When the king of Persia sought a new queen, a young Jewish woman named Esther was chosen. Raised by her cousin Mordecai, Esther kept her Jewish identity a secret, as he had advised.

At about the same time, Mordecai uncovered a plot to assassinate the king and saved his life. Meanwhile, a proud official named Haman was promoted to a high position. When Mordecai refused to bow before him, Haman became furious and persuaded the king to issue a decree ordering the destruction of all the Jews in the empire.

When Mordecai learned of the decree, he urged Esther to speak to the king on behalf of her people. Though approaching the king without an invitation could mean death, Mordecai reminded her, “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

After three days of fasting and prayer, Esther courageously approached the king. He welcomed her and granted her request to host a banquet. At the banquet, Esther revealed that Haman had plotted to destroy her people and exposed his wicked scheme.

The king was enraged. Haman was executed on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, and Mordecai was promoted to Haman’s position. Through Esther’s courage and God’s providence, the Jewish people were saved from destruction.