OT 77 Esther

Reference: Esther 1-8

Story Summary:
     Xerxes, King of Persia, ruled over God's people, the Jews. He became angry with his wife and got rid of her. Esther became his new queen. King Xerxes didn't know Esther was a Jew.
     Esther's uncle, Mordecai, was sitting outside the king's palace. He overheard two guards planning to kill the king. Mordecai told Esther, who told the king. The guards were taken away and it was written in the king's records that Mordecai helped save King Xerxes.
     Later, King Xerxes honored a man named Haman. He told everyone to bow before Haman, but Mordecai didn't bow. Haman was so angry,  he wanted to kill Mordecai and his people, the Jews. King Xerxes gave him permission to do it.
     Mordecai told Esther to go to King Xerxes to ask him to save the Jews from Haman. Esther invited the King and Haman to a dinner, where she planned to talk to the King.
     When Xerxes couldn't sleep , he had his royal records read to him. When he heard that Mordecai wasn't honored for saving him, he made Haman lead a parade to honor him. At a dinner, Esther told Xerxes she was a Jew and
that Haman wanted the Jews destroyed. King Xerxes punished Haman and had Mordecai send letters stopping Haman's plan to destroy the Jews.

Big Idea and Motions: God is always with us.
God - point up
Always - gesture your arms in a wide circle
With us - hug yourself

Verse / Motions: Matthew 28:20b, ESV - And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Behold - cup your hands around your mouth and say “Behold!” dramatically
I am - point
With you - hug yourself
Always - draw repeated circles in the air with your finger
End - point far away from you with both index fingers
Of the age - trace an ∞ in the air with your finger

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was the king of Persia? // King Xerxes.
What “J” word describes the Israelites in today’s story? // Jews.
What Jew did King Xerxes make queen of Persia? // Esther.
Who was Esther’s adoptive father? // Mordecai.
How did Mordecai save King Xerxes? // He heard about two guards who wanted to kill the king.
Why was Haman mad at Mordecai? // Mordecai didn’t bow before him.
What did Haman decide to do? // Destroy all the Jews.
Why was it brave for Esther to go to the king? // If you went without him asking, you could die
How did Xerxes honor Mordecai? // Wore the king’s robe, rode on the king’s horse, had a parade led by Haman
Did King Xerxes listen to Esther’s request to not destroy her people? // Yes.

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/CZDpDi
Resources - https://goo.gl/zOuyBn