Breakfast With Esther
WEEK 4: A Divine "Outing"

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©2005 Sandra Glahn

Week 3 Week 5

Shuffle the Deck - get your creative juices flowing
Deal the Cards - get to know Esther
- Group Option - discussion questions for groups
Play Your Hand - express yourself

"How to do SoulPerSuit"

"How to Lead a Group SoulPerSuit"

"Shuffle the Deck for Groups"

ESTHER
WEEK 1 - ½ or full page
WEEK 2 - ½ or full page
WEEK 3 - ½ or full page
WEEK 4 - ½ or full page
WEEK 5 - ½ or full page

WEEK 4 (top)

Shuffle the Deck

1. Cinquain Tree
Choose one of the trees pictured in the left hand column. Enlarge it and print it out. Write a cinquain* about the tree you chose.

* The modern cinquain is based on a word count of words of a certain type.
line 1 - one word (noun) a title or name of the subject
line 2 - two words (adjectives) describing the title
line 3 - three words (verbs) describing an action related to the title
line 4 - four words describing a feeling about the titlem, a complete sentence
line 5 - one word referring back to the title of the poem

2. What is the most serene place on earth? Why?

Deal the Cards (top)

Sunday - Cowardly, Lyin', or Brave
Scripture: “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

We often think of heroism as something done on a grand scale—like George Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas, navigating frozen waters with a virtually shoe-less army. Or Churchill exhorting England in World War II to give all her “blood, toil, tears and sweat.”

Within Christendom we sometimes make heroes of our best-selling authors, high-profile preachers, and fantastic singers. It’s easy to get the idea that all the truly spiritual people end up famous.

Yet Jesus promised a reward for those who visit prisoners in his name. Or feed the hungry. Or give a cup of water. We don’t have to donate an entire water treatment plant. Just a drink.

Consider the quiet heroism of these people:

· Tracy, recognizing the pain inflicted on her friend, Elizabeth, by an abusive mother, organized Elizabeth’s friends to pray and fast for a week for emotional healing.
· Chris, seeing a fellow church member’s limitations caused by cancer, organized long-term meal delivery to this member’s family.
· Parents who thought they were finished raising their kids brought home three sisters from a Russian orphanage.
· Ellen changed her parent’s bedpans for ten years before their deaths.
· Mark and his family spent Christmas day presenting the gospel and Christmas music for the homeless in his city.
· For several years Tim and Dana got up early every week to set up chairs at the auditorium where their “church plant” met. Meanwhile, the sound crew drove to a warehouse, got and transported equipment, then took it back—taking members most of the day.

These heroes are ordinary people simply putting others’ needs before their own.

Ultimately Esther was heroic. But she needed a little coaxing. And who wouldn’t? Her life was at stake!

Consider this rough paraphrase of her initial response to Mordecai’s bad news about the king’s edict: “Uh, Mordy, you expect me to go talk to the king? You’re kidding, right? Do you know what could happen if I “out” myself? I could die! It’s not like I’m his favorite here, Cuz. Remember what he did to the last wife who displeased him? And he hasn’t even summoned me for a month.”

Does Mordecai empathize? Does he send words of comfort? No way! His answer goes something like this: “Uh, what makes you think you’ll survive by hiding while we all die? If you stay silent, you and your relatives will die, even if God sends another liberator for the rest.”

Could Mordecai be threatening to reveal her identity if she doesn’t take the initiative? You bet!

But “Mordy” doesn’t leave it there. He ends on an upbeat note when he suggests there’s an invisible hand weaving all the events that have led to Esther’s role as queen. His words, which hint at the sovereignty of God, are the theme verse for the entire book: “It may very well be that you have achieved royal status for such a time as this!”

And what does Esther do then? She rises to the occasion! She chooses to act on behalf of others despite her fears.

Perhaps you need to attempt great things for God. He may be calling you to Esther-esque sorts of deeds. But more than likely he’s calling you to serve a smaller audience. You don’t have to be a celebrity Christian. You don’t have to be a Churchill or a Washington. Just yourself, faithful in the arena where God has placed you.

What “opportunities” are before you? Maybe you’ve been initially reluctant. Perhaps you’ve already said “no” to God’s prompting. Esther did the first time around. But that’s not where her story ends.

What about yours?

Monday - Fish or Cut Bait
1. Ask the Lord to give you insight, then read Esther 4:10–5:14.

2. What stands out to you in this section?

Tuesday - Fear and Trembling
1. How does Esther initially respond to the news of Haman’s evil plotting (4:11)?

