From the beginning, God's chosen people have been villainized by a variety of hostile adversaries,

and among the most cunning was Haman.

He convinced King Ahasuerus to eliminate the Jews from Persia.

And if it weren't for one woman's willingness to wait on God and then act on his strength,

history would have taken a tragic turn.

Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall replays the grand moment

when Esther stepped into the king's presence uninvited.

Chuck is teaching from the fifth chapter of the book that bears her name,

and he titled today's message, Esther's finest hour.

The king said to her,

what is troubling you, Queen Esther?

What is it that you request?

What's your request?

Even to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.

Esther said, if it please the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.

Here is a woman for three days, has been working with her maidens on this fabulous banquet.

She's going to serve her husband, the king, and her enemy, Haman.

And she says, I have it ready. By the way, this is a perfect time for me to say,

when you wait on the Lord, it doesn't mean that you do weird things. Like walk around humming,

sweet hour prayer. It doesn't mean you go on a hillside and eat bird seed and strum a guitar. It doesn't mean

you wear a robe and look for the closest monastery. You go right on with your business. You go right

on with your activities. You just focus fully on the Lord. You can do that. While preparing the banquet, she was thinking

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