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Esther Saves Her People

Esther 2:1-9:32; Hebrews 4:16 Old Testament PrincipleCourage

Queen Esther standing in the throne room as King Xerxes holds out his golden scepter to her.

Wicked Haman planned to destroy all of God's people. Queen Esther was afraid, but she asked her people to fast and pray, then bravely went to the king. God was quietly at work all along, and He turned the whole plan upside down to save His people.

God is always at work, even when we can't see Him, and He puts His people where He wants them. Because He is with us, we can be brave.

  1. CreationGod made it
  2. FallWe broke it
  3. RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
  4. RestorationJesus makes it new

Memory verse

“And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14 BSB

Christ Connection · Better than

Esther risked her life to go before the king and plead for her people. Jesus did more: He gave His life for His people, and now He "always lives to intercede for them" (Hebrews 7:25). Because of Him, we never have to wait for a golden scepter. We can "approach the throne of grace with confidence" (Hebrews 4:16).

Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:16

The Big Story · Redemption

Since the Fall, evil has tried to destroy God's people and stop His promise. In Esther, God quietly protected the family line that would lead to Jesus, the One who would defeat evil for good.

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Haman wanted to destroy God's people. Queen Esther prayed and then bravely went to the king. God was quietly working the whole time, and He saved His people.

Memory verse

“Who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Adapted from Esther 4:14

Start here

Ask, "What is something that makes you feel scared to do?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today we'll meet a queen who had to do something very scary. Let's see where her courage came from."

Bible story 6 min

Long ago, God's people lived in a land called Persia. A girl named Esther lived there. Her mom and dad had died. Her cousin Mordecai took care of her.

The king picked Esther to be his queen. But she did not tell anyone she was one of God's people.

The king's top helper was a proud man named Haman. Mordecai would not bow down to him. Haman was so mad! He made a plan to get rid of all of God's people.

The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.

Try an activity

Touch the scepter 10 min

You’ll need: A chair (the throne), A paper crown, A cardboard tube or dowel wrapped in foil (the scepter)

  1. Kids take turns being the king (with the scepter) and Queen Esther (with the crown).
  2. Esther walks in bravely, the king holds out the scepter, and Esther touches the tip.
  3. Esther says the memory verse, and everyone cheers.
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More lessons from this story

Same Bible story, a different principle.

Seeing God's WorldWhy Am I Here?Esther 4:1-17; Esther 5:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-10When an evil plan threatened God's people, Mordecai told Queen Esther, "Who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther bravely went to the king, and God used her to save His people. God made each of us on purpose, for good works He prepared ahead of time, and He gives us courage to do them.Old TestamentCourage

More lessons on Courage

The same principle in other Bible stories.

To an Unknown God: Paul in AthensActs 17:16-34While Paul waited in Athens, he was upset to see the city full of idols. He talked about Jesus and the resurrection in the synagogue and the marketplace, and the city's thinkers brought him to a council called the Areopagus. Paul bravely stood up and said, "I found an altar that says, 'To an unknown god.' I will tell you who He is." He told them God made the world and gives everyone life and breath, and He raised Jesus from the dead. Some laughed, some wanted to hear more and some believed. God gives us courage to tell others about Him.New TestamentCourageBaby Moses in the BasketExodus 1:15-2:10; Hebrews 11:23Pharaoh ordered that Israel's baby boys be thrown into the Nile. But Moses' mother bravely hid him, then put him in a waterproof basket by the river. God protected him through his sister Miriam and even Pharaoh's own daughter. God is with us, so we can be brave.Old TestamentCourageDeborah and BarakJudges 4:1-24; Judges 5:1-31A cruel king with 900 iron chariots ruled over Israel. God told Deborah that Barak should lead an army against him, and God would give them the victory. Barak was afraid to go alone, but he went. God sent a storm, and the chariots got stuck in the mud! We can be brave because God goes before us.Old TestamentCourageThe Church BeginsPeter and John Heal a ManActs 3:1-4:31; Isaiah 35:5-6Peter and John healed a man who couldn't walk, in the name of Jesus. When leaders told them to stop talking about Jesus, they bravely said, "We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."New TestamentCourageElisha and the Chariots of Fire2 Kings 6:8-23The king of Aram sent a huge army to capture Elisha. In the morning, Elisha's servant saw soldiers all around the city and was terrified. Elisha said, "Don't be afraid! Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." God opened the servant's eyes, and the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire. God is with us, so we can be brave.Old TestamentCourage