Victim to Victimizer

“Hurt people hurt people.” We’ve all known them: good-hearted, generous, loving people who, somehow, still wound others. It can feel incongruous, even bewildering. Pastor Robyn Elliott takes us into the story of Esther, a disadvantaged heroine whose story has a darker side -- a side we rarely hear. What happens when someone who has known deep hurt is handed power? And what might Esther’s story reveal about what happens when wounds and power collide?

Discussion Questions:

1. Is there a story, novel, movie that has been impactful for you? Briefly describe the power and impact that story has had on you and why.
2. Does it matter to you whether the story of Esther happened exactly as described? Why—or why not?
3. Why do you suppose God is not directly mentioned or credited in this story? Why do you suppose it was included as part of the Bible?
4. Do you believe Esther was justified in asking for this edict? Why or why not? How do we wrestle with the tension between self-defence, defending others, and Jesus’ call to turn from violence? And ultimately, how far can self-defence go before it becomes something else?
5. Do you think Esther’s edicts were justified? How does knowing her history—her loss, pain, and sexual trauma—shape the way you understand her actions? Can we have compassion for what Esther endured while still wrestling honestly with what she chose to do with her power?