It Came to Pass

It Came to Pass:

An Ancient Anecdote

  

Esther, who stood nervously waiting for the right moment to enter the court, pondered if King Ahasuerus would raise His scepter and allow her to speak, although she had not been summoned, or if he would have her covered and dragged away to be executed. She stood from her bench. She walked to the door. She cautiously and bravely entered. Humbly, Esther, who had lived the simple life of a peasant only a few years ago, had unwillingly been taken from the house of her cousin to a national beauty contest, rapidly became a favorite of the overseer, and eventually became the wife of the king. Watching through the eyes of her cousin Mordecai, the Queen had discovered that the prime minister had obtained Ahasuarus’s signet ring and created an irreversible and deadly document sealing the destruction of her people. Behind Esther were these life-changing events, but ahead of her was a frightening future. As she stepped into the court of King Ahasuerus, he graciously raised his scepter. Esther nearly fainted from relief. 

Later...

Bravely, Queen Esther finished her accusation by quickly and sharply thrusting her finger at Haman, the prime minister.  Although she had gambled with her life in the court of the king, the Queen had not revealed Haman’s plot, because she had been stretched to her emotional limits. Instead, Esther had invited the King and Prime Minister to a feast. At the feast, Esther was still frightened to expose Haman, so she simply prepared another scrumptious and irresistible banquet for the following evening, promising to reveal her request. Glancing between the two royal and oblivious men, the Queen pounced on the perfect moment to save her people. 
“…If my people were to be sold as slaves, I would be content, but we are to be killed and destroyed!...”

“The culprit shall be hanged! Who is the vile person?” Ahasuerus exploded in fury, after hearing his wife’s explanation.
“An enemy, this wicked Haman!” Esther thrust her finger at the villain, who stayed to beg his life as the King stormed into the garden, but it was too late for the prime minister.