Day 36: Esther

Not to be confused with the Sara Groves song, that's about a different Esther... still a good song though.

Reading Esther is like visiting an old friend.  I've read her book so many times that as I read I find myself in anticipation of what is coming next.  It's fun and I like Esther, a lot.

Things I didn't notice before, or didn't really figure out (what can I say, I'm slow), I didn't understand the whole different names for the eunuchs.  It turns out that there were different eunuchs assigned to the harem and to the king's concubines.  So here's the deal if you become a concubine, you are no longer in the harem.  I'll let you all figure out the subtleties there.  Hence, the different eunuch.  That was really a minor point, but I had a little "aha" moment with that.

So King Xerxes is kind of a hot head, that was not something new, but definitely wanted to comment on it.  I mean he's "burning with anger" on several occasions.  He regrets what he does to Vashti, but doesn't undo it because he's the king (I think it was a pride thing).  At least with Esther and Haman, well at first, he goes off to the garden to cool down a bit, but then he comes back all in a rage because it looks like Haman is trying to take advantage of Esther.  Oopsy for Haman.

On to serious matters, what I really love about Esther, well is her courage and her humility.  Esther is a rule follower and as much as I dislike rules, I am a rule follower, a do-gooder.  Alas, it is true.  I always want to please, whether it's my parents, my boss, friends...  Esther was too.  She wanted to please Mordecai, then the kings court (eunuchs), the king and in the end God and her people.  Of course it's the latter part that becomes the most important.

Now I know that God is actually never mentioned in the book of Esther, but I really do feel his presence, I mean Esther does fast and asks her fellow Jews to fast with her.  Could it be to fast because she is seeking the will of God?  I like to think so.  Would she fast to clear her head?  No.  I'm pretty sure she was seeking the guidance of some deity as that is the purpose of fasting and since she was a Jew, I think it's safe to assume that deity was the LORD God.

Back to being a rule follower, Esther just doesn't resign herself to fasting and seeking guidance from God immediately, she has to be prompted to that point.  She has to be reminded that she suffers along with her people, despite her position of power.  She's afraid to speak on behalf of her people because she's afraid to break the rules.  She's afraid that she'll jeopardize her relationship with the king and she's afraid she'll be put to death.  Those are strong motivators.  Her cousin, Mordecai's advice is still stronger, (Esther 4:13-14) "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

That's pretty powerful stuff.  Mordecai reminds her that essentially, God can raise someone else up to help the Jews, but what if, what if all of this happened to Esther just so she could help her people.  It makes sense.  It made sense to Esther.  I think those words are good for us all to remember, especially when we're asking the question, why am I here?  I've asked that question and as I shared at Crash, this verse was my answer, "Maybe for such a time as this."

I think the point of that is simply, if we spend so much time looking around for other things we could be doing to make a difference, or if we're stuck in a moment, as U2 says, or in discontentment, we need to consider the present.  We need to consider that this time and place may be just where God wants us and needs us.  Let us be present and aware, lest we miss out on the opportunities that God has for us to be blessed and be a blessing.  Then maybe our dark spot can become a bright spot. ;)