2. Esther called on to risk her life ✲ For others ✲ For self ✲ Right thing to do

3. Doing the right thing brings a reward ✲ “Risk” relative to man’s reaction ✲ No risk in relation to God ✲ Reward is now and/or later

5. Esther’s 1 st banquet – beginning of the end, Est. 5:1-8 ✲ Risked her life ✲ Requested king & Haman for dinner ✲ Asked for king & Haman to return

6. Haman built a gallows for Mordecai, Est. 5:9-14 ✲ Aggravated by Mordecai’s resolve ✲ Sought help from wife & friends ✲ Wife recommended killing Mordecai

7. Xerxes honored Mordecai by Haman’s hand, Est. 6:1-14 ✲ King could not sleep ✲ King asked Haman what to do ✲ Haman went home dejected — “it’s over”

8. Esther’s 2 nd banquet was the end of the end, Est. 7:1-10 ✲ True request revealed ✲ King – who is responsible? ✲ Haman sentenced to death

9. Pride goes before destruction, Prov. 16:18 ✲ Puffed up about position, Gal. 6:3; 1 Cor. 10:12 ✲ Things do not guarantee happiness, Ecc. 2 ✲ Can be blind to blessings, Eph. 5:20; Col. 1:12

10. The providence of God ✲ Long chain of events ✲ God has power to overrule Psa. 57:1-3; 36:7-12 ◇ Persecution ◇ Bad economy ◇ Oversight now – reward later

11. Action taken – not just talk, Mt. 7:24-27 ✲ Repentance ✲ Study Bible more ✲ Pray more ✲ Kind to spouse ✲ Teach children ✲ Invite neighbors