Bible Story Lessons

One day, King Ahasuerus of Persia gave a great feast, and after eating and drinking for several days he commanded his wife, Queen Vashti, to appear before him.  But, Queen Vashti refused to come to the king and he was very angry, and so the king started to look for a new queen.

At that time a Jew named Mordecai was living in Persia.  He had been taken captive and brought to Persia from Jerusalem with his young cousin, Esther, and thousands of other Jews.  Mordecai had adopted Esther as his own daughter and was taking care of her.

Esther was a very lovely and gentle person and was one of the women who were ordered to go before the king.  When King Ahasuerus saw Esther, he chose her to be his queen, not knowing she was from Israel.   So Esther went to live in the palace while her uncle Mordecai kept watch outside the palace gates and made sure that she was looked after and was safe.

One day while he was sitting at the gates, Mordecai overheard some men planning to kill the king.  Mordecai then called Esther, "They want to kill the king, so go and warn him!"  Esther ran into the palace and told the king.  For saving his life, the king loved Esther even more!

Now the king made a man named Haman to be his second-in-command over all the kingdom of Persia, but he did not know that Haman was a wicked person.  All the people had to bow down to Haman because they were afraid that he would kill them and their families.  But Mordecai refused to bow down and this so angered Haman that he planned to kill Mordecai and all the Jewish people.

Haman went to the king and told him that there were people living in the Persian kingdom who did not keep the king's laws.  By lying to the king, he received permission to kill all the Jews!  He then sent an order to the governors that all the Jews were to be killed on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month.

When Mordecai learned of Haman's terrible plan, he sent a message to Queen Esther begging her to ask the king to stop this wicked order.  Esther, though fearing for her life, prayed for three days, and then went to King Ahasuerus and asked him to come to a dinner she wished to give for him and Haman.

The next day Esther gave a second dinner for the King and Haman.   During the dinner, the king said to her, "What is your request, Queen Esther?  I will grant you anything up to half of my kingdom!"  Queen Esther replied, "If I have found favour with you, please save my life and that of my people."  The king was shocked and exclaimed, "Who wants to kill and destroy you?"  Esther answered, "This wicked man Haman!"

The king was furious and ordered Haman be hanged.  And then the king sent for Mordecai and gave him Haman's job as the king's second-in-command over all the kingdom of Persia.  And the king made a law cancelling Haman's evil order.

And where there had been weeping in the land, there was now great joy as the Jews celebrated what Mordecai and Queen Esther had done to save their lives!

We celebrate Easter each year as the time when Jesus died and then rose to life again.  He died to pay the price for all the sin and wrong things we have done, and if we ask Him to live in our hearts, He will give us everlasting life in Heaven.

Can you imagine what joy and singing there will be in Heaven when we get there, and live with Jesus forever and ever?

God bless!