The Point: God is always at work behind the scenes.

Session 2: Stand with Conviction (Esther 2:21–3:6)

Session 3: Stand Down (Esther 4:1-3,10-16)

Session 4: Stand with Humility (Esther 5:1-14)

Session 5: Stand Up and Speak (Esther 7:1-10)

Session 6: Keep Standing (Esther 8:1-8; 9:20-22)

History often turns on seemingly small events. What if Richard Nixon had listened to advisors and rested before his televised debate with John Kennedy in 1960? What if Gerald Ford had not accidentally misstated his response to a foreign policy question in his final debate with Jimmy Carter in 1976?

Our lives also often turn on seemingly small events. A lot of people chalk up these moments to “coincidence,” but could it be more than that? Christians often can look back at certain moments in their lives and see that, although they may not have been aware of it at the time, God had His hand on them and their circumstances.

Esther could attest to that. Esther was a young Jewish girl in a strange land, and God was at work in her life, putting her in the right place at the right time. She may not have been aware of it at the time, but God was working behind the scenes to put her in a place of power and significance.

The events in Esther occurred during the reign of King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes. He ruled the Persian Empire from 486-465 BC. In the third year of his reign, this king convened a royal banquet at Susa, his winter capital located in modern Iran. When Queen Vashti refused to appear at his command, the king dethroned her. In his search for a new queen, Ahasuerus appointed commissioners to assemble beautiful young virgins from the various provinces.

When have you been at just the right place at just the right time?

What about Esther’s circumstances catches your attention?

What can we learn about Esther from these verses?

When have you found yourself completely outside your comfort zone?

What are some possible reasons Mordecai ordered Esther to hide her Jewish ancestry?

How do we navigate the tension between the messiness of Esther’s story thus far and God’s sovereign plan?

What do we as modern people have in common with this young woman from an ancient kingdom?

Where has God positioned you right now to be a person of influence?

LIVE IT OUT:

Look back. Reflect on your walk with Christ. What events has God used in your past to bring you to Him—or bring you closer to Him? Consider those events that may have even seemed minor or inconsequential at the time. Thank God for His faithful work in your life.

Make a list. List the gifts, skills, or attributes God has given you. Ask God to show you how you can use those to honor Him, even in unfavorable situations.

Encourage others. You may know someone facing circumstances beyond his or her control. Offer your support and encouragement. Help the person see that God is present—and He is at work even if it is not yet evident.

Your personal history is no doubt filled with many forks in the road where things could have been otherwise. But it’s good to know that we have a God who works things out for our good—and His glory!