Esther risks her life for her people

King Xerxes ruled over the Kingdom of Persia. Esther was his queen. Xerxes was a cruel king. If someone entered the king’s courtyard without being invited by the king, the person could be killed. The king did not know that Esther was a Jewish woman. There were many Jews in Persia and they often worked for the king. Some people did not like the Jews. Haman was one of the king’s officials who hated them. So he told king Xerxes that the Jews did not obey his laws. He also said the Jews wanted to harm the king. The king believed him and gave him permission to punish the Jews. Haman liked that! He sent letters to officials all over the kingdom. He wrote that the Jews had to be killed on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. People could then take all their possessions. Queen Esther’s uncle Mordecai heard about these plans. He was upset and told Esther about the plans that Haman had made to kill the Jews. He asked Esther to help her people. She said, “You know I cannot go to the king unless he invites me. If I just appear in the courtyard, he can have me put to death.” Mordecai said, “Maybe this is the reason God made you the queen of Persia and put you in the palace of Xerxes. Surely he wants you to save your people!” Could that be true? Esther did not know what to do. Should she try to help? Should she keep quiet? Then she said, “If I go to the king’s courtyard without being invited and the king points his golden sceptre to me, it means I will live. Maybe he will do that if he sees me. That is something I can try.”

Then Esther asked her uncle to gather all the Jews in the city together to fast and to pray for her. She was also going to pray, and she would not eat or drink for three days and three nights. After three days Esther went to the king. She looked at him across the courtyard. What would he do? Then the king lifted his sceptre and pointed it at her. He wanted to talk to her! Esther invited the king and Haman to a meal.

At the meal she told him about Haman’s plan to kill all the Jews. The king was very angry. Haman was put to death. The king appointed Mordecai in Haman’s place as a trusted leader. And the king allowed the Jews to fight back and defend themselves.

Because of Esther’s courage and faith the Jews in the Kingdom of Persia were saved.

Esther 3-9