God with Us 2 | Esther | Wonder Ink Ministry Curriculum

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GOD WITH US
Lesson Title: Esther - Because God is always working, a young Jewish woman named Esther becomes queen of Persia and prevents an evil plan to kill all the Jewish people in the kingdom.
Scripture: Esther 1-5; 8
Wonder Truth: God Is Working Even When We Can’t See It
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Foundational Building Block
WHO
Esther is a Persian name meaning “star,” or it is derived from the name of the Babylonian deity, Ishtar. Esther’s Hebrew name is Hadassah, which refers to the myrtle plant. Her parents died when she was young, and she was adopted and raised by her cousin Mordecai.
WHAT
The narrative of Esther offers a peek into God’s work behind the scenes in the days of Israel’s exile. Esther rises to the level of queen during a vital moment. A man named Haman tries to eliminate all the Jews in the land. However, Queen Esther intervenes by asking the king to save her people.
WHERE
Susa was one of the oldest cities in the world. It was the ancient capital of Elam and later Persia. It was situated on a plain near the Zagros mountains and had a temperate climate. Many Jews, including Esther and Nehemiah, lived there and became prominent during exile.
WHEN
King Xerxes reigned 486-465 BC. The events of the book of Esther probably took place during 483-474 BC. During this period, King Xerxes and the Persians were involved in multiple campaigns against the Greeks, including at Thermopylae and Athens.
CONNECTING TO GOD’S BIG STORY
Purim is a Jewish Festival celebrating the story of Esther. It is joyous time of remembering when God worked behind the scenes through Esther to overturn Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews. In the same way, God has worked through Jesus to overturn sin’s plot to destroy all humankind.
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