ages

Esther 8:3-9:22   
Psalm 30:1-12
Romans 5:6-11
Revelation 7:9-17
Matthew 28:19-20

If you were writing a story and handpicking your hero, you might choose someone strong, smart, handsome, and brave.  I am guessing you probably wouldn’t go with a teenage orphan girl living with her uncle as refugees in a foreign land.
Only God, the master Story writer, would do that!

And only God would ordain to use a massive plot twist where the girl is unwillingly entered into a beauty contest, wins, and is then crowned Queen for His glory.  Adding to the suspense, an evil palace official plots to annihilate the girl’s entire race, and successfully wins the king’s approval of his plan.

In this action-packed thriller, we anxiously turn the pages, eager to know if the girl will risk her life and go before the king. Will he extend his golden scepter, giving her the chance to expose the villain and save her nation?
Or will he order her instant execution?
The fate of millions lies in the balance.

If you have been following our Journey Study through Esther, you’ve watched this young teenager overcome fear and step up to daunting challenges.  She has wisely listened to Uncle Mordecai and humbly accepted God’s sovereign rule in her life. We sigh with relief as King Xerxes welcomes Esther into his throne room and celebrate as wicked Haman was removed from power, permanently.

But there’s no “happily ever after” here…
An irreversible royal edict had been issued, thanks to Haman, declaring the destruction of Jews everywhere.

In Esther 8, our heroine risks her life again, going before the king to beg a new decree be issued to counteract Haman’s orders. Xerxes graciously extends his scepter, allowing Esther to compose a new decree hereby giving Jews the freedom to defend their lives.

Just as Haman’s original edict was written in the “scripts and languages” in every province, so too was Esther’s NEW decree.

Just as Haman’s letter had been sealed with the king’s signet ring and swiftly dispatched to the entire empire, so too was the NEW decree.

Just as the king’s highest officers from India to Ethiopia all received word of Haman’s law, so now they were handed the NEW decree.

What Haman intended for evil, God would use for grand redemption!

When Haman’s decree was issued, “the city of Susa fell into confusion.”  (Esther 3:15)
Redemptively, Esther’s decree was celebrated, “And the people of Susa celebrated the new decree.  The Jews were filled with joy and gladness and were honored everywhere.”  (Esther 8:15-16)

Now, rather than deliberate genocide, the Jews are permitted self-defense!!!
In place of death, life!  Despair is replaced with hope!

 “I will exalt you, Lord, for You rescued me.
You refused to let my enemies triumph over me…
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.”
(Psalm 30:1, 11)

The day of attack arrives, and both decrees are put into effect, “the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but quite the opposite happened.
It was the Jews who overpowered their enemies.” (Esther 9:1)

 VICTORY!
The Jews “celebrated their victory with a day of feasting and gladness.”

I’ve known about Esther since girlhood.
Our fourth daughter even has the middle name Esther.
While I thought I understood her story, it wasn’t until I prepared to write this Journey Study I began realizing the scope of God’s ETERNAL plan.

From Genesis to Revelation, God is at work, masterfully arranging every piece, telling His ULTIMATE story.

As I studied, I discovered how pieces of Esther’s story connect to Jesus’ birth, the Great Commission, and our own final VICTORIOUS REDEMPTION!

Esther’s decree was written in EVERY language for ALL people.
In the same way, the angels’ triumphant tidings to the shepherds the night Jesus was born proclaimed, “I bring you good news of great joy to ALL people!”
Their message, and the Messiah, were for EVERYONE and ALL.

So too, Jesus’ final words encompass ALL people as He sends His disciples to EVERYONE, “go and make disciples of ALL nations.”

Finally, in Revelation, John describes the scene of our very great redemption, our final victory, “After this, I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from EVERY nation, from ALL tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” 

Salvation is for EVERYONE.
Regardless of age, race, gender, social-economic status, or academic degree,
YOU are loved by God and invited into His salvation.

Haman’s decree was one of death.
Likewise, we have an enemy plotting our destruction. Because of our sin, we’ve already earned death.
BUT hope is NOT lost!

While Esther risked her life for her people and issued an edict countering Haman’s wickedness, Jesus surrendered His life for ours, taking our death for us.
With His resurrection on Easter morning, death was forever defeated.
Now, we ALL have access to LIFE!

The KING has extended His scepter, eagerly waiting for your response!
What will you choose?

If you’ve already chosen life, another challenge awaits.
In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul shares a profound truth about believers, “you are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God..”

Esther acted with urgency to save her people, so WE must have an urgency about us.
EVERYone EVERYwhere needs to hear about Life offered in place of Death.
We are those message carriers to ALL!

If He can use a refugee orphan girl, make her Queen, and use her to save an entire people group, I am POSITIVE He can use YOU to share the gospel with your neighbor, co-worker, estranged aunt, child’s teacher, or the barista at your favorite coffee shop.

“And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?!”

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