Exploring God’s World With God’s Word: 5 Days of Biblical AdventuresSample

Megillah (muh-gee-LAH) is the Hebrew word for scroll. The Megillah of Esther is one of five
special, ancient scrolls that became Bible books. The other four biblical Megillahs (the Hebrew plural is Megillot) are the books of Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations.

The book of Esther tells the true story of when God worked through Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai to free the Jews from an evil plot to destroy them. To this day, Jewish people celebrate this great rescue on a holiday called Purim in March or April. Reading the book of Esther from a handwritten Megillah—like this one—is a traditional part of the Purim celebration. Other activities include wearing costumes, eating delicious treats, giving food to the poor, enjoying carnivals and parades, and making lots of joyful noise.

Esther spoke up to defend her people in a dangerous situation. This is a story of how God defends his people, but it’s also a story of courage and faith. You can show the same courage and faith that Esther showed when you speak up against unfair situations and offer kindness to those in need.