MORDECAI TOOK HER AS HIS OWN DAUGHTER
Text: Esther 2
30 May 2010
(I) RAISING UP A CHILD FOR SOMETHING GREATER
“And Mordecai had brought up, Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother….When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.” Esther 2:7
1. An orphan with a great destiny
a) Esther was an orphan
b) Yet, there was a great destiny was awaiting her.
2. A relative becomes a foster father
a) Mordecai took Esther in when no one would
b) He saw her as his own daughter
c) He saw her fulfilling a great destiny one day
3. Being raised up in a godly family upbringing
a) Obedience
b) Faith
c) Prayer
(II) UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF DESTINY
1. The existence of such a concept
2. Divine determination
a) Hidden
b) Revealed
3. Beyond normal expectations
a) Steps of faith
i) Complete obedience to godly counsel
“Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her.” Esther 2:20
ii) Challenged by God’s great destiny
“Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14
iii) Courage to risk it all
“If I perish, I perish…” Esther 4:16
b) Prayer
i) Calling others to fast and pray
“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shusan, and fast with me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night and day.” Esther 4:16
ii) Personal commitment to fast and pray
“My maids and I will fast likewise.” Esther 4:16
4. Fulfilment of destiny – Saving of the Jews at Babylon
(III) THE CHALLENGE TO HELP CHILDREN FULFILL THEIR DESTINY
1. Seeing the great destiny that children can fulfil one day
2. Providing a godly family upbringing
a) At home
b) At Church
3. Commitment to helping children fulfil their destiny one day