A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                     BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART XIII

"I, Esther's cousin Mordecai, sent my niece Esther a message to inform her that she and all my people, the Jews, are in danger of being killed off....I told her as well that it was time for her to see her husband, the king, to plead for mercy for herself and her people.... I have just received a response from Esther... In it she has told me she cannot do what I have asked her to do.... I must send her another message.... This time I must help her understand the reason she has become queen.... She has not become queen in order for her to have a life of indulgence... No, she has become queen to save herself and her people from certain death.... This is her moment to make history..... Not next week or next year or ten years from now.... No, this is the moment.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Esther's cousin Mordecai's final message to Esther about her having been born for such a time as this....


                
               ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                 BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART XIII

As soon as Esther's cousin received her reply, he sends a response back to her. However, his response is not what she had hoped for as you can read in Esther 4:12-16

When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back his answer. "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Mordecai does not change his mind. On the contrary, he sends a more powerful message back to Esther. Mordecai understands why Esther has been given the position of queen and Esther needs to understand it as well.

                                A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                    BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART XII

"I, Esther, the wife of king Xerxes, had such a shock today... The day had started so well.... My maids and I had had breakfast together when we had discussed our plans for today.... But we were then interrupted by my servant Hathach.... He had been to see my cousin Mordecai....From the expression on his face I knew that what he had to tell me was serious.... I braced myself for what was to come.... On the inside I wished I did not have to hear it.... Things had been so good recently.... No major upheavals... Everything was just pleasant..... I had gotten used to life at Court... I had even gotten to like it.... But I sensed things were about to change.... And I could not stop it.....I knew I could no longer delay learning about my cousin Mordecai's news so I invited Hathach to speak.... The news was worse than I could have ever imagined.... My people, the Jews, are in danger of being killed.... But I cannot do anything for them... I may be queen.... But I am still a nobody.... Moreover, the king has been too busy with other things to see me.... Does my cousin want to have me put to death?".... Please read the typed out attachment when Ester's servant Hathach tells Esther about the predicament her people are in....


              ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFLUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART XII

Esther knows that she cannot do what Mordecai asks of her; to go before the king and plead for mercy for her people. So she instructs her servant Hathach to clearly explain to her counsin Mordecai why she cannot go before the king. And she is convinced that her words will make sense to her cousin as you can read in Esther 4:10-11

Then she instructed him (Hathach) to say to Mordecai; "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold sceptre to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."

Esther is fully confident that her words of explanation will make Mordecai change his mind about her going to the king unannounced for surely he loves her so much that he does not want her life to be endangered.

                                     A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                          BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART XI

"I, Esther's cousin Mordecai, found out that there was indeed a plan to kill my people the Jews.... I then knew it was time to inform Esther of this plan.... It is true, I had always told to her not to tell anyone that she is Jewish..... But the situation has changed.... It is now time for her to tell everyone, including the king, she is Jewish.... She must go to him and plead for mercy for herself and her people.... She is our only hope."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Esther's cousin Mordecai did indeed find out about the edict signed by king Xerxes at Haman's proposal to have all the Jewish people killed....


                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                   BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART XI

It is time for Esther to realise that God has a purpose for her being queen. He, therefore, allows Mordecai to learn about the plot to kill all the Jewish people and Mordecai is able to send a message to Esther's servant Hathach as you can read in Esther 4:6-9

So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king's presence to beg for mercy and to plead with him for her people. Hathach went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.

Esther learns from Mordecai about the grave danger all her people are in. She is challenged by him to go before the king and plead for mercy for her people.

                                A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES
    
                                      BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART X

"I, Ester's cousin Mordecai, realised that not only I but all my people, The Jews, might be in great danger..... Haman might well go to king Xerxes to ask for permission to have all my people killed....The king has so many people under his control that he would not be too bothered to have some of them killed off..... Especially if he was told that these people have different customs from the other people in his kingdom.... He might even believe that it would be in his best interest if he had them killed..... And I would not put it beyond Haman if he puts a financial gift in the royal treasury as payment for those who will do the killing.... All it would need is for the king to give Haman his signet ring as a sign of agreement.".... Please read the typed out attachment when Haman goes to king Xerxes to talk to him about killing all the Jewish people in his kingdom....



                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                  BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART X

As Mordecai learned, Haman went to the king to ask him to have all the Jewish people in his kingdom killed. Sadly, the king cares so little about the Jewish people in his vast Empire that he is willing for that to happen as you can read in Esther 3:8-11

Then Haman said to king Xerxes, "There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all the other people and who do not obey the king's laws; it is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will put ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for the men who carry out this business." So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman, son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. "Keep the money," the king said to Haman, "and do with the people as you please."

Now the king has absolutely no idea that with these words he has sent the queen to her death. While this meeting takes place, Esther will have been in the palace, completely unaware of the fact that her life is being threatened. To her life is very pleasant and comfortable. She has found favour with the people and with the king. As far as she is concerned, nothing can possibly happen to interrupt her wonderful existence.

