Esther 2: 1- 17
And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. (vs. 17)
God still specializes in bringing people from obscurity to limelight. He did for Mephibosheth, Chimham, Joseph, Hannah and countless individuals who can testify that God ‘brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.’ (Ps.40:2). The Bible has many rags to riches stories. Few heroics though can compare to the story of Esther, who rose from an ordinary slave girl to become the Queen of Persia. May God orchestrate situations that will bring you from where men have hidden you into limelight in Jesus’ name.
Esther’s birth name was Hadassah (Myrtle tree, peace, love and prosperity). (Esther 2:7). She was of the tribe of Benjamin and lived during the exilic era. Tragically, Hadassah was orphaned at an early age. After her parents died, she was adopted by her uncle, Mordecai. Mordecai was a God-fearing man who loved her dearly and raised her well in the face of dreadful circumstances.
Esther was a Jewess and niece to Mordecai at a time when the Jews were under the rulership of the Persian King, Ahasuerus. King Ahasuerus had just removed his wife, Vashti as queen and was searching for a new queen to sit on the throne of Persia.
All the young virgins in the empire were summoned to a beauty parade the selection of a new queen: Esther too was enlisted, but was cautioned by Mordecai not to reveal her true identity as a Jewess. This is because divulging her true identity as a Jewess might disqualified her from the event and may even put her life in danger. However, Esther was finally chosen as the new queen ‘And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. (vs. 17). After she became the number one woman in the whole of Persia, Esther faced a dilemma of life and death, which will necessitate a decision: a decision that would immortalize her name forever. What lessons can be derived from Esther’s life?
- Esther’s background did not relegate her to the back ground. The fact that your lineage or family is unknown does not mean you should remain in obscurity. Esther was a slave girl and an orphan; she had no parents and she was raised by her uncle, Mordecai (Esther 2:7). Esther was not deterred by all her circumstances; she was destined for greatness.
- God resists the proud, but exalts the humble. God detest pride and looks away from the proud. ‘But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.’ (James 4:6). Also, Psalm 138: 6 says ‘For though the Lord is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar.’ Esther was brought into the scene because of Queen Vashti’s pride (Esther 1:12). Esther however came from the underground and did not disclose her Jewish background. God however choose to exalt her.
- She gained favour of men and God. God’s favour does not discriminate. Favour fished out Esther in an unprecedented situation. She was highly favoured by all that saw her. ‘ … And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.’ (vs. 15c). Again, the Bible reported that she found the favour of the king ‘And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.’ (vs. 17). May favour locate you as you go this week.
- God has a plan for Esther’s life. Esther was placed in a royal position, not by chance, but for a purpose. Proverbs 16:9 says ‘A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.’ God didn’t make a mistake where He has placed you today. Esther was sure God had a purpose for her to be in the palace at such a time. Sometimes we are not sure of God’s purpose for our lives when we find ourselves in certain situations. We should rather ask God to accomplish His purpose in our lives. God places us where we need to be in order to fulfill our mission in life. She was reminded of the reason she was in the palace ‘For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’ (Esther 4: 14). Mordecai believes Esther was placed into a royal position in order to accomplish God’s mandate of deliverance for the Jews.
- She lived a sacrificial live. As a queen, Esther would personally have been spared from the decree of annihilation, but she stood with her people. To make her case, she needed to approach the king without being summoned—a capital offense. And she did so, saying, ‘Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. (Esther 4:16).
- You are spared to save your generation. Little did Esther knew that she was in her position to safe the lives of her generation. Joseph told his brothers ‘But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive’ (Gen. 50:20). Esther was used to avert the destructions of the Jews. Esther 7: 3-4, says ‘Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, ….’. The king answered her petition and the Jews were spared from a genocide.
Beloved, God has chosen you for a purpose; you are not where you are for fun. God has a purpose for everything you pass through. Little did Esther knew she was in Persia to deliver her people in their times of trouble. Work to fulfil the plans of God for your life. ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’ (Jer. 29:11). Shalom!
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