FAITH – HOPE – FORGIVENESS by Growing Older

The Book Of Esther

Introduction: This story takes place in the Persian capitol of Shushan. The time frame is between Ezra chapters 6 and 7. Esther was an orphan, the cousin of Mordecai; her name means “star” in the Persian language. This Book tells us how Israel, as a race of people, was saved from extinction.

God had a plan for His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to come into this world. In that plan, He protected Israel, His chosen people. Even though Israel had been persecuted; been out of God’s will, God still would not let any nation or tyrant  kill all of them.

Remember, God has a Divine plan for you, just as He has for Israel and had for Esther. God’s plan will not fail. If you refuse to allow God to lead you and make you usable, God will use someone else instead and you will miss all the blessings, rewards and usefulness.

Central message: The providence of God. Even though Israel was out of God’s will, they were NEVER out of God’s hand.  God knew what would happen before it happened, therefore, God arranged the details of history to provide for Israel’s deliverance.

Typologies in the Book of Esther:

Jews = a type of the worldly Christian. They could have left Persia with the other Jews, but chose to remain. They preferred the worldly pleasures of Persia over doing the will of God.

Worldly wisdom made it seem as if to stay in Persia was the “thing to do.”  That decision almost brought the race of the Jews to extinction.

Haman = Plotted the extinction of the Jews: a TYPE of the “man of sin” II Thessalonians 2:3

The Antichrist will be the last and worst enemy of God’s people.

Esther = a type of Christian sold out to God. She was used by God protect Israel. She was willing to obey the Lord and do what was necessary to save Israel from destruction; even if it meant losing her own life.

Mordecai = He represents the Jewish remnant that will be preserved during the Great Tribulation Period.  He would not bow to Haman just as the Israelites will not bow to the beast of Revelation, who is typified by Haman.

Mordecai weeps, fasts and mourns as the Jews will do in the Tribulation before the Second Coming of Christ as their King.

Esther 4:15-17 … vs 16b “… if I perish, I perish.”  OR …  What will I lose by serving God?                                       She took her chances with God. She was willing to die in order to obey God.

She realized that God’s will was more important than her own will.

Esther was willing to “do the right thing” regardless of the consequences.