40 Weeks of Your Life: Esther
07-24-2006
by Vicky Beeching

Esther is one of my all time favorite Bible books! This is probably because she is such an amazing woman of God, and I want to be like her! It's another book of movie-like drama (similar to the book of Ruth) where we see tragedy, unusual bravery and an amazing ending!

Esther had no father or mother, and was raised by her uncle Mordecai. She was probably lonely and bore the sadness of having no parents around her. It seems like a bleak start to anyone's life and our hearts go out to her.

We are told that she was usually beautiful and that when the King sent out a decree to find a new wife, she was brought into the selection process! In her day I guess it would be like making it into the finals of American Idol, or a national beauty contest!

The selection process took months, and the outcome was that Esther won! She was crowned the new Queen and began a very different life indeed - from foreign orphan, to royal ruler!

While all this wonderful success was happening to Esther, there was a sinister plot a foot to wipe out all the Jews. Esther and Mordecai were Jewish, so it meant their people were in grave danger.

Esther found out about the plot and realized that she needed to use her new position of royal influence to rescue them. She understood Divine planning and perfect timing, saying that perhaps it was "for such a time as this" that she had been made Queen; for the very reason of rescuing her people.

Carrying out this rescue was no simple task. Esther as Queen was not allowed to approach the Kings throne unless she was summoned. To so do uninvited was to risk the sentence of death, as coming into the Kings presence and disturbing him was taken very seriously. Esther decided she would pray and fast (go without food for the purpose of strengthening herself spiritually), then walk up to the King and ask him to save the Jews.

She is a reminder to us that praying and fasting are important whenever we face big situations or decisions. Esther also sent word to Mordecai asking him and the others to be praying for her as she prepared to approach the King. Do you have prayer partners? Lets make sure we have people praying and interceding for us, and that we are praying faithfully for our loved ones - this is such an important part of being the Body of Christ!

The book ends with the joyous scene of the King agreeing to Esther's request and the Jews being saved. Ironically the man behind the plot for the Jews slaughter was hung on the same gallows that he himself had built for their murder. God has an amazing way of turning situations around to save his people, so that the enemy's plans backfire.

Is there a situation in your life right now, where you need courage and boldness to step up and obey God? Let Esther be an inspiration to you!