2. What was Esther’s second response (4:16)? What do you think changed her mind?

3. What will happen to Esther, either way?

Herodotus, who lived in the fifth century B.C., is commonly called the “father of history.” You can pick up his work, The Histories, for under ten dollars in paperback. His way of recording history is not what we generally consider “historical” or completely reliable factually, but he does provide some interesting information. He covers events ranging from the pharaohs in 3000 B.C. to the defeat of the Persians in the fifth century B.C. He provides some information about Persian rule that’s of particular interest to those studying Esther: “Deioces introduced for the first time the ceremonial of royalty: admission to the king’s presence was forbidden, and all communication had to be through messengers.”¹

4. Not long after Esther’s coronation, the virgins/young women (the Hebrew can be translated either way) are gathered together again for the king (see 2:19). Hmm. What does that tell you about the king?

5. At the time Esther heard of Haman’s plot, the king had not summoned her for a month (4:11). How much clout do you think Esther felt she had with him?

6. Read 4:16. What would you feel if you stood in Esther’s shoes?

7. Describe a situation in which you had to take a risk to do right. What were the circumstances? What did you do? What was your initial response?

Wednesday - The Diet of Purim
1. Read 4:16. Why do you think Esther asks the people to fast?

2. Have you ever fasted? If so, for how long? Did you drink anything during the time you were fasting?

3. What kind of fast does Esther have in mind. How long does it last? Note that three-day, round-the-clock, no-water fast is pretty desperate.

4. What does Esther do while she is fasting (5:4)? What might the average person find difficult about that?

Thursday - Showtime!
1. In this week’s segment of the biblical text, how do we see God’s sovereignty at work?

2. In what ways do we see human responsibility at work?

3. So Esther makes her approach. What is the king’s initial response (5:2–3)?

4. How does he respond later (5:6; 7:2)?

5. What did Haman have going for him (5:9–13)?

6. Did all Haman’s blessings make him content? What does this tell you about him?

Friday - King of Kings
1. Proverbs 21:1 tells us “The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants.” What do you think this means? Does it apply to bosses and politicians and world leaders, as well?

2. List your own relationships, jobs, locations and/or circumstances in your life. How might God use you where you are “for such a time as this”?

Saturday - He is Able
Esther and Mordecai were reluctant heroes. We could write multiple reasons why they were unideal candidates for God’s “Whom shall I use?” list. Yet in the end, they chose the path of courage, and He worked mightily through them. Or perhaps it’s the other way around—He worked mightily and they chose the path of courage. Maybe it’s a combination of both.

There are many reasons God shouldn't use us. Yet we’re in good company. If you’ve followed the SoulPerSuit blog you know that…

Abraham lied about his wife.
Jacob was a swindler.
Moses stuttered.
He also had a short fuse.
Hosea’s wife was a prostitute.
David committed adultery.
Solomon had a bunch of wives.
Naomi was a widow.
Sarah was too old.
David was too young.
Peter was afraid of death.
Lazarus was dead.
Miriam was a gossip.
John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
Jonah ran away from God.
Thomas doubted.
Jeremiah got depressed.
Elijah got burnt out.
Martha was too busy.
Timothy had stomach problems.
John Mark was rejected by the apostle Paul.
Rehab was a harlot.
Sarah laughed.
Samson had a thing for the ladies.
Gideon was a scaredy cat.
Peter had “foot in mouth” syndrome.
Nicodemus didn't get it.
Apollos only had half the story.
Onesimus was a runaway slave.
Moses was a murderer.
So was David.
So was Paul. He killed Christians. “The chief of sinners.”

Yet despite their flaws and failures they had faith in God.

So if God can use these people, if these are the kinds of heroes He rewards, that’s good news for us, isn’t it?

What obstacles are keeping you from total surrender? Don’t let them stop you for another minute.

Group Option: As a group, agree on a common lament and write it out using these elements as a guide.

1. Discuss some of the “quiet heroes” you have encountered in your life.

2. Describe a situation in which you had to take a risk to do right.

3. How do we balance God’s sovereignty and our personal responsibility?

Play Your Hand (top)
Decorate a playing card or a playing-card-sized piece of paper or cardboard with something associated with the following:

- Do you find yourself in a particular circumstance “for such a time as this”?

- A flaw or failure that keeps you from totally surrendering to God.

¹Herodotus, The Histories 1.99. Deioces was the first of the Median kings. This bust of Herodotus is at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC.

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Week 3 Week 5

©2005 Sandra Glahn

We want your cards in our Esther Gallery! Take a digital picture or scan them in and e-mail the image to us. And please tell us about your card so I can include that also.