Lesson 23 Opening Act Scope and Sequence Old Testament Book Study: The Book of Esther Lesson Objective Students will understand that every aspect of life is under the direction and guidance of a caring and loving God. Sticky Statement Change doesn t change God s plan. Key Verse Isaiah 14:24 Definitions Immutable: not capable of, or susceptible to change Sovereign: one who exercises supreme authority or rule Providence: the manifestation of divine care or direction Checklist 1. A PowerPoint is available for this lesson. 2. Six Scripture reading cards prepared appropriately for the Change Illustration. 3. Four poster boards 4. Four large markers 5. Four chairs 6. Simple props to help with the impromptu skit Resources Where was God When? Mike Calhoun and Ric Garland pg. 23. Providential Page 231
Lesson Overview I. Meet the Cast A. The King What type of change was King Ahasuerus dealing with? B. The Queen What type of change was Queen Vashti dealing with? C. Mordecai What type of change was Mordecai dealing with? D. Esther What type of change was Esther dealing with? II. Act I A. A changing plot line In order to make a proper evaluation of change, change must be viewed from the perspective of something or someone who is outside of the influence of change. B. Since God is unchanging, we can rely on what He says about change. III. An Unchanging God Not one change that happened in your life took God by surprise because they were not changes to God. While the plot and story line may change dramatically; it does not change the Playwright. Sovereign One who exercises supreme authority or rule Immutable Not capable of or susceptible to change Providence The manifestation of divine care or direction Change doesn t change God s plan. Teacher s Note: This series on the Book of Esther is a narrative based series. It is written with the theater in mind and God is the Divine Playwright. Much of the lessons are dramatic retelling of the stories. Throughout the lesson are the source references for the story, i.e., (Esther 1:1). These are not part of the script but are a reference for you to know what passage the story is based on. You will be directed specifically when a Scripture passage is to be read to the class or when a student should read it. Providential Page 232
Hook Throughout the ages, the theater has been the stage to help connect audiences of countless generations to the tragedies and comedies in the lives of both real and imaginary characters. If the play is presented in a way that is worthy of the story, the conflict of the drama can cause the audience to display raw emotion. As the play reaches its climax, the audience can be held breathless waiting for both the turn of events and resolution. Those who enjoy the theater would instantly recognize the name of the most famous playwright, William Shakespeare. Long before Hamlet, Macbeth, or even Romeo and Juliet, God Himself, the greatest Playwright of them all, recorded in the Book of Esther, an account of tragedy and triumph. While the account of the life of Esther is non-fiction and was not written for the theater stage, it possesses all the components of a classic theater play. From this ancient account of kings and queens, villains and heroes, the audience will see how every change of life is guided by the providence of God. Teacher s Note: Prior to the lesson, recruit two guys and two girls to play the parts of Ahasuerus, Queen Vashti, Mordecai, and Esther in an impromptu skit. As the account of the first two chapters of the Book of Esther are read in dramatic fashion, each actor should perform the appropriate actions. Be sure to read slowly and interject pauses so the actors have time to play their part. Instruct the performers to use comedy in their acting. In lieu of reading the dramatic reading below, simply read selected portions of the first two chapters of the Book of Esther. Please welcome to the stage our four main characters: King Ahasuerus, Queen Vashti, Mordecai the Jew, and Esther. As the dramatic rendition of the story of Esther is read, listen for ways that each character was shaped by the changes of life. Teacher s Note: Prior to the impromptu skit, place four chairs on stage. After the skit comes to an end, ask each of the students to sit in one of the chairs. In advance, have each student in the skit write on the piece of poster board a list of the changes that their character faced. The Dramatic Reading A long, long time ago, in the area between India and Ethiopia there lived a wealthy and powerful king who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces (Esther 1:1). His name was Ahasuerus, but sometimes he was called Xerxes. About three years into his reign, he decided to throw a massive party that would last for six months. He wanted to show off the extent of his power and wealth (Esther 1:2-3). After his 180-day party was finished, he threw an exclusive, seven-day party inviting only the people who lived in the palace (Esther 1:5). On the last day of this exclusive party, after the king was drunk, he decided to parade Queen Vashti, his wife, in front of all of his drunken friends (Esther 1:10). He sent a command for Vashti to report to him. Make no mistake, Queen Vashti was beautiful (Esther 1:11). Providential Page 233
