One of the most obvious features of Esther is that it is set during the exile of Israel. Esther’s first readers would have recognized the exilic context of the book, from its Persian setting and the threat of Israel’s destruction in light of Haman’s plot. Because the book’s events take place during the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I; 486–464 BC), they also take place after the first return of Israel from Babylon under Zerubbabel (538 BC) and before Israel’s second and third returns under Ezra (458 BC) and Nehemiah (445 BC). In other words, there is hope for Israel, given their first return, but Haman’s threat to destroy all the Jews puts that hope in serious doubt. As with the destruction of Samaria (722 BC) and Jerusalem (586 BC) that began the exile, the question in Esther remains – will God preserve His people, Israel, and return them to the Promised Land? This question dominates the drama of the book.

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.   
Proverbs 29:2

What can we learn from   Esther?

God is the great   Keeper.

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish.                                    
Esther 4:14a 

God is  , even when life does not make  .

And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”              
Esther 4:14b

God can do a   work through   people.

There has always been   between the sexes.

We are told in Genesis that God created them - male and female.

Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.
Genesis 5:2

After the fall, God tells Eve … To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you."                                        Genesis 3:16

48 years ago in 1973 Promoters dubbed the match between Billy Jean King (29) and Bobby Riggs (55) in the “Battle of the Sexes.”

50 million people in the United States and an estimated 90 million people worldwide tuned in on September 20, 1973 to watch King versus Riggs in the Houston Astrodome. One of the most watched televised sporting events of all time; no tennis match before or since has been seen by so many.

God’s plans are always   than anyone’s  .

God’s   is greater than those in power.

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.                                                 
Proverbs 16:18

Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.     
Esther 1:1-4

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded … seven eunuchs … to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at.                                            
Esther 1:10-11

But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.             
Esther 1:12

What happens when worldly power is  ?

For the queen’s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty.                                                                                    
Esther 1:17-18

It does not matter how   the powers that govern this world can become ... God is always  .

God even uses   human decisions for His redemptive purposes.

In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.  
Esther 2:14

… the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther’s feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.                                                            
Esther 2:17-18

Jesus came to change the world ... and one way is how men treat women.

How does following Jesus impact our relationship to women, especially our wives?

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.                         
1 Peter 3:7

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.                       
Ephesians 5:25

What must we remember as we seek to build God’s kingdom in a dark and broken world?

• Do not   God! He is omnipotently present and working even when He seems most conspicuously absent.
• Do not   pagan power! God even uses His worst enemies to serve His greatest purposes.
• Do not   our kingdom significance! God uses His weakest servants for His greatest works.