Teaching Series
Shaped by Environment
Esther 5-7

Series: Shaped by Environment 
Message: Proximal
Preacher: Jessyka Albert
Daily Walk: Jessyka Albert

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 71:7-18

Read: Esther 5-7 (NIV). As you read the New International Version, note 1-3 insights.

Reflect: As Haman sees his life take off and his problems disappear in the rearview mirror, justice begins to kick in. The plans he had for Mordecai come to a screeching halt and the honor he felt entitled to is bestowed instead upon Mordecai. In fact, he has to parade Mordecai around proclaiming the king’s honor before him! 

After all the praise and glory has been received, Mordecai returns to the gate. He returns to life as normal and goes about his daily business, back to his proximal environment. Running home to his wife and friends, Haman does the same. Instead of giving him a pep talk, Haman’s close circle informs him that he has no chance. This Jew’s God is no respecter of human authority or schemes. Haman’s out of luck.

Before he has time to sulk, Haman is whisked off to Queen Esther’s banquet, and just when he thought his day couldn’t get any worse, Esther speaks up. She informs the king of an evil plot to kill her and her people. She even goes so far as to say that she would have kept silent if the plan was just for the Jews to be enslaved, but killed? That’s a whole other ball game. 

“Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, ‘Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?’ Esther said, ‘A foe and an enemy is this wicked Human!” Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen” (Esther 7:5-6).
 

Can you see the depth of the king and queen’s proximal environment. Although Esther could not come before the king without permission, he still held her in very high esteem. He valued, respected, and cared for her and for her opinion. And all in a moment, the king’s respect and affection for Haman is shattered. The man he promoted and trusted with his signet rings is now the man who threatens his own family. 

Our proximal environments are constantly vulnerable to change based on the decisions made by the other people involved. Here Haman’s decisions have led to the demise of his relationship with the king, while Esther and Mordecai have built stronger trust with Ahasuerus. 


Recalibrate: ​ 

  1. How do your relationships play a part in your proximal environment?
  2. Has anyone ever betrayed your trust? Have you ever betrayed someone else’s trust?

Respond: Pray for forgiveness.

Research:   How do other people affect your every day life?

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