Women of the Bible: Esther
- charismachatt
- Aug 12, 2015
- 2 min read
Posted by: Victoria Tropiano
A little background on Esther...
King Xerxes was originally married to Queen Vashti, but after a 180 day feast full of partying hard, he wanted to show off Vashti for her good looks in front of his guests. She says "nah," and refused. Xerxes was PO'd and wanted to find a new lady to add to his concubine collection. The king ordered that prospects were to be brought to Susa (the capital of Persia) under the care of Hegai, who was in charge of the harem (where the concubines stayed). Esther, who is a [secret] Jew turned out to be Hegai's favorite!
V. 2:9: "The girl pleased him and won his favor."
Read Esther 2:13-14
She won the "beauty pageant," but it wasn't all that glamorous.
Esther was caught in a tough situation that seemed to have no good outcome. Unless Xerxes requested her by name, Esther would just live in the harem, separated from her Jewish relatives and friends. The other side of it was that if she was chosen as the next queen, she would be married to a pagan ruler known for his drunkenness, awful moods, and explosive temper. Following her father figure's advice (she was an orphan), she didn't reveal her Jewish descent. This is because Xerxes would be breaking a Persian law by marrying a Jew. As a devout Jew who honored God's laws, she must have felt horrified and trapped.
Stay confident and content with God's plan.
Even though Esther couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, she clung to her faith and confidence in God. Little did she know, He was working in her life, but quietly. He ended up using Esther as a tool to protect the Jews’ existence.
There are times in our lives where it seems like there are no positive options-whether it's at work or in your personal life. During these times, it might feel like God is silent in your life, and you're trying to choose between options that aren't so great. Little do we know, God is always working in our lives. Sometimes He makes it blatantly obvious and other times you're wondering where He's been. Have faith and stay confident and content in the Lord. He has your best interest in mind. If you feel stuck in a situation, it could be because He's trying to change your heart first.
Prayer challenge:
Every morning before you step out of bed to get ready for the day, thank God for your current season of life.
댓글