Mordecai loved Esther very much and he sat at the king’s gate to be near to where Esther lived. One time while he was sitting by the gate he overheard two men planning to kill King Xerxes. He passed this information along to Ether and she told the King. The two men were put to death. Haman was one of King Xerxes’ highest officials in the kingdom. He was a very proud man who asked that King Xerxes make a law that others has to bow down to honor him. Mordecai knew it was against God’s commandments to bow down to anyone but Him. He would not bow down to honor Haman. This angered Haman and caused him to hate Mordecai. He knew that Mordecai was a Jew so that made Haman hate all Jews.

Because Haman hated all the Jews he went to King Xerxes and asked the king to make a law that all the Jews to be killed. He said, “There are certain people who live in your land who do not obey the king’s laws.” The king listened to Haman and made a law that in the month of Adar all the Jews, men, women, and children would be destroyed. God loves His children and protects them from evil. He does not want His children hurt. Mordecai found out that the Jews were going to be destroyed. He had messengers go and tell Esther that she had to do something to stop this wicked plan. When Esther heard this news she was afraid as she knew that the king could have her killed if she angered him. Mordecai encouraged Esther and told her that it was for this time in her life that God had a plan to use her for His purposes.

Even though Esther might die, she decided that she would go to the king and tell him of this wicked plan to destroy her people. Even if it meant she might die doing it. God gave courage to Esther to go before the king. God gives courage to His children so that they can do the work He has for them. Queen Esther was trusting God to show her what to do so when the King asked her what she wanted, she invited him and Haman to a banquet. Because Esther trusted God and His timing she didn’t rush to tell Xerxes about Haman’s wicked plan. Because she waited and acted only when the time was right, God was able to work in other events that would bring together His plan for this situation. She told the king that she was a Jew and there was a law that her people were going to be killed. The king was furious! “Who would dare to think about killing you?” The king loved his wife and the thought of her being killed made him angry. Esther pointed at Haman and said the enemy who wants to destroy the Jews is this wicked Haman!” This shows how God used Mordecai and Esther to save His people from destruction.

Lesson Discussion Points:

We have been placed on this earth at this time in history for God’s plans and purposes. He knows all that is going on around us and He will use us to be a Godly influence in the lives of others around us if we choose to follow and obey Him. It may be that you have never been saved. When a person understands that they are a sinner and the only way that their sin can be forgiven is by believing that Jesus died on the Cross for their sins, was buried and rose again on the third day. When a person believes in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes inside his/her heart and gives them the power to live a life that pleases God. It is only when the Holy Spirit lives inside of your heart that you can be a good influence in other’s lives. Today you can be saved. Let’s pray together as we read the Bible and ask for God’s forgiveness so that you can do this today.