Esther - Mentoring (Study Notes)

A Look at the Book of Esther

Review:

• A book which reveals God's providence at work in the affairs of mankind and his people.


• J. Vernon McGee quotes a hymn to describe this book, "God standeth in the shadows keeping watch over His own." Keep this verse in mind (Esther 2:11).


• The Persian King Cyrus, when he conquered Babylon, gave a decree to allow the Jews to return home. Many stayed despite the decree allowing them to return. Why?

• Rebellion?

  Apathy?

  Routine?

  Status?

  Supporter (kingdom builder)? (Ezra 1:1-4)

• Regardless of whether or not, the remnant were in God's will, God does not abandon his children because of their sin. The fellowship may be broken but the relationships is still there.


• We do know that because of their prior sin, they were in captivity. There is still consequences of sin upon generations.


• Although they are not in God's will, God still directs their affairs to his purpose.
  They were far from God but he was near to them (Acts 17:26-28a).

Different Perspective:

• In light of Ezra 1:4, maybe Mordecai was in place to support his people. I believe this is consistent with his character that we see throughout this passage:

• In the next chapter, Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman. (Esther 3:2)

  Mordecai inspires Esther to stand up for her people. (Esther 4:12-14)

  Held in high esteem among the Jews (Esther 10:3)

• Don't misunderstand my point. I don't believe that Mordecai was some pious spiritual superman. But, just maybe, he is a follower of God struggling in a pagan land to do what he believes to be right. Often times, he looks to his own strength and he fails.

• We don't see a pattern of prayer in his life like we see with Nehemiah.

  We don't see him taking a stand for purity like Joseph did.

  While he follows the example of "not bowing" like Daniel, he doesn't mention the name of God while doing so.

  Clearly, Mordecai has his issues, but do these issues sound familiar?

• Regardless of our perspective of Mordecai, God remains the same. HE is constant and HE is in control. Though he is not even mentioned, God is the main character in the story of Esther.
• Let's examine Mordecai's action in light of his struggling to serve God in a foreign land.
• As we examine this, I want to leave us with a challenge -- to invest in the next generation so that they can accomplish things for God that may be beyond our reach.

Proverbs 20:29 "The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old."

Passages: (Esther 2:5-23) Mentoring the Next Generation

A Place of Prominence

If we are to lead, we should strive to be in a place of influence -- not necessarily position, but influence. One of the most important measures of a leader is influence.

Esther 2:5 - living in the palace area.

Esther 2:21 - residing at the king's gate. [Incidently, we don't know if he held this position before or because Esther was queen and her influence made it possible.]

The gate of the ancient city was its major commercial and legal center. Markets were held in the gate; the court sat there to transact its business. Mordecai's sitting at the gate confirms his holding a high position in the civil service of the empire.

Who are other people in the Bible whom God placed in positions of leadership in foreign lands?

Joseph

Daniel

Nehemiah

God was orchestrating Mordecai's life and had placed him in a position of influence for a specific purpose.

God has reasons for placing us in positions of influence. We should not be blind to what God wants to do in our lives. We should not take our positions for granted.

A Role as Guardian

Esther 2:7 - Mordecai had "brought up" and "taken [Esther] as his own daughter."

What are the implications of this as a Jew?

Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Proverbs 22:6
Psalm 71:17-18
Psalm 78:1-7

As a guardian (or mentor) we have a responsibility to "train."

I believe because of the pattern that we see in Mordecai and in Esther that he had laid a foundation for training, development, discipline, respect, and growth in Esther.

Esther 2:10, 20

Mordecai was speaking into her life.

What was the motivation for his instructing Esther to keep silent?

It may have been for personal benefit.
It may have been out of fear for her life (death, or becoming a concubine).

Esther was listening. Verse 20 says that Esther "continued to follow Mordecai's instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up." Others connected with Esther. "Beauty is more than skin deep."

Esther 2:9, 15, 17

Esther 4:15-17

A Responsibility as Guardian

As a guardian (mentor), we can't simply throw our youth into the deep end and hope they can swim. We need to be around -- to be available. Remember the quote from the hymn, "God standeth in the shadows keeping watch over His own." I believe we see a picture of this with Mordecai in Esther 2:11.

A Relationship as Mentor

As we speak and act into the lives of our children or our youth -- the next generation -- ultimately the process should take us to a point of influence through relationship. We see this transformation begin to happen in the relationship between Mordecai and Esther.

Esther 2:22
Esther 4 (especially 4:15-17)
Esther 9:29-32

We can rule from position, or we can influence through relationship. If their (Esther and Mordecai's) relationship had been because of position it would have changed dramatically when she became queen, but the relationship was just that -- a relationship. Ultimately, ruling will lead to rebellion. Influence will lead to a partnership in life's work -- kingdom work.