Esther - Lesson Two

DAY TWO: A Providential Arrangement

Please carefully read Esther 2:5-9 and answer the following questions.

1. First, we are introduced to one of our main characters, Mordecai. What are some things that we read of his historical and family background (vv. 5, 6)?

NOTE: Mordecai actually has three meanings: “dedicated to Mars;” “a little man;” or “bitter bruising.”[vi] Carried away literally means “to strip bare and carry away by force,” and is often used to describe being shamed.[vii]

2. Next we meet the amazing young woman that is the focus of this book, Esther. What was her original name, and what else do we learn about her in v. 7?

NOTE: As we read in the Introduction, Hadassah meant “myrtle,” and her Persian name Esther meant “star.” Both names reflected her beauty and character.[viii] Lovely and beautiful (lovely in form and features, niv) means that Hadassah was truly beautiful from the human perspective, with beautiful form and body shape; she had a healthy, good looking appearance.[ix]

3. The young women of Susa knew this wasn’t a beauty contest they had a choice to enter or not. They were being taken away from their families, possibly by force, to have one chance to become the queen. Otherwise they would still be his concubine for life, never returning home. Yet God was going to work providentially through this in Hadassah’s life. What happened to her, and how was God with her even in this difficult situation (vv. 8, 9)?

4. It wasn’t Hadassah’s physical beauty alone that led to her having favor and being treated kindly and even being preferred by the steward Hegai. The phrase she obtained his favor literally meant “she lifted up grace before his face.”[x] It was the grace and light of God shining from her that truly made her attractive.

How does God look on us to see if we have true beauty or not (l Samuel 16:7)?

What kind of supernatural attraction will the believer have toward others because of God’s grace at work in them (Matthew 5:14-16, 2 Corinthians 2:14-15; 4:6, 7)?

5. God will be with us and go before us when we are in the midst of things we have no control over. He will work all things for our best according to His perfect plan, as we read last week. Hadassah’s experiences were similar to those of another young person, Joseph. Both were taken from their families and brought into slavery against their will. Like Joseph, she would be one day raised to the palace despite being in such a situation. What were Joseph’s conclusions about the providence of God when he was able to look back on the things he had to face, and how can it help us face situations we don’t understand (Genesis 45:5-8; 50:20)?

Scripture Memory: Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today.

But now, thus says the LORD, who ______________________ you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have __________________________ you; I have called you by your ___________________; you are Mine. Isaiah 43:1 (nkjv)

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Esther - Lesson Two - Day 2