👑Queen Esther's Brave Prayer: How God Rescued His People
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Read the biblical story of Queen Esther for children aged 3 and up. Learn how she relied on prayer, fasting, and family to save her people in ancient Persia.
The Beautiful Palace and a Big Secret
Long ago, in a grand city called Susa (modern day Iran), a great king named Ahasuerus ruled over the massive Persian Empire. He lived in a giant palace filled with colorful courtyards, stone pillars, and beautiful gardens. In this city, families lived in simple mud-brick houses, where children played while parents baked flatbread over small clay ovens and wove wool into clothing.
A young Jewish orphan girl named Esther also lived in Susa with her cousin Mordecai, who raised her as his own daughter after her parents died. In their culture, family structures meant everything; family members took care of one another and stayed loyal. Mordecai worked daily sitting near the king’s stone gate, keeping a watchful eye on the city.
When the king looked for a new queen, he chose Esther because of her grace and beauty. But Mordecai gave her a strict rule: "Do not tell anyone that you are Jewish." Esther listened to her older cousin and kept her family identity a secret inside the royal palace.
How do you think it felt for Esther to live in a giant palace while keeping a big secret?
A Sad Decree and Rough Sackcloth
One day, a terrible problem arose. A proud official named Haman grew angry because Mordecai refused to bow down to him.
To punish Mordecai, Haman tricked the king into signing a strict law to destroy all Jewish people in the land.
When Mordecai heard the awful news, he wept loudly. He followed an ancient cultural custom to show deep sadness and humility: he tore his clothes and put on rough, itchy sackcloth and ashes. Have you ever felt clothes that scratch your skin? That is what sackcloth felt like! He sat in the dust outside the king's gate.
1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, 🧠📜 Mordecai tore his clothes 👕💥 and put on sackcloth and ashes, 🪵🌪️ and went out into the midst of the city, 🏙️🚶♂️ and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 🗣️😫
2 He went up to the entrance of the king's gate, 🏰🚪 for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth. 🙅♂️🚫
3 And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, 🗺️📜 there was great mourning among the Jews, 👥😭 with fasting and weeping and lamenting, 🍽️❌🏼 wailing aloud, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. 🪵🪦
Esther became concerned about Mordecai
Inside the palace, Queen Esther felt deeply worried. She sent clean clothes out to Mordecai, but he refused them. She then sent a trusted servant named Hathach to ask him why he was so sad.
Esther 4: 4&5
4. When Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, 👑👩🦰👨💼 the queen was deeply distressed. 😰💔 She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, 👕🎁 so that he might take off his sackcloth, 🪵🧥 but he would not accept them. 🙅♂️❌
5 Then Esther called for Hathach, 👑🗣️ one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, 👨💼🛡️ and ordered him to go to Mordecai 🚶♂️💨 to learn what this was and why it was. 🧐❓
Mordecai sent a message back to Esther through the servant: "You must go to the king and beg for mercy for your people!"
But Esther faced a terrifying rule. In ancient Persia, anyone who walked into the king's inner court without being called would be put to death immediately, unless the king held out his golden scepter to save them. The king had not called Esther for thirty days!
Mordecai sent back a powerful reminder: "Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape... And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"
The Three-Day Fast and Brave Prayer
Esther knew she needed God's help. She decided to rely completely on prayer and the shared beliefs of her community. She sent a direct command back to Mordecai:
"Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, 👥🏙️ and fast for me. 🧎♀️🏼 Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. 🍽️❌🍷 I and my attendants will fast as you do. 👑👩🦰 When this is done, I will go to the king, 🚶♂️🏰 even though it is against the law. 📜🚫 And if I perish, I perish." 🪵🪦
For three long days and nights, nobody in the Jewish community ate food or drank water. Instead, they focused entirely on praying to God for protection. Esther and her young palace maids prayed together too. They turned away from the fancy royal foods to show God that they trusted Him completely to rescue them.
After three days of prayer, Esther put on her royal robes, stepped out of her room, and walked bravely into the king's court. When the king saw her standing there, God changed his heart to show kindness. The king held out his golden scepter, and Esther went forward to touch the top of it, saving her life and paving the way to rescue all her people:
Esther 5: 1 -
1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes 👑👗 and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, 🏰🚶♀️ in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne 👑🪑 inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. 🏛️🚪
2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, 👀👑 she won favor in his sight, ✨❤️ and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. 👑👑 Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 🚶♀️
👉 3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? 👑❓ What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” 🗺️🎁
4 And Esther said, “If it please the king, 👑🙇♀️ let the king and Haman come today to a feast 🍽️🍷 that I have prepared for the king.”
5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, 🏃♂️💨 so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast 🍷🍗 that Esther had prepared.
Conclusion
The story of Esther shows that even when situations look scary, we can stop, pray, and ask for help. God placed Esther exactly where she needed to be to help her family and community. You can be brave and pray for others too, knowing that God hears your voice!
FAQ
Why did Mordecai wear scratchy sackcloth and ashes?
In ancient times, wearing rough sackcloth and putting ashes on your head was a special custom. It showed God and other people that you were very sad, humble, and asking for special help.
What does it mean to fast?
Fasting means stopping yourself from eating food or drinking for a some time. People do this so they can focus all their thoughts, time, and energy on praying and talking to God.
How old do you have to be to pray like Esther?
You can pray at any age! Even though Esther was a queen, God listens to the prayers of little children just as much as He listens to kings and queens.
Share Your Thoughts!
Did you enjoy learning about Queen Esther's bravery? Talk with your parents or teachers about a time you needed to be brave, and then share your stories with us in the comments section below!
REFERENCES
Bible Gateway. (n.d.). Esther 4 (New International Version). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%204&version=NIV
BibleProject. (2016). Book of Esther summary [Video]. YouTube. youtube.com
Sefaria Library. (n.d.). Legends of the Jews 4:12:21. https://www.sefaria.org/Legends_of_the_Jews.4.12.21
Thriving Spirit. (2022, July 7). The sackcloth project: Reviving an ancient practice. https://www.thrivingspirit.org/blog-1/2022/7/7/the-sackcloth-project
All images from Free Bible Images
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