The Queen's Brave Secret
(Esther 7)
King Xerxes ruled over a very big kingdom, and he sat on his golden throne. Queen Esther stood in the inner courtyard of the palace. She had been invited to come before the king, because Esther had prepared a feast for him. She also invited Haman to come to the feast.
Haman was a proud man. Everyone bowed down to him when he walked by, everyone except one man named Mordecai, Esther's cousin, who refused to bow. This made Haman so angry that he wanted to destroy not just Mordecai, but all of the Jewish people. Haman tricked the king into signing a law that would allow all of the Jews to be killed. But Queen Esther had a secret. She was Jewish too, though no one in the palace knew it. Mordecai told Esther that she had to go to the king and beg for her people's lives, and Esther bravely agreed, even though it could cost her life.
Now the king and Haman were at Esther's second banquet. The king was in a good mood. He said to Esther, "What is your request? I will give you anything you want, up to half of my kingdom." Esther took a deep breath. She knew this was her moment. She said, "O king, I ask that you save my life. My people and I have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and wiped out. We will be completely destroyed. If we had only been sold as slaves, I would have kept quiet. But what we face is far worse."
The king was shocked. "Who is the man who would dare to do such a thing?" Esther pointed straight at Haman and said, "Haman is the evil man who did this." Haman was terrified. The king was so furious that he got up and walked out into the palace garden to calm down.
Haman stayed behind with Queen Esther. He fell to his knees and begged for his life. He cried out, "Please, Queen Esther, let me live." Haman threw himself on the couch where Esther was sitting. At that exact moment, the king walked back into the room. He saw Haman leaning over the couch near Queen Esther. The king shouted, "Are you going to hurt the queen right in front of me in my own house?" The king's guards quickly grabbed Haman. They covered Haman's face to show that he was guilty of a terrible crime.
One of the king's servants named Harbona said, "There is a huge wooden gallows outside Haman's house. Haman built it to hang Mordecai on it. And Mordecai is the man who saved the king's life by stopping an assassination plot." The king said, "Hang Haman on that very gallows." So the guards took Haman outside and hanged him on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. That very day, the king gave Mordecai the ring he had taken from Haman. Queen Esther put Mordecai in charge of all of Haman's property. God had turned the whole situation around. The evil plan of Haman became his own destruction. Esther was brave and trusted God, and the Jewish people were saved from being destroyed.
A Curious Question
Why do you think King Xerxes walked out into the garden right when Haman was begging Esther for his life, and why did he come back at just the exact moment to catch Haman leaning over the queen's couch?
Jesus Connection
Esther risked her life to save her people from a wicked enemy. She stood in the gap between death and life. This points forward to Jesus, who also stood in the gap for us. In Romans 5:8, we learn that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Jesus took the punishment we deserved, just like Haman ended up on the gallows he built. Esther saved her people from physical death. Jesus saves everyone who trusts in Him from eternal death and gives us everlasting life with God.
Discussion Questions
- Esther kept her identity as a Jew a secret until just the right moment. Why was this the perfect time for her to tell the king the whole truth?
- Haman built a tall gallows to hang Mordecai, but the king ordered Haman to be hanged on it instead. What does this teach us about how God can turn evil plans around?
- Esther was afraid to go before the king, but she did it anyway. What are some things that scare you, and how can you be brave like Esther?
So What? What Can I Do?
- Have you ever been scared to tell the truth because it might get you in trouble? Esther told the truth even when it was dangerous. Think of one way you can be brave like Esther this week by telling the truth.
- Can you think of a time when someone was mean to you or your friends? Haman was mean to Mordecai and all of the Jews. God sees when people are treated unfairly. You can pray for God to help and protect those who are being treated badly.
- The king was in charge, but God was really in charge the whole time. When you face a big problem, you can remember that God is still in control. What is one big thing you can give to God today because He is bigger than any problem?
Memorize God's Word
Esther 4:14b: "Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
- Who knows whether you have not come point to yourself and then point to a friend with a questioning look.
- to the kingdom make a crown shape over your head with both hands.
- for such a time as this point both hands forward to show the present moment, then open your palms up.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank you for being in charge of everything, even when things look scary. Help us to be brave like Esther and trust you when we are afraid. Remind us that you see everything and you can turn bad situations around for good. In Jesus' name, amen.
Craft or Activity
Gallows Turnaround Spinner
Kids create a spinning paper wheel that shows Haman's evil plan (his gallows) on one side and the king's reversal (Mordecai honored) on the other. The spinner demonstrates how God turned the whole situation around.
Materials Checklist:
How to Make the Gallows Turnaround Spinner:- Each child gets two paper plates. On one plate, draw Haman standing next to a tall wooden gallows with a sad Mordecai nearby.
- On the other plate, draw the king giving Mordecai his royal ring and Haman being led away by guards. Write the words "God Turns Things Around."
- Place the two plates on top of each other with the drawings facing out. Push a brad fastener through the center of both plates.
- Spin the top plate around to show how God flipped the situation. Use the spinner to tell the story to a friend or family member.
Effective Teaching Techniques
For Younger Children: Focus on the simple idea that God sees everything and can fix problems. Use hand motions for the story - point up for the king, cover your face for Haman, and make a brave face for Esther. Keep the craft simple and make sure they leave with one clear idea: God is in charge.
Prep Shortcut: Pre-cut the paper plates and pre-punch the center holes for the brad fasteners. If you have a large class, have an adult or older helper ready to assist with the brad fasteners so the craft moves quickly.
Classroom Management: During the discussion questions, use a talking stick or soft ball that kids pass around. Only the child holding the object may speak. This keeps everyone listening and gives shy kids a clear turn to share.
For Older Kids: Challenge them to read Esther chapters 5 through 7 on their own. Ask them to look for every time the king asks Esther what she wants. They can count how many times the king uses the phrase "half of my kingdom" and discuss why Esther waited for the second banquet to reveal her request.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did Esther choose the banquet as the moment to reveal Haman's plot?
- The banquet gave Esther a private, favorable setting with the king in a good mood, and it was the right time God had prepared for her to finally speak the truth.
- Why was Haman hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai?
- The king learned that Haman had built the gallows to kill Mordecai, the very man who had once saved the king's life, so the king ordered Haman to be hanged on it instead.
- What does this story teach about how God works?
- Even though God is never named in the book of Esther, His hand is seen turning every evil plan back on the one who made it and protecting His people at just the right moment.