A Cinderella Story

Scripture: Esther 4:10-15.

Title: “A Cinderella Story”

Key Verses: Esther 4:14 – Esther 4:16

Introduction: This is a story of Courage, Daring, and Adventure. It is a “Cinderella” story about a young woman coming from ‘Rags to Riches.’ The book of Esther was written by a Jew to his people scattered abroad, of God’s wonderful deliverance from destruction during their captivity. The great fact is given that although the Jews were in broken relationship with God, they were still the objects of His love and care. The broken relationship may account for the fact that the name of God does not once appear in the whole book, yet God is revealed throughout the book in His providence, in His overruling power and in the preservation and deliverance of His covenant people.

This story opens with the king giving a FEAST. They were are all getting drunk. In this drunken state the kings sends for his queen to display her beauties, probably in an indiscrete way. The queen refuses the king’s invitation for reasons we do not know.

The kings flies into a rage! The king enjoyed ABSOLUTE power. He was in command of the largest army that ever marched onto the field of battle in the ancient world. The king inquires with his guests as to what should be done as a result of his queen refusing his invitation. It was suggested that this situation must be dealt with immediately because it would cause a FEMINIST rebellion and all the men would have difficulty within their homes and their marriages. This REBELLION must be stopped immediately to keep the men of the empire from losing their masculine supremacy. Vashti, the Queen, was immediately uncrowned and dismissed as queen.

There was to be a search for another queen to replace Vashti. The word went out to all the land to bring the most beautiful maidens before the king for him to choose a queen. Sounds like a “Miss Universe” Pageant doesn’t it? This is where Esther comes into the picture. Because of her beauty her cousin Mordecai sends her into the group to be considered for queen.

Esther was not born a Princess. She was a member of a conquered race. Esther was an ORPHAN. She had been adopted by her cousin Mordecai as his own daughter

Esther was CHOSEN from a great number of beautiful women that had been hand picked to be brought before the king for him to select a queen.

It would be hard to imagine what thoughts were coursing through Esther’s mind. One day living a very common life and then the next day being considered for QUEEN. And then becoming the Queen of the great Persian Empire. Her mind was probably trying to catch up with all that was happening to her.

I. NO ACCIDENTS.

a. It wasn’t an accident nor was it luck that caused Esther to be PROMOTED into the POWERFUL office of a Queen.

b. When God gets ready to PROMOTE someone He may start many years before the actual Promotion Occurs. (Such was the case with Esther: Her Beauty, Her Cousin Mordecai that ADOPTED her, Her being in the Right Place at the Right Time.)

c. God has a PLAN and a DESIGN for each of our LIVES. (The PROVIDENCE of God – “The LOOKING AHEAD to the FUTURE”)

d. John Wesley’s father, Samuel, was a dedicated pastor, but there were those in his parish who didn’t like him. On February 9, 1709, a fire broke out in the rectory at Epworth, possibly set by one of the rector’s enemies. Young John, not yet six years old, was stranded on an upper floor of the building. Two neighbors rescued the lad just seconds before the roof crashed in. One neighbor stood on the other’s shoulders and pulled young John through the window. Samuel Wesley said, “Come, neighbors, let us kneel down. Let us give thanks to God. He has given me all my eight children. Let the house go. I am rich enough.” John Wesley often referred to himself as a “brand plucked out of the fire” (Zech. 3:2; Amos 4:11). In later years he often noted Feb. 9 in his journal and gave thanks to God for His mercy. Samuel Wesley labored for 40 years at Epworth and saw very little fruit; but consider what his family accomplished!

II. “FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS” (Esther 4:14)

(In TMES like these “These are the ‘Days of Our Lives’)

(Esther found out her people, the Jews, had had a death sentence placed on them and unless she went to the king a spoke on their behalf they would all be destroyed and their property taken away by their killers. Simply because of a man named Haman that couldn’t get Esther’s cousin Mordecai to bow to him!)