Once upon a time there was a girl named Esther. Esther lived in the land of Persia because her people, the Israelites, had been brought there. Esther was very pretty and friendly. She was an orphan girl who lived with her cousin Mordechai. He took good care of her.
There was a king in the land of Persia. The king was looking for a new queen. He held a great competition so that the most beautiful woman in the whole country could become his queen. Esther was brought to the castle to introduce herself to the king. When the king saw her, he liked Esther very much and made her his queen.
But Esther had a secret: no one in the castle knew that she was an Israelite. Mordecai told her to keep it a secret.
One day, an evil man named Haman made a plan in the royal palace. He wanted to get rid of all the Israelites in the land. Mordecai was very sad when he heard this. He knew that Esther had a special task. He sent Esther a message: “Maybe that’s why you became queen to help your people!” (Esther 4:14)
Esther was afraid, but she knew she had to show courage. She said to Mordecai, “Gather all the Israelites and fast for me. I go to the king, even if he has not called me. If I die in the process, then so be it.”
Esther was very brave. She prayed and fasted before going to the king. When she finally met him, the king held out his golden scepter to her, which meant that she was allowed to speak. Esther told the king all about Haman’s evil plan.
The king was very angry with Haman and saved the Israelites. Thanks to Esther’s courage, her people were saved. Esther had realized that she was in the right place to help.
Message of history
God sometimes gives us tasks that need courage. We can be courageous and trust God to strengthen us. Like Esther, we can do much good with God’s help.
Bible passage
The scripture you are looking for is Esther 4:14. Here is the full text from the Schlachter 2000 translation:
“For if you are really silent in this time, deliverance and salvation for the Jews will come from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish; and who knows whether you have not come to the kingship just at this time?”
Mordecai speaks these words to Esther to encourage her to use her influence as queen to save her people.
