The Queen of Beauty and Courage Book of Esther 

Upper/Lower Story Upper Story—God is continually keeping His word—Protecting his people from extinction Lower Story—Death sentence on Jews. All are to die ~~Upper Story—God is continually keeping His word—Protecting his people from extinction ~~~~Lower Story—Death sentence on Jews. All are to die   The Roll of the Dice: Esther

Roll of the Dice Pur: Haman rolls the dice to determine which day the Jews would be exterminated. Several things in this story are apparent rolls of the dice: Introduction: A saying in Las Vegas is “my life is all wrapped up in the roll of the dice.” In Vegas you can roll lucky sevens, or snake eyes (2 ones) or boxcars (double sixes also called midnight). You can also lose it all. You can win a massive windfall or experience colossal disaster. It all seems like coincidence, just the roll of the dice. In the Book of Esther, it seems like the destiny of the Jews is subject to “the roll of the dice,” but we discover that God is working behind the scenes to fulfill his grand, saving purpose. The Book of Esther presents one of the most intriguing episodes in The Story. ~~Pur: ~~Haman rolls the dice – casts the lots, or pur – to determine which day the Jews would be exterminated. The roll of the dice set the date for 11 months later, on Adar the 13th, on which the Jews’ death sentence would be carried out. Feast of Purim: At the Feast of Purim (Feast of the Dice), they read the entire book of Esther, like a melodrama. When Haman’s name is ready, they boo and hiss. Let’s try it. Haman. [Audience boos.] Whenever Mordecai’s name is ready they cheer. Ready? Mordecai. [Audience cheers.] ~~~~Several things in this story are apparent rolls of the dice: Haman, descended from the Amalekites, happens to live in Susa and be the king’s right hand man Haman literally rolls the dice to choose the date of the Jews’ extermination. Esther is chosen to try out for queen, and makes it Esther happens to be Jewish, and happens to be related to Mordecai, Haman’s nemesis The night Haman builds a pole upon which to hang/impale Mordecai is the night the king can’t sleep. Haman recommends a lavish plan to honor someone, thinking the someone is himself, when it’s actually for Mordecai. Haman has to carry it out. Right at the moment Haman stumbles into Queen Esther as he is pleading for his life, the king walks in and it appears as if he is making an advance on his wife. Haman is hanged/impaled on the pole he intended for Mordecai.

I. The dangerous character named Haman who “rolls the dice.” Descendant of the Amalekites named Haman Haman convinces Xerxes to decree the extermination of the Jews in all 127 provinces and whoever kills the Jews can keep the Jews’ possessions.  Haman casts lots (Hebrew pur or purim), that is, he rolls the dice to determine the day to kill the Jews. The dice come up Adar 13th (March). During the exile many Jews are living in the capitol city of Susa in Persia and in the 127 provinces of Persia.   ~~In Susa is a descendant of the Amalekites named Haman who hates the Jews, particularly a Jew named Mordecai. Saul was told to destroy the Amalekites, but disobeyed and the Amalekites were the first people to obstruct Israel from entering the Promised Land. ~~Haman carried a grudge against the Jews and held a high position in the Persia Empire under King Xerxes. Haman convinces Xerxes to decree the extermination of the Jews in all 127 provinces and whoever kills the Jews can keep the Jews’ possessions. ~~~~Haman casts lots (Hebrew pur or purim), that is, he rolls the dice to determine the day to kill the Jews. The dice come up Adar 13th (March).

The courageous characters— Esther and Mordecai Esther, a Jewish girl, is selected How to deal strongly with Vashti’s disrespect Esther 2:12 (ESV) Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women— ~~Esther, a Jewish girl, is selected as Queen after Queen Vashti is deposed for resisting King Xerxes call to appear. Esther 1; 2:12   Esther 1 (ESV) — 1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. 8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus. 10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him. 13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, 14 the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom): 15 “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen’s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. ~~Vashti’s disrespect: how to deal strongly with Vashti’s disrespect, 19 If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.” 21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people. ~~~~Esther 2:12 (ESV) — 12 Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women—

Mordecai convinces Esther to appeal to Xerxes stop the genocide of the Jews Esther 4:14 (ESV) For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:16 (ESV) “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”  Xerxes receives Esther who devised a plan to reveal the evil plot of Haman. ~~Esther 4:14 (ESV) — 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”   ~~Esther 4:16 (ESV) — 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” ~~~~Xerxes receives Esther who devised a plan to reveal the evil plot of Haman. Xerxes extends scepter: When Esther approaches uninvited, Xerxes extends his scepter and says, “Make any request you want, up to half my kingdom.” This is what I say to my wife when she comes into my office without first being summoned. I say, “Come in sweetheart. Don’t be afraid. Ask anything you want, up to half my vast estate. You know that 2006 Chevy Avalanch with 168,000 miles on it? Half of that is yours, Babe.”

