Salvation to the People | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Salvation to the People | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lois Farrow
03/12/14
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

Being thrown in the deep end seemed to be the pattern of Esther’s life. The young Jewish girl brought up in a pagan city was being prepared for God’s work at a critical time in her nation’s history.

Tragedy struck with the death of both her parents when she was young. God, however, was not taken by surprise and he had a godly man in place ready to care for her, her cousin Mordecai. From the tribe of Benjamin, Mordecai had also known tragedy, his forefathers being among those carried from Jerusalem into captivity in the heathen city of Susa. Through many generations and with great patience the Jewish people kept their faith and identity in this pagan city, and young as she was, Esther knew the God of her fathers.

When Mordecai heard how Queen Vashti was dethroned from being Queen, he was alarmed; he knew what would happen. Carefully he prepared Esther, his beautiful cousin, and she was chosen as one of several hundred young women to appear before the king. Removed from Mordecai’s care and placed in the harem of the palace must have been exciting and frightening at the same time. She had to trust in God alone.

The future was unclear; the gossip and whisperings relentless, and rivalry at times raised its ugly head. For a full year Esther lived in a state of preparation, and in that time she grew up. Her submissive spirit won her favour with Hegai who was in charge of the harem, and he made sure she had the best beauty treatments and the healthiest food. Finally it was her turn to go to the king.

As Esther made her way to the King’s residence, everyone was struck by her beauty. She stood out from the crowd. She pleased the king too, and he made her his new Queen. He placed the royal crown on her head, threw a huge party, and declared a holiday. The whole city and all the provinces knew the king had found his queen.

Some time later, Haman, the king’s highest official and a fervent hater of the Jews, hatched his deadly plan to annihilate the Jews. Mordecai was horrified to learn of the plan and enlisted Esther’s help. Fear filled her heart. By this time she was seen less frequently by the king and the law decreed that if anyone approached the king without being summoned it meant certain death.

“It is 30 days since the king sent for me,” she told Mordecai, when he sent a message pleading for her help. But he was relentless.

“Don’t think you will escape,” he responded. “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?”

Again Esther faced daunting odds, and again she rose to the challenge.

“I will go to the king,” she said, “even though it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.”

She enlisted three days of prayer and fasting from all the Jews and at the appropriate time approached the king. Carefully she prepared for the fateful moment. He held out his golden sceptre, and she was accepted. Through her courage and faithfulness her nation was saved and Haman destroyed. She was obedient and God had his hand on her life.

We don’t know what God is preparing us for when hard times strike and life is a challenge. Our job is to be humble and obedient wherever God has placed us, and watch him bring salvation to the people.

Taken from Esther 1-5

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.