Chance, Choice, and Destiny

Esther 3 and 4

This is a continued study... if you are just joining, I suggest you go back and start with "Traditional Families."

Context
"Previously, in The Book of Esther..."
King Xerxes of Persia threw a giant party. He asked his wife to come out wearing her crown (and probably nothing else - the language is unclear). She refused, and so is permanently exiled - Persian laws cannot be revoked. An empire-wide search for a new queen turns up the new beauty Esther.
Esther's uncle Mordecai tells her to conceal her Judaism. While keeping in touch with Esther, Mordecai uncovers a plot to assassinate Xerxes and his information saves the king.

Listening to the writer
The writer of Esther loves foreshadowing. For a taste of what’s coming, check out the following:

• Haman is an Agagite (3:1). Read about King Agag in 1 Samuel 15.
  
• The fight between Haman and Mordecai revolves around whether or not Mordecai will worship anyone other than Yahweh.
  
• Remember that edicts of the King cannot be rescinded (1:17). Once the letters are sent (3:13), the Jews’ fate is sealed…
  
• Mordecai expects God to come through for the Jews (4:14), but hopes that Esther will choose to be a part of that salvation.

Listening to God
Spend as much time as you like on any or all of the following ideas:

Read the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. Look for similarities to what you’ve already read in Esther, and make some predictions on how Esther’s story is going to end.

“Purim” is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the story of Esther. The name “Purim” means “lots” (a way of randomly choosing something) and refers Haman choosing the day of the Jews’ destruction (Est. 3:7). When the story was written, the Hebrew word “pur” had already fallen out of use, and needed to be translated for the Jewish readers.
As you read about Esther, think about fate or destiny. How much of our lives are left to random chance? Does God determine every “random” event, some of them, or none? Does God pull strings behind the scenes?

When Esther decides to risk her life by going before the king, she asks for the Jewish community to fast for three days. When is it right for someone to ask the Church to make intensive prayer on their behalf? Is fasting still an appropriate way for the community to petition God?

Dig Deeper at Textweek.