The Big Story

The Big Story Week 19: Esther

Bible Truths

  • God is with us. He has always been with us. He will always be with us. (Week 1)
  • God created me for a purpose and a plan for me. (Week 2)
  • God has you right where you are for a reason.

Bible Verse

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Proverbs 3:5 NIV

Focus

Last week learned about Daniel who chose to follow God even when it was hard. This week learn about Esther who is also chooses to follow God even when it is hard.

Day 1

Persian Politics from The Action Bible

Day 2

Bible Truth: God has a plan for you.

Esther was a Jewish teen living in a foreign country. Her family were among the many Jews forced to leave their country and move to Persia. Esther’s Uncle Mordecai encouraged her to enter the king’s contest to select a new queen. Mordecai knew God was going to do something great through her. You know what? Esther won and became the queen.

For her safety, Esther’s uncle Mordecai had told her not to tell anyone she was a Jew. After, Esther becomes queen one of the King’s advisors tricks the king into passing a law that will force all of the Jews to be killed. The lives of Esther and her family are in danger. She is teen living away from family. It isn’t surprising that she is scared. Then she receives a message from her uncle.

13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

Esther 4:13-14 NLT

Think about Mordecai’s question. What if God placed Esther in her position for a reason? She was the only person who could convince the king to change his mind. We learned in week one that God is always with. He will never leave us even when it feels like the whole world is against. In week two we learned that God has a purpose and plan for each of us. We have learn to listen to God and to obey Him.

Day 3

Esther was a hero to the Jewish people. Each year Jewish still celebrate Esther’s courageous act with special holiday called Purim. What made Esther an hero? She didn’t have super powers or any special abilities. She was an orphan teen living in a foreign country. She did have great faith and courage. She trusted God to save her people from an impossible situation. She had the courage to do the right thing

Day 4

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Proverbs 3:5 NIV

To trust God is for us to place our trust in him. The Lord knows what is best for us. The lives of Moses, David, Esther, and Ruth show us that God cares for his people. No matter what bad things happen, we know that God loves us. To trust God is for us to place our trust in him. The Lord knows what is best for us. The lives of Moses, David, Esther, and Ruth show us that God cares for his people. No matter what bad things happen, we know that God loves us.

Day 5

Hamantashen or Haman's  Ears Cookies

Each Jews and many Christians remember Esther with the holiday Purim. Purim is a celebration of God’s protection for his people and the courage of Esther. It occurs in February or March each year. In 2022, Purim is on March 17. The highlight of the Purim celebration is a retelling of Esther’s story often as a play. Other Purim traditions include wearing costumes and a special jam filled cookie called a Hamantashen or Haman’s ears. You can learn more more about Purim here.