When the queen was told that the king was commanding her to appear before him, she refused! Her public refusal to obey the king s command made the king angry. After consulting his wise men, he divorced his wife and made sure that she never set foot in the palace again (Esther 1:19). It took the king some time to emotionally recover from his divorce (Esther 2:1). After a couple years, it was decided that the king should get a new wife (Esther 2:2). He decided to hold a royal beauty pageant and commanded the fairest maids of all the land to attend (Esther 2:3). In Shushan, where the palace was located, there just happened to live a Jewish man named Mordecai (Esther 2:4). Mordecai had a cousin by the name of Esther whom he had adopted when her parents died (Esther 2:7). When the king commanded that all the young women be brought to his beauty pageant, Esther was forced to be a potential candidate for queen (Esther 2:8). Prior to attending the pageant, Esther had been encouraged not to reveal the fact that she was Jewish (Esther 2:9). After a full year of preparation, Esther appeared before the king (Esther 2:16). When the king saw Esther, the beauty pageant was over. The king made Esther not only his bride, but also his queen (Esther 2:17). After Esther became the queen, the king s life was spared when Mordecai reported an assassination plot against the king (Esther 2:22-23) story to be continued next week. Teacher s Note: After the impromptu drama is over, ask the audience to give the actors a round of applause and ask them to sit in the chairs provided on stage. Have some fun by making comments about the impromptu team being the best actors ever, filled with talent, ought to be paid more for their acting skills, etc. Lesson Content I. Meet the Cast A. The King What type of change was King Ahasuerus dealing with? [Allow students time to respond.] Basically, the king was dealing with a divorce situation. King Ahasuerus found himself without a wife and he would be without a wife for the next four years (Esther 2:16). Four years later, after a royal beauty pageant, the king would be married again. Even if you are the king and can do what you want, a change in marital status certainly impacts your life. Divorce and remarriage were two major changes for the king, but change doesn t change God s plan. Providential Page 234
Teacher s Note: Ask the student who played the part of King Ahasuerus to show his poster board with the words divorce and remarriage and hold it in front of himself so that the audience can remember the changes the king faced. Stand behind the student and ask the rhetorical questions to the audience: Can you relate to these changes? Has the divorce or remarriage of your parents ever changed your life? B. The Queen What type of change was Queen Vashti dealing with? [Allow students time to respond.] As a result of her divorce, Queen Vashti lost all the perks of her position including the financial security and social status of being queen (Esther 1:19). Her decision impacted all the married women of the kingdom and would have changed how they felt about her (Esther 1:20). Her place of residence changed dramatically (Esther 1:19). From an emotional standpoint, imagine what change she experienced. One day she had enough selfconfidence to refuse the command of the king, and by the end of the night she was an outcast, blacklisted, and quite possibly the most rejected person in the kingdom. The queen s changes included: divorce, loss of financial security, loss of social status, loss of her place of residence, and hatred from other women; but change doesn t change God s plan. Teacher s Note: Ask the student who played the part of Queen Vashti to display the poster with the words divorce, loss of financial security, loss of social status, loss of residence, and hatred from other women on her poster board and hold it in front of herself so that the audience can remember the changes the queen faced. Stand behind the student and ask the rhetorical questions to the audience: Can you relate to any of these changes? Have you ever had to move to a place where the living conditions were not as good as where you were living before? Has your family ever experienced a financial setback that changed what you could purchase or where you would live? C. Mordecai What type of change was Mordecai dealing with? [Allow students time to respond.] When Mordecai heard of the death of his uncle and aunt, he chose to adopt his cousin. Since there is no mention of Mordecai s wife, it is possible that when he adopted Esther, he became a single father. His new role as a father changed his daily habits. Even though Mordecai worked within close proximity to the king, when Esther became queen his connection became even closer. He now had a direct line to the king. As a result, he would report an assassination plot directly to the queen (Esther 2:21-22). Unbeknownst to Mordecai, this simple report would help change his life in the not-so-distant future, but change doesn t change God s plan. Providential Page 235
Teacher s Note: Ask the student who played the part of Mordecai to display the poster with the words father to an orphan, parental worries, closer ties to the king on his poster board and hold it in front of himself so that the audience can remember the changes that Mordecai faced. Stand behind the student and ask the rhetorical questions to the audience: Can you relate to any of these changes? Have you ever had a foster child in your home? Has your family ever adopted a child? D. Esther What type of change was Esther dealing with? [Allow students time to respond.] The death of her parents would have caused a major change in her life. Esther understood what it was like to be an orphan. Esther understood what is was like to be adopted (Esther 2:7). As a result of the decree from the king (Esther 2:2-4), Esther dealt with more change. Normal life was interrupted when she was forced to be part of the royal beauty pageant. This change would initially be a year-long evaluation process and ultimately it would change