ends the

story of Esther, the orphan who became queen and saved

an entire nation, an ordinary woman whom God used in

an extraordinary way. Her courage teaches us that no matter

how impossible the situation seems, when God is in control,

everything can change. Perhaps you too have been placed where

you are for such a time as this. If this

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