2. Esther 1:12, 22 12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger… 22 He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, proclaiming in each people’s tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household.

3. SIRANI, Giovanni Andrea, Esther before Ahasuerus, 1630s, Szépmûvészeti Múzeum, Budapest

4. Esther 2:17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

5. Haman’s Plot of Genocide

6. Esther 3:13-14 13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and little children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.

7. Esther Chapter 4 Defining Moments: For such a time as this

8. A Sad Day in Susa

9. Esther 4:1-3 1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

10. An Effort at Consolation

11. Esther 4:4-5 4 When Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

12. The Conversation that will change Esther’s Life

13. Part One: Esther learns of the plot

14. The Conversation that will change Esther’s Life Part One: Esther learns of the plot Esther 4:6-9 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. 9 Hathach went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.

15. The Conversation that will change Esther’s Life Part Two: Esther’s huge reservations Esther 4:10-11 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

16. The Conversation that will change Esther’s Life Part Three: Mordecai’s Plea Esther 4:12-14 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

17. The Conversation that will change Esther’s Life Part Four: Esther’s Defining Moment Esther 4:15-17 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

18. For Such a Time as This: Defining Moments

19. For Such a Time as This: Defining Moments Isaiah

20. TIEPOLO, Giovanni Battista, The Prophet Isaiah, 1726-29, Fresco, 200 x 250 cm, Palazzo Patriarcale, Udine

21. Isaiah 6:5-8 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the L ORD Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

22. For Such a Time as This: Defining Moments Paul

23. SPECKAERT, Hans, Conversion of St Paul on the Road to Damascus, 1570-77, Oil on canvas, Musée du Louvre, Paris

24. Acts 9:4b-6, 18 4b “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.

25. For Such a Time as This: Defining Moments Jesus

26. MASACCIO, Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, 1424-25, Tempera on wood, Lindenau-Museum, Altenburg

27. Matthew 26:39, 42 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

28. For Such a Time as This: Defining Moments Me

29. Gospel Application What is the defining moment in your life right now?