her life forever when she became queen. When the crown was placed on her head, her social status and financial status dramatically changed. Even though the changes for Esther improved her social status, financial status, living arrangements, and many other things, Esther would have to deal with the emotional changes as well. Change even good change can be hard, but change doesn t change God s plan. Teacher s Note: Ask the student who played the part of Esther to display the poster with the words death of her parents, being a foster child, being adopted, removed from her home, adjustment to palace life, more popular, more money, and better living arrangements on her poster board and hold it in front of herself so that the audience can remember the changes that Esther faced. Stand behind the student and ask the rhetorical questions to the audience: Can you relate to any of these changes? Have you ever had a parent die? Have you ever been in foster care or been adopted? Have you ever moved to a bigger house? Each of the main characters in this book experienced major change. Some of the change was good. A lot of the change was bad. With so much change, it would have been easy to be confused, to be angry, or to simply question why. II. Act I A. A changing plot line Things change! Don t they? While sometimes change is desired and welcomed, many times change can be hard to handle. In an attempt to avoid change, it is easy to become a creature of habit and expect certain areas of life to stay the same. When we are happy with some things just the way they are, it can be hard to cope when change comes. Change can be tough. Those difficult feelings associated with change can be even more complicated for those who are followers of Jesus. It is difficult to believe that the divine Playwright would allow such difficult changes to be part of the script He has planned. Providential Page 236
Change is hard to evaluate because you are in the middle of it. Properly evaluating change is difficult because we, by nature, are constantly changing. Our starting point for evaluating change originates with our current circumstances; and our circumstances are constantly changing. In order to make a proper evaluation of change, change must be viewed from the perspective of something or someone who is outside of the influence of change. [Ask a student to read Malachi 3:6.] Since God is unchanging, we can rely on what He says about change. [Have a student read Psalm 102:25-27.] Teacher s Note: Prior to teaching this lesson, write several random references on cards and ask three students to be prepared to read the passage listed. The passages can be any passage in the Bible except the one you actually want them to read. Be sure to recruit the students prior to the teaching time. To begin this illustration, announce that several students will be reading passages of Scripture and call for the first passage to be read. Be sure to ask the student to read the reference first. After each student reads the reference, stop him and announce that he will need to read a different passage. Hand him a different card with the passage that you really want him to read and ask him to read that passage. [Have a student read Isaiah 14:24.] [Have a student read James 1:17.] Teacher s Note: Before talking about the verses that were read, ask each student how they felt when they had to change the verse they needed to read. (Possible replies: Frustrated, embarrassed, thought they were given the wrong card by mistake, annoyed, etc.) Before we discuss the verses that were read, this simple illustration can help with our understanding of change. For those who were supposed to read, their plans were set. They did what they were instructed to do. Everything was the way they thought it was supposed to be. They had no clue that they were going to have to change. They didn t know that their verse card was part of a bigger plan. If they had read the verse they were prepared to read, the content of the verse would not have helped with the lesson. Change was necessary for an understanding of God to be learned, but more importantly, change was necessary for the illustration to happen. It wasn t a change for me. I knew it was coming, but what I knew impacted the life of the person reading. What was best was an inconvenience for the reader. It made their life a little more complicated, but that change was part of a bigger plan. The real purpose was not only to learn about the unchanging nature of God, but to also illustrate change. Providential Page 237
When we are frustrated or confused about a change that occurred in our lives, it is a result of our assumption of purpose or intended plan. We make the assumption that the change was not supposed to happen. We assume that the plan that we have in mind is the right plan, perhaps the only plan. In his book, Where Was God When? author and pastor Ric Garland speaks to the idea of the stress of two plans. He writes, God has a specific, detailed plan for your life, and that plan will not change. When there is stress in your life, you know where that comes from? Stress is when there are two agendas. Now, you can have a plan, but listen carefully: God s plan will not change I suggest that you change your plan, because God s agenda is not going anywhere. (1) Connection III. An Unchanging God Think about all the changes that we have discussed so far. As you ponder all of those changes and the changes that have happened in your life, silently answer this question: How many of those changes changed God? None of the changes that you have experienced caught God off-guard or caused Him to have to change. In the middle of your