Queen Esther is a famous queen in the Bible with a whole Bible book of her own. We can learn a lot from her. She was part of the people of Israel who lived in exile in Babylon. Both her parents died and she was raised by a relative called Mordecai. God had a plan for her life.

Koningin Ester is ‘n bekende koningin in die Bybel met ‘n hele Bybelboek van haar eie. Ons kan baie by haar leer. Sy was deel van die volk Israel wat in ballingskap in Babilon gewoon het. Beide haar ouers is oorlede en sy is grootgemaak deur ‘n familielid genaamd Mordegai. God het ‘n plan vir haar lewe gehad.

Esther Teaches Us Patience in Preparation

The Focus: Esther preparing to become queen – Preparation time is never wasted time. God uses seasons to shape us for His purpose.

The Objects:

• A bottle of perfume or scented lotion/oil (Representing Esther’s 12 months of preparation).
• A plain piece of wood and sandpaper / unpolished coin and polishing cloth (To demonstrate how rubbing and refining takes time before something shines).

Scripture: Esther 2:12–17

Step 1:

1. Show the Unpolished/Unsanded Item: Hold up the plain piece of wood or tarnished coin. Ask: “If I want this to shine, can I just clap my hands and make it instantly happen?” (Rub it once with sandpaper/cloth—show that nothing changes immediately). “We need to add time and effort.”
2. Pass Around the Perfume: Spray a pleasant perfume or pass around scented lotion. Ask: “Did you know that fine perfume takes months—sometimes years—to age, blend, and extract from raw plants?”
3. Connect to Esther: Explain that when Esther was chosen to enter the palace, she didn’t become queen overnight. She spent 1 full year (12 months) preparing before she ever stood before the king!

Step 2:

1. Waiting Is Not Passive (Esther’s 12 Months): When we wait for something big—like growing up, starting a new grade, or seeing a prayer answered—we often feel like waiting is a waste of time. But Esther didn’t just sit in a room doing nothing for a year.
   • She spent 6 months being treated with oil of myrrh and 6 months with perfumes and cosmetics.
   • She listened to advice from Hegai (the man in charge of the harem) and learned palace customs, culture, and wisdom.
2. God Prepares Character, Not Just Circumstances: The beauty treatments were outward, but God was preparing Esther’s heart on the inside.
   • Without those 12 months of learning patience, humility, and wisdom in the palace, she might not have had the courage later to save her entire nation from Haman’s plot!
   • The Takeaway: What feels like “delay” to us is often God’s classroom.
3. Shining at the Right Moment: When Esther finally stepped out after her time of preparation, Esther 2:15 says she “won the favor of everyone who saw her.”
   • Just like rubbing a coin takes repeated effort before it gleams, seasons of practice, studying, listening, and praying prepare us so we can step up when God calls us.

Step 3:

Ask the child or group these discussion questions to help them apply the lesson to their daily lives:

• Why do athletes or musicians practice for hours before a 3-minute game or performance?
• What are some things God might be preparing in your life right now while you wait (e.g., learning to be kind, studying hard, learning to trust Him)?
• Action Question: How can you change your mindset when you feel frustrated by waiting?

Step 4:

Let’s pray

“Lord, thank You that You love us and never waste our time. When we feel like we are in a season of waiting or preparation, help us to be faithful in the small things. Help us build character, trust Your timing, and know that You are shaping us for a royal purpose—just like Esther. Amen.”

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Ester Leer Ons Geduld in Voorbereiding

Koningin Ester is ‘n bekende koningin in die Bybel met ‘n hele Bybelboek van haar eie. Ons kan baie by haar leer. Sy was deel van die volk Israel wat in ballingskap in Babilon gewoon het. Beide haar ouers is oorlede en sy is grootgemaak deur ‘n familielid genaamd Mordegai. God het ‘n plan vir haar lewe gehad.