Haman is exposed and executed because of his evil plot to kill the Jews. Xerxes cannot sleep Xerxes tells Haman he wants to honor a man and Haman thinks that the king has him in mind, not Mordecai. At a private dinner arranged by Esther, Haman is exposed and executed on the very gallows he had built to kill Mordecai. ~~Xerxes cannot sleep and reads that Mordecai, a Jew, had saved him from a plot to assassinate the king.   ~~Xerxes tells Haman he wants to honor a man and Haman thinks that the king has him in mind, not Mordecai. Xerxes asks Haman how a hero should be honored Haman has to honor Mordecai by leading him as a hero through the city. ~~~~At a private dinner arranged by Esther, Haman is exposed as the one who seeks to have all Jews killed on Adar 13th executed on the very gallows he had built to kill Mordecai.

Xerxes cannot revoke his decree, but he does decree that the Jews can defend themselves. The Jews prevail and the Jews declare Adar 13th (our March 10) as the Feast of Purim, the Festival of the Dice. Mordecai is honored by taking Haman’s place as an official in the Empire and beautiful, courageous Esther continues as Queen. ~~The Jews prevail and the Jews declare Adar 13th (our March 10) as the Feast of Purim, the Festival of the Dice.   ~~~~Mordecai is honored by taking Haman’s place as an official in the Empire and beautiful, courageous Esther continues as Queen.

Application: God’s behind-the-scene-presence guides all that seems to happen by “coincidence.”  Proverbs 16:33 (ESV) The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all Old Testament feasts, including Purim. We need not be afraid of anything. Colossians 2:16–17 (ESV) Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. ~~God’s behind-the-scene-presence guides all that seems to happen by “coincidence.”   ~~Proverbs 16:33 (ESV) The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. ~~Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all Old Testament feasts, including Purim. We need not be afraid of anything. ~~~~Colossians 2:16–17 (ESV) — 16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

 Application: Name your fears…illness, aging, not enough money, loss of job, loss of home, family breakdown, being alone, wayward children, depression, death…whatever. Take a courageous stand, like Esther and Mordecai, knowing that life may look sometimes just like the “roll of the dice,” but God is behind the scenes working all things out for the good (Romans 8:28). ~~Name your fears…illness, aging, not enough money, loss of job, loss of home, family breakdown, being alone, wayward children, depression, death…whatever.   ~~~~Take a courageous stand, like Esther and Mordecai, knowing that life may look sometimes just like the “roll of the dice,” but God is behind the scenes working all things out for the good (Romans 8:28).

Drama Romans 8 and Philippians 4 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. What shall separate us from the love of Christ? For I am convinced the neither death nor life, nor angels nor Satan, nor anything present nor the future, nor any powers, neither the height nor the depth, nor anything else in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. When you hear the word “sin” you should want to boo and hiss. Sin. [Audience boos.] When you hear the word “Satan,” you should want to boo and hiss. Satan. [Audience boos.] When you hear the word “death” you should want to boo or hiss. Death. [Audience boos.] But when you hear the word “Jesus Christ,” you should want to celebrate. Jesus Christ. [Audience cheers.] ~~ Romans 8 and Philippians 4, pausing for the audience to boo and cheer at the appropriate words. ~~Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. ~~What shall separate us from the love of Christ? For I am convinced the neither death nor life, nor angels nor Satan, nor anything present nor the future, nor any powers, neither the height nor the depth, nor anything else in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. ~~~~I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I can do all things through Christ. I can do all things through Christ. [I can’t hear you.] I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

What is the current fear you are facing right now? What is stirring up the kind of anxiety the Jewish people faced as they anticipated Adar the 13th? We have learned that no matter what the situation, for followers of Jesus Christ, God is in control God is working behind the scenes so that the dice ultimately falls in our favor. ~~that is stirring up the kind of anxiety the Jewish people faced as they anticipated Adar the 13th? ~~We have learned that no matter what the situation, for followers of Jesus Christ, ~~ God is in control, ~~~~ God is working behind the scenes so that the dice ultimately fall in our favor.