Below is my vignette about Esther from my book, Partly Cloudy with Scattered Worries. By the way: could you help me? The Kindle ebook of that book will be FREE on Monday, November 17th. The publisher is making it free for ONE day so that we can have more reviews on the Amazon page.
The purpose of getting over 100 reviews is that it’ll be easier for people to find it. Could you “buy” it (for free) and then scan it and see if you like it? If you do, could you write a review on it’s Amazon page? I’d appreciate it so much! (If you want a print copy, it’s only $7.16 right now on amazon.com (http://amzn.to/1bfAyco)
Esther had a lot to worry about. She stood outside the king’s chamber and realized that within a few minutes she could be dead. That didn’t happen, of course. Her story is about how God used a young Jewish girl, who became Queen of Persia and Media, to protect the Jewish people from extermination. And there’s no more potent story in the Bible about God’s power than the book of Esther. The amazing thing is that God’s Name and His power is never mentioned, yet His fingerprints are all over this book.
Here are just some of the ways that God’s power is shown in Esther’s story:
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Queen Vashti refuses to obey the King and she is displaced.
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The king is encouraged to find a new wife through a beauty contest.
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Mordecai sends his cousin, Esther, to the contest.
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Esther finds favor with the person in charge of the beauty contestants.
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The king chooses Esther as his new queen.
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Mordecai stops an assassination plot against the king, but the king doesn’t reward him.
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The enemy of the Jews, Haman, plots to have the Jews exterminated.
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Esther finds favor with the king to come unannounced into his presence.
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The king has insomnia and reads the book of records, “just happening” to turn to the page with the details of Mordecai reporting the plot, and realizes Mordecai was not rewarded.
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Haman appears at that very moment and is sent to give honor (the king’s reward) to Haman’s enemy, Mordecai.
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Esther plans two banquets and is seemingly attacked by Haman in front of the king.
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The king commands Haman’s death and gives Esther permission to have the Jews protect themselves when the citizens attack them.
Talk about espionage and suspense! God’s power is evident in so many ways. There were so many things that Esther could have worried about. And of course the most famous line that shows her victory over worry is “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16 NASB)
Esther submitted herself to God’s protection and care. We want to be just like Esther, and we can be!
Got it! Can't wait to read and will be happy to post a review!
Thank you, Melissa. You're a blessing!