Bible with Brandi – Week 2 – Esther Chapters 3 & 4
As we move into Esther chapters 3 and 4, the story takes a sharp turn. What has been quietly unfolding behind the scenes now comes into full view, and we see that this moment is about far more than palace politics or pride. These chapters reveal a collision of histories, lineages, and spiritual realities that have been generations in the making. Old disobedience resurfaces, ancient enemies reappear, and God’s people once again find themselves under threat. Yet even here—where God’s name is never mentioned—we see His sovereignty at work, positioning His servants, exposing hatred, and calling His people to courage and obedience for such a time as this.
Two people play big roles in this portion of the story. First, Mordeci, Esther’s cousin and guardian. Unbeknownst to many, he was a servant of the king! He was not only a wise man who sat in the city gates with the elders of the land (Proverbs 31), he was also one who sat in the king’s gate, in a place of honor and intimacy of the monarchy (Esther 3:2).
Second, Haman. He, too, was a servant of the king who, for some unknown reason, was promoted to a position honored even above the king’s seven princes who, up until then, “ranked highest in the kingdom” (Esther 2:14). Haman was no ordinary man, to be sure. He was the “son of Hammedatha the Agagite,” a descendant of King Agag, the infamous king of the Amalekites (Esther 3:1; see also 1 Samuel 15). Haman stands as the living consequence of King Saul’s disobedience to the LORD.
And here is where history is important. Long ago, the LORD had commanded Saul to “utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they [we]re consumed” (1 Samuel 15:18). But Saul did not obey. Instead, he spared King Agag and preserved what was good from his kingdom, destroying only what was despised and worthless (1 Samuel 15:9).
Because of this act of partial obedience, Saul lost his kingship. And generations later, a man arose from a lineage that should have been extinguished—a man who would seek the destruction of God’s covenant people.
Returning to Esther’s day, when Mordecai refused to bow, Haman burned with wrath. Yet Scripture tells us that he restrained himself from striking Mordecai alone because his servants had “told him of the people of Mordecai” (Esther 3:6). In response, Haman sought not merely to punish one man, but “to destroy all the Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.”
At some point, Haman appears to become aware, perhaps for the first time, of the historic tension between his people and the Jews, as well as the Jews’ well-known history of divine deliverance and strength. The memory of the twelve sons of Jacob, the Exodus, and the parting of the Red Sea was renowned throughout the ancient world.
In the twelfth year of King Xerxes’ reign, Haman was granted both permission and authority to enact his plan. From a modern perspective, the edict mirrors the genocidal policies of Nazi Germany—calling for total annihilation. Like the Third Reich, the Medo-Persian Empire relied on layers of bureaucracy—satraps, governors, and officials—to carry out the decree (Esther 3:12).
And like the citizens of Europe in the late 1930s and early 1940s, the people of Susa were bewildered: “The city of Susa was thrown into confusion” (Esther 3:15). The decree appeared suddenly, yet allowed time—nearly ten months according to Jewish tradition—between its announcement and execution. This delay created space for fear, propaganda, and hardened hearts.
Scripture records the grief of the Jews with sobering clarity: “In every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes”(Esther 4:3).
Their response was not political first, it was spiritual. They fasted. They mourned. They humbled themselves before God.
And God moved the heart of a queen to act on behalf of her people! Amazing, right? From the comfort of the palace, Esther fasted for three days, strengthening herself for the moment to come. At risk of her own life, she humbled herself in obedience to Mordecai and God.
Reflection Questions
1. How does understanding the ancient conflict between Saul and Agag change the way you read Esther chapters 3 and 4? What does this teach us about the long-term consequences of partial obedience?
2. Mordecai and Haman both served the king, yet their hearts and legacies were vastly different. How does this challenge the way you think about influence, position, or success in your own life?
3. Mordecai’s refusal to bow was not loud or rebellious—yet it ignited intense hatred. Have you ever experienced resistance simply for standing firm in your convictions? How did you respond?
4. Why do you think Haman’s anger escalated from one man to an entire people? What does this reveal about the nature of pride, hatred, and unchecked offense?
5. The edict allowed nearly ten months before its execution. How do you see God’s mercy and sovereignty at work in seasons of delay—even when fear and confusion are present?
6. The Jews responded with fasting, mourning, and humility before God. When crisis arises in your life, what is usually your first response? What would it look like to prioritize spiritual surrender before action?
7. God’s name is never mentioned in Esther, yet His hand is unmistakable. Where in your own life might God be working quietly behind the scenes, even when you cannot see or feel Him?
8. Esther fasted not to change God’s mind, but to align her heart with His will and to strengthen her resolve beyond human ability. How have seasons of fasting or waiting strengthened your courage or clarified your obedience?
9. Esther risked her life by choosing obedience over comfort. What comforts, positions, or fears might God be asking you to lay down for the sake of faithfulness?
10. Considering Esther’s position, Mordecai’s faithfulness, and God’s unfolding plan, how might God be calling you to courage and obedience in this season of your life?
