What can you do when there is nothing you can do!

What can you do when there is nothing you can do! Jessica Wang

Introduction • 1:1 King Xerxes: Ruler over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia.

1:5… the king gave a banquet for all the people in the capital city of Susa, rich and poor….

1:10 on the seventh day the King was feeling happy……….

1:11 He ordered them to bring in Queen Vashti wearing her royal crown.

1:12 she refused to come and this made the King and his court furious.

1:14 The King called for his experts on Law and Order

1:19 ….they suggested that Vashti should never again appear to the King and give her place as queen to some better woman.

2:2 The King’s close advisors said to him, “Why don’t you make a search to find some beautiful young virgins and bring them here to Susa.

2:4 Then take the young woman you like the best and make her queen in Vashti’s place.

2:5 In the city was a Jew named Mordecai

2:7 He had a cousin, Esther, who was beautiful and had a good figure

. Mordecai had taken care of her after her parents died, but always told Esther not to say to anyone that she was a Jew.

2:8 Esther was one of those chosen to come to the palace to meet the King. She found favor with all who were in charge.

2:17 Esther was brought to the King and she won his favor and affection. He placed a crown on her head and made her queen.

2:19 Mordecai was appointed to an administrative position

2:22 Mordecai hears of a plot to assassinate the King and tells Esther. She then tells the King.

2:23 Those who plotted against the King were hanged and an account of this was recorded.

3:1 King Xerxes promoted a man called Haman to the position of Prime Minister.

3:2 The King ordered all officials in his service to respect Haman by kneeling and bowing to him. They all did except Mordecai, who refused.

3:3 The officials then asked him why he was disobeying the King’ command.

3:4 “I am a Jew” he explained, “and I am cannot bow to Haman.”….so they told Haman about this.

3:5 Haman was so furious that he vowed to kill all the Jews in the whole Persian Empire.

3:8 Haman told the King that there was a certain race of people all over his empire and that

they won’t obey the laws of the empire, so it is not in his best interest to tolerate them.

3:9 Haman told the King that if it pleased him, issue a decree that they are to be put to death

3:11 The King told Haman that the people and their money would be his. He told Haman to do what he wanted with them.

4:1 When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes in anguish.

4:3 After the proclamation, the Jews fasted, wept, wailed and lay in ashes.

4:5 When Esther heard about Mordecai’s weeping, she sent for her servant to go to Mordecai and find out the trouble.

4:7 Mordecai told the servant how much money Haman promised the King’s treasury if all the Jews were killed and all their property taken.

4:8 Mordecai asked the servant to go back to Esther and explain the

situation asking her to plead with the King to have mercy on her people.

4:11 If anyone goes to the inner courtyard and sees the king without being summoned, that person must die .

4:15 Esther (through the servant) told Mordecai to gather all the Jews

together to fast and pray for 3 days and said, my women and I will do the same …….

If I must die for doing it I will die .

Define the problem • Trust in God • Take the risk

Haman was hung from the gallows that he prepared for Mordecia.

Mordecia went out dressed in the royal robes, and the whole city came alive with rejoicing and celebration.