Was it a scene from 'The Bachelor' or Divine Favor?

Esther 2:1-18

Main Points

King Ahasuerus calms down (anger about what Vashti did-see Ch.1) and remembers what he decreed against her.

King’s young men suggest that beautiful, young virgins be sought out for the king. Having officers in all provinces to gather the women to Susa (capital) under the custody of Hegai (King’s eunuch). Cosmetics be given to all women. The young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. King liked the idea.

Esther (her Persian name) was a Jewish woman who lived in Susa. Her cousin Mordecai took care of Hadassah ( her Jewish name) because her parents died and she was an orphan. She was a beautiful, attractive woman that was taken to the king’s palace. Esther won Hegai’s favor and he provided her with cosmetics, food, 7 women from the king’s palace. He placed her and her young women to the best place in the harem.

Esther hid her identity as a Jew from everyone the whole time she was in the harem. Mordecai had told her to do so.

Mordecai checked to see how Esther was doing every day in front of the court of the harem.

All the women underwent 12 months of beautifying treatments. 6 months with oil of myrrh and 6 months with spices and ointments. Each woman was given whatever they desired to take to the king’s palace from the harem. The women would not go and see the king again a 2^nd time unless the king summoned them by name.

When Esther’s time had come to see the King, she took what Hegai had suggested. Esther had already won the favor of everyone she came in contact with. The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins. He set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

*There's a movie called, 'One Night with the King' that's based off the story of Esther. Not all of it lines up Biblically, but it gives you an idea of what life was like at the King's palace, if you want to check it out.

King gave a huge feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther’s feast. Granted remission of taxes to the provinces, and gave gifts with royal generosity.

 

Questions to Think About

1.       How do you think Esther felt living in the king’s harem, competing for the King’s favor?

2.       Have you ever found yourself in uncertain or unfamiliar situations? How did you go about handing it?

3.       How do you think Esther felt once she was crowned Queen of Persia?

4.       How do you view God’s work in your life? (Ex: Is He active in orchestrating events, relationships, etc. OR do you see Him more as hands-off and more in the background who occasionally shows up?)

5.       As you look back on your life, where do you see the hand of God shaping and working through circumstances and choices?

6.       Where do you find yourself today? What might God be doing in your current circumstances?

When you read Chapter 2, it kind of reminds you of the show, The Bachelor but then as you read further along, you discover it was about divine favor.  Has there been a time in your life when you have experienced God’s favor in your life? What was your response to that? What has God done in your life since then?

From the beginning of this chapter, we learn that Esther’s parents died when she was young, therefore she was now an orphan, and her cousin Mordecai was raising her. She was now living in Susa, Persia;  a land not common to her Jewish heritage. Then, on top of that, she ends up being taken away from her home and taken to the King’s palace. At surface value, you might think, her life is destined to fail. But little did she know how all those events, God is going to use in a remarkable way.  Are you currently experiencing a situation like Esther’s right now? How are you choosing to respond? Do you see it as an ‘interruption’ or a divine intervention’ from God?

Esther might not have known it at the time, but she was destined for greatness! God wants to use us as women in amazing ways too. Instead of focusing on the current situations/circumstances in our lives that seem hopeless or unthinkable, let’s trust God with them and see what remarkable things He does!