Die Fokus: Ester se voorbereidings om koningin te word – Voorbereidingstyd is nooit vermorste tyd nie. God gebruik seisoene in ons lewens om ons te vorm vir Sy doel.

Die Voorwerpe:

• ‘n Bottel parfuum of gegeurde room (Dit verteenwoordig Ester se 12 maande van voorbereiding).
• ‘n Growwe stuk hout en skuurpapier / ‘n ongepoleerde muntstuk en poleerlap (Om te demonstreer hoe dit tyd neem om iets glad te skuur of iets blink te vryf).

Skrif: Ester 2:12–17

Stap 1:

1. Wys die ongepoleerde muntstuk of die growwe stuk hout: Hou die gewone stuk hout of aangetaste muntstuk op. Vra: “As ek wil hê dit moet blink (of glad wees), kan ek net my hande klap en dit sal onmiddellik gebeur?” (Vryf dit een keer met skuurpapier/lap – wys dat niks onmiddellik verander nie). “Ons moet tyd en inspanning gebruik om dit te laat gebeur.”
2. Wys die parfuum: Spuit ‘n aangename parfuum in die lug of gee gegeurde lotion vir die leerders aan. Vra: “Het jy geweet dat goeie parfuum maande – soms jare – kan neem om te reg te wees vir gebruik? Dit neem ‘n lang tyd om die rou materiale uit plante te onttrek en om dit te meng.”
3. Verbind dit met Ester: Verduidelik dat toe Ester gekies is om in die paleis te gaan bly, sy nie oornag koningin geword het nie. Sy het 1 volle jaar (12 maande) aan voorbereiding bestee voordat sy ooit voor die koning gestaan ​​het!

Stap 2:

1. Wag is nie passief nie (Ester se 12 maande): Wanneer ons wag vir iets groots – soos om groot te word, ‘n nuwe graad te begin, of ‘n gebed verhoor te sien – voel ons dikwels dat die wag ‘n mors van tyd is. Maar Ester het nie net in ‘n kamer gesit en niks gedoen vir ‘n jaar nie.
   • Sy is 6 maande lank met mirre-olie behandel en 6 maande met parfuums en skoonheidsmiddels.
   • Sy het geluister na raad van Hegai (die man in beheer van die harem) en paleisgebruike, kultuur en wysheid geleer.
2. God berei ons karakter voor, nie net die omstandighede nie: Die skoonheidsbehandelings was uiterlik, maar in daardie tyd het God Ester se hart aan die binnekant ook voorberei.
   • Sonder daardie 12 maande van geduld, nederigheid en wysheid in die paleis, sou sy dalk nie later die moed gehad het om haar hele nasie van Haman se komplot te red nie!
   • Die hart van die saak: Wat vir ons soos “vertraging” voel, is dikwels God se klaskamer.
3. Blink uit op die regte oomblik: Toe haar voorbereidingstyd uiteindelik voltooi is, lees ons in Ester 2:15 “…Ester het die bewondering geniet van almal wat haar gesien het.”

Stap 3:

Vra die kind of groep hierdie besprekingsvrae om hulle te help om die les in hul daaglikse lewens toe te pas:

• Waarom oefen atlete of musikante ure lank vir ‘n wedstryd of vertoning van net 3 minute?
• Wat is van die dinge wat God dalk nou in jou lewe besig is om voorberei (bv. leer om vriendelik te wees, hard te studeer, leer om Hom te vertrou)?
• Aksievraag: Hoe kan jy jou denkwyse verander wanneer jy gefrustreerd voel om te wag?

Stap 4:

Kom ons bid

“Here, dankie dat U ons liefhet en nooit ons tyd mors nie. Wanneer ons voel asof ons in ‘n seisoen van wag of voorbereiding is, help ons om getrou te wees in die klein dingetjies. Help ons om ons karakter te bou, te vertrou op U tydsberekening en te weet dat U ons vorm vir ‘n koninklike doel—net soos Ester. Amen.”