If I Perish, I Perish
Questions for Study 3

Esther 4:1-5:14
Memory Verse 4:16

AFTER ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMMENTARY.

I. Mordecai in Sackcloth and Ashes (4:1-8)

1. What did Mordecai do when he heard the edict? What does this mean? Around your house, who cries like an open faucet? Like a drippy faucet? Who pouts? Who refuses to eat? How bad does it have to get before you go without food?

2. How did Esther find out about the edict? What did Mordecai want Esther to do? How long from when Esther was brought to the palace to this day was it? What does this tell us about how God sometimes works?

II. Fast and I will Go (4:9-17)

3. What was Esther's dilemma? What was Mordecai's response? What was Esther's decision?

4. Do you understand fasting as a spiritual discipline? What is the point of fasting as an exercise of faith?

5. What is important enough that you would risk your life for? If the Jews were all killed, what likely hood is there that the Messiah would be born? Do you think Mordecai and Esther realized that the future of the world laid in the decisions that they made?

III. Esther's Plans (5:1-8)

6. What was Esther's plan? Put yourself in Esther's sandals. Why don't you ask the king to save your people when he first asks?

7. How do you prepare for lunch with someone you are going to ask for a favor? How do you prepare for lunch with an enemy? How do you pray?

IV. Haman's Anger (5:9-14)

8. What did Haman do when he saw Mordecai at the gate? What does this show about him?

9. What was the effect of Haman's anger on his celebration over his successes?

10. What anger are you nursing that spoils some of your good times? What's the worst thing that could happen if you let that anger go and forgave the person? How could you benefit from letting the anger go?

11. Can anger keep a person from seeing the work of God?