Esther 9-10: The Great Reversal, From Fasting to Feasting

Have you ever faced an upcoming date on the calendar with growing dread?That’s exactly how the entire Persian Empire feels in Esther 9-10 as the thirteenth of Adar approaches, when two opposing edicts will have a massive showdown. The day arrives, and the Jews, once marked for total annihilation, turn the tables on their enemies, because for the first time in the entire Book of Esther, everyone fears them.Before the dust settles, Esther boldly requests another day of battle and the brutal destruction of Haman’s family. Then this woman, who once hid her identity to survive, signs her name as a Jew and establishes Purim, a religious holiday which still exists today to celebrate when the Jews' sorrow turned to joy.In our Esther 9-10 Bible study, we cover:[4:15] Ancient Roots: How this final battle connects all the way back to what God commanded ‌Saul to do centuries earlier in 1 Samuel.[14:30] Esther's Boldness: Why Esther asks the king for more instead of walking away once the immediate danger passes.[17:34] Divine Providence: Why a story that never mentions God is such a great example of how God’s divine providence is always at work behind the scenes. [21:01] Justice and Irony: How the lot Haman cast to destroy the Jews becomes the name of their salvation, Purim.[21:57] Purim Traditions: How the four simple requirements (Mitzvot) of Purim celebrate that the Jews' sorrow turned into joy, and why Purim still matters today.Esther Show NotesFeasts and Festivals in the BibleGenealogy of JesusThe Persian PalaceBlog PostGroup Discussion Questions for Esther 9-10[15:14] Esther is gruesomely thorough because there’s no way she’s going to look back with regret. Is there a God-given assignment in your life right now that you've been holding back from finishing? What would it look like to see it through to the end?[25:30] Divine providence is God working behind the scenes through what looks like a series of coincidences. When was the last time you experienced a coincidence in your life, and do you think it might have actually been the hand of God?[28:22] The Book of Esther began with Esther hiding her identity, and it ended with her name publicly on a royal decree. Have you ever witnessed God transform the very thing someone was most afraid to be known for into the source of their greatest impact? What was the result?Contact Bible Book Club!Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comSocial: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!