Take a Chance

Esther 10:1-3

INTRODUCTION: There is no doubt that we live in uncertain times. Each day, the world demonstrates increasing disdain for the things of God. As such, Christians have developed a spirit of defeatism. In fact, our language demonstrates an expectation for defeat before we even engage in battle. It would be bad enough if that were the extent of the damage, but our expectation for defeat commonly keeps us from engaging altogether. Thank God this was not the spirit demonstrated by Mordecai and Esther.

I. THE OBSCURITY OF GOD

A. Absent in Name

1. No Lord
2. No God

B. Absent in Worship

1. Though we could obviously find hints of worship
2. There is no direct statement of worship for the Lord in this book.
3. In fact, one will not find the word worship, or prayer, or singing.

II. THE TAKING OF CHANCES (Esther 2:1-23)

A. By Mordecai and Esther (Esther 2:2-20)

1. The search for a new queen (Esther 2:2-4)
2. The entrance of Esther (Esther 2:5-8)
3. The success of Esther (Esther 2:9-20)

B. By Mordecai (Esther 2:21-23)

1. The threat on the king’s life (Esther 2:21)
2. The effort of Mordecai (Esther 2:22)
3. The threat halted (Esther 2:23)

III. THE PROGRESS OF WICKEDNESS (Esther 3:1-15)

A. The Promotion of Haman (Esther 3:1-6)

1. Haman was promoted (Esther 3:1).
2. Haman was to be reverenced (Esther 3:2a).
3. Mordecai refused to reverence Haman (Esther 3:2b-6)

B. The Hatred of Haman (Esther 3:7-15)

1. His defamation of the Jews (Esther 3:7-8)
2. His plan to destroy the Jews (Esther 3:9-15)

IV. THE TAKING OF CHANCES (Esther 4:1-17; Esther 5:1-14)

A. By Mordecai (Esther 4:1-4)

1. In demonstrating his displeasure (Esther 4:1-3)
2. In refusing to be comforted (Esther 4:4)

B. By Esther (Esther 4:5-17; Esther 5:1-14)

1. In contemplating to go before the king (Esther 4:5-17; esp. 13, 15-16)
2. In entering the king’s presence (Esther 5:1-14; esp. 2)

V. THE WORKING OF GOD (Esther 6:1-11; Esther 7:1-10; Esther 8:1-17; Esther 9:1-19)

A. In the King’s Sleep (Esther 6:1-3)

1. The king could not sleep (Esther 6:1).
2. He just so happened to request the book of the records of the chronicles (Esther 6:1).
3. They just so happened to read to him of Mordecai’s faithfulness (Esther 6:2).
4. The king wondered what had been done for Mordecai (Esther 6:3).

B. In Mordecai’s Reward (Esther 6:4-11)

1. Haman just so happened to be in the court (Esther 6:4).
2. The king requested Haman’s input on honouring Mordecai (Esther 6:5-9).
3. The king asked Haman to do so to Mordecai (Esther 6:10-11).

C. In Israel’s Preservation (Esther 7:1-10; Esther 8:1-17; Esther 9:1-19)

1. Esther unveiled the plot of Haman (Esther 7:1-10; esp. 3-4).
2. Esther and Mordecai were able to write laws for the Jews to protect themselves (Esther 8:1-17).
3. God gave the Jews victory in defending themselves (Esther 9:1-19; esp. 2).

CONCLUSION: If Mordecai and Esther had quit when the odds seemed too stacked against them for success, their race might have been eradicated from Shushan and surrounding provinces. What will go undone in our generation due to our failure to take chances for the Lord’s sake?