changing world, God remained unchanged. Remember the truths found in the verses that were previously read? Psalm 102:25-27 reminds us that God does not change. Isaiah 14:24 reminds us that God s plans never change. James 1:17 reminds us that there is no change in God whatsoever. Our illustration reminds us that we do not always know the purpose behind change. Not one change that happened in your life took God by surprise because they were not changes to God. God has never thought, Oh, man. I didn t see that coming! What am I going to do now? We must realize that everything that happened in the book of Esther and everything that has happened (and will happen) in your life is a part of God s plan. Change doesn t change God s plan. If you are in the middle of a change that is not desirable, remember God knows the reason and the outcome. You, like the characters of the Book of Esther, may not know the outcome or the reason at this moment, but God is still at work in your life. You are exactly where He needs you. God has not forgotten you. While the plot and story line may change dramatically; it does not change the Playwright. Since God is sovereign (One who exercises supreme authority or rule), He is in complete control of all things, even the things that are changing. Since God is immutable (not capable of or susceptible to change), His control of all things will not change. Through His providence (the manifestation of divine care or direction), He directs the path of all people and all things. In Psalm 23:3-4, King David penned the words of a psalm that help us understand the providence of God. [Ask a student to read Psalm 23:3-4.] Providential Page 238
Although He leads in the path of righteousness, occasionally that path takes a turn into the valley, even toward the shadow of death. The proper response to change is modeled by King David. In the middle of an undesirable change, he focused not on the valley, but on the One with whom he walked. Change happens, but change doesn t change God s plan. Because we are constantly changing, it is difficult to always know the purpose of the changes that we face. We have the advantage of knowing the outcome of the Book of Esther, but the characters of the book had no way of knowing the outcome. When Queen Vashti refused to show up to the party, she was not thinking, I need to disobey the king s command so I can be replaced by a Jewish queen. King Ahasuerus was probably not thinking, I need a new wife. I am so glad she didn t come, I get to dump her now. There was no way that Esther could have possibly known that the captivity of her ancestors, the death of her parents, the adoption by her cousin, the disobedience of a queen, and a lonely king would ultimately lead to her coronation and the salvation of a nation from death. Nobody, but the great Playwright Himself, knew why all the changes needed to occur. He wrote the script for all of the events in the lives of each of the characters to accomplish a purpose that was bigger than any individual member of the cast. For God, that script contained the plot changes that He had chosen. The Apostle Paul understood this truth and as a result could write that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). From our perspective, not every change is good, but from the viewpoint of an immutable God, everything is part of His plan. Truly, God is working in all things to accomplish His purpose. Decision Since change doesn t change God s plan, we must trust that His plan is right, even those things that change our plan. As we walk through the valley, even the valley of the shadow of death, we must focus not on the changes or difficulties, but on the One who directs our paths. When we view the changes in our lives as just a part our story, we can embrace those changes as character development and find fulfillment in the role uniquely designed for us by the greatest Playwright of all time. In what area of your life will you begin to direct your focus from the change with which you are dealing to the One who directs your path? On your student notes or on the notes app on your phone, write down one major change that has happened in your life recently. Will you commit to thank God every day this week for that change in your life? When you come back next week, will you share with your small group leader how your attitude toward that change has developed as a result of being thankful for the change? Providential Page 239
Sticky Statement Change doesn t change God s plan. Small Group Discussion Questions 1. Describe a situation in your life where change that took place did not make sense until a much later time. (Some of the topics of conversation may lend themselves to long stories. It could be necessary to stop someone from telling too much detail. You as the small group leader may need to share a brief story to get the ball rolling, but do not monopolize the speaking time.) 2. What major area of your life has changed recently? (You could refer to the item they wrote on the paper and ask them to share. Be patient and try to draw real changes out. Ask them what is difficult right now. Are there changes that need to happen that haven t yet? Why or why not?) 3. How have you adapted to those changes? (It might be good to ask this question right after you ask the first question so the students will know where you are going and will be able to process the whole concept before they answer. Discuss the fact that a proper response to the change, whether the change is good or bad, comes from an understanding of God s plan. Help the students learn to view all changes in the light of God s control of all things.) Providential Page 240