Queen Esther serves her people
When King Xerxes, the ruler of the mighty land of Persia, was looking for a wife, Mordecai immediately thought of his cousin, the wise and beautiful Esther. Mordecai family was Jewish, but he warned Esther not to tell anyone about this as he knew that there were powerful people in the land who hated Jews. Mordecai took Esther to the palace gates to be presented to the king, and, sure enough, as soon as King Xerxes saw Esther he fell in love with her, and the humble Jewish girl became a queen.
Mordecai often sat by the palace gates hoping to hear snippets of news about his cousin. For some time, all seemed well. But Haman, a wicked and powerful man in the court of King Xerxes, became angry with Mordecai because he would not bow down and honour him. Hamen hatched a cunning plan. He began to tell the King bad things about the Jews living in his land and eventually he persuaded Xerxes that all the Jews should be killed. Queen Esther was beside herself with grief. She
loved her people very much but felt powerless to help them.
King Xerxes noticed how terribly sad his queen had become, and begged her to tell him why she was so upset. Esther said she would explain if he and Haman would come to a feast that she prepared the following evening. When the grand banquet was over King Xerxes asked once again. “My dear Esther, you promised to tell me the reason for your sorrow.” Esther summoned all her courage in what might be her last act of service. She told the king about Haman’s plan to kill all of the Jews, which would include herself. King Xerxes was furious at the prospect of losing his beloved and beautiful Esther and ordered Haman to be rearrested.
And so it was that Esther’s name will be forever be remembered for her willingness to risk everything in the service of her people.
