* The book of Esther is a recounting of God’s faithfulness in their history so the Jews would never forget to follow Him.

* For Americans, it’s July 4th. For the Jews, it was the Day of Purim.

* The book of Esther keeps the history of this day alive so they never forget.

* The Day remembered:

* 1 - Haman, a Jew-hater, gets elevated and everyone is to bow to Him.

* 2 - Mordecai, a Jew who's related to Esther the queen, refuses.

* 3 - Haman hates Mordecai for this and gets the king to agree to issue an irrevocable decree to destroy all the Jews (when anger fills your heart murder crouches at your door).

* 4 - The plan is flipped on it's head because Esther has the guts to approach the king to expose the wickedness of Haman.

* 5 - Mordecai got what was Haman's (his estate) and Haman got what was Mordecai's (the gallows he was hung on). But notice that the enemies of the Jews were still planning to kill them because of the first decree.

* 6 - The king makes another decree since the first one couldn't be revoked, and he tells all Jews that they can fight and destroy anyone who comes against them. (Mordecai actually made the decree under the king’s authority).

* 7 - When the time came to exercise the first decree many people assembled to kill the Jews, but due to the second decree the Jews were ready and they had organized themselves to fight.

* 8 - The Jews win and they destroy their enemies!!!!!