                             A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                 BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART IX

"I, Esther's cousin Mordecai, had told the other court officials that I would not bow down to Haman because I am a Jew.... I know they told Haman about it.... I know too that Haman became very angry that I was unwilling to bow down to him because I am a Jew... I wonder what he will do next... Is he perhaps plotting to kill me?... Or is it possible that he might try to kill not only me but my people as well?... My people are not just living in Susa.... My people are living throughout the kingdom of Xerxes... Is it possible that all their lives are now in danger?"... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the court official Haman is looking for a way to kill Mordecai's people, the Jews....


                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                               BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART IX

Esther's cousin Mordecai learned that Haman had become furious when he found out that Mordecai was unwilling to bow down to him as you can read in Esther 3:5-6

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honour, he was outraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of only killing Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.

The king had raised a certain man named Haman to a high position and Haman is to be treated with great honour. But Mordecai knows that, as a Jew, he can only kneel down before his God. Haman becomes so enraged at Mordecai's behaviour towards him that he decides to have him killed. However, Haman's hatred is not just directed towards Mordecai but towards all of Mordecai's people; the Jews. Therefore, Haman looks for an opportunity to not just get rid of Mordecai but to get rid of all Jewish people.

                             A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                 BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART VIII

"I, Mordecai, queen Esther's cousin, have a difficult situation on my hands.... It may even become a difficult situation not just for me but for my people as well... It all started with me not willing to bow down to a court official named Haman.... King Xerxes has elevated him and has made it clear all officials are to bow down to him....But it would not be right for me to do so.... I only bow down to my God.... The God of my forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.... Other court officials asked me why I was disobeying the king's command so I told them I am a Jew.... .... They, in turn, told Haman that I am a Jew.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Esther's cousin Mordecai faced a difficult situation....


                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                            BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART VIII

Esther's cousin Mordecai has been unwilling to do something the king has required of his oficials as you can read in Esther 3:1-4

After these events king Xerxes honoured Haman, son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honour higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials knelt down and paid honour to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honour. Then the royal officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?"Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai's behaviour would be tolerated for he had told them he was a Jew.

Other officials asked Mordecai why he was not willing to bow down to Haman so he explained to them that he is a Jew. They reported this to Haman.

                             A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                 BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART VII

I, Ester, living at the palace in Susa, have been chosen by king Xerxes to become his queen.... I know that is because my God has arranged for that to happen.... I pray that I may honour my God in all that I do and say now that He has allowed me to become queen... The other day my cousin Mordecai approached me.... It was done in the usual way... We exchanged messages.... He told me that he had overheard a conversation between two officers.... They were planning to kill the king.... My cousin told me I should inform the king.... I agreed with him.... I went to the king.... Thankfully he was in a good mood when I approached him.... He was happy to see me.... I explained what Mordecai had told me leaving no detail out.... I made sure he knew it was Mordecai who had discovered the plot.... The king had the report investigated.... It was all true.... The two officers were punished with death.... Everything was recorded in a special Book.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about a plot to have the king killed as discovered by Esther's cousin Mordecai....


                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                  BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART VII

In the meantime, God allows Esther's cousin Mordecai to uncover a plot to kill king Xerxes. He tells Esther about it. She in turn mentions it to the king and this event is recorded in the book of annals as you can read in Esther 2:21-23

During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate king Xerxes. But Mordecai found out about the plot and told queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were hanged on a gallows. All this was recorded in the book of annals in the presence of the king.

Mordecai's report is investigated and found to be true. Consequently, the two conspirators are being punished in accordance with the Persian law. The details are recorded in the book of annals.

                        

                               A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                   BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART VI

"I, Esther, had an amazing day today..... I went to see the king today.... He was very kind and attentive.... I sensed my prayers were being answered.... God was giving me favour with him.... I could sense it from the way he spoke with me.... Showered me with gifts.... Treated me as someone precious..... I knew I was giving him happiness.... I could see it in his eyes.... His eyes had not shown happiness since he has sent queen Vashti away.... But today I sensed that my presence brought him a measure of happiness... That gives me joy.... Even kings need to experience happiness at times.... At the end of our time together the king did something I was not expecting.... He took the royal crown and placed it on my head.... King Xerxes has made me queen!".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that king Xerxes chooses Esther to become queen....


                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                    BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS PART VI

Esther realises during her meeting with king Xerxes that she is able to give him a measure of happiness he may not have experienced for some time. It is clear from the way he speaks to her and looks at her that he is very pleased with her as you can read in Esther 2:17

Now the king was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favour and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

God touches the heart of the king so he chooses Esther to become his queen. After all, the heart of the king is in the Lord's hand as you can read in Proverbs 21:1

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.

And so Esther becomes queen and lives a very pleasant life, no doubt, far removed from any difficulties, any challenges.