Esther 4:12-14 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 1he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14For 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 your royal position for such a time as this?”
If you have never taken a trip to Lancaster County, PA to the “Sight and Sound” Theater you are missing something so amazing Hollywood would be envious! Aside from the fact that the music is all original, the sets and costumes are out of this world, and everyone there does a phenomenal job, no mater what they do, the Biblical truths the actors make come alive are life changing. Please go see it.
This particular book in the Bible, Esther, has always been a favorite of mine. A young girl ‘rags to riches’ story, every girl’s dream to become a queen and wear beautiful clothes. I have read the story many times, but I did not see the agony of the young girl, Hadassah, until I saw it play out on the stage.
Hadassah was an orphan and was being raised by her relative, Mordecai. They were exiled to Persia many generations before and lived a peaceful life there as devout Jews. Then suddenly their world turned upside down as the ‘non-submissive ‘Queen Vashti’ was dismissed and a new queen must be found for King Xerxes. A call went out to the young beautiful women in Sousa to be brought in before the King after a time of pampering (does this remind you of Cinderella? I always wondered if Esther was the inspiration for her story.) Hadassah was kidnapped and taken to the palace! Her name was changed to Esther by her uncle to protect her Jewish roots from discovery.
Through a series of events the man that was the advisor to the King, (Haman), betrayed the Jewish remnant in Susa. The King had him hung on gallows, and Mordecai, who had exposed the plot, was honored.
The entire story reads like a novel of intrigue, but the underlying story, is just as pertinent to us today, as it was to the Jews in 479 B.C. Let’s unpack the story;
There are five main characters in the story that have significance to us revealing currents events are only a repeat of ancient events.
First, Queen Vashti. She was not about to obey the King to parade in front of his drunk buddies at a banquet that had been going on for 180 days! As a result, he had her ‘deposed’. Setting the scene for Ester to be crowned.
Second, King Xerxes. His father was a King and had been tolerant, if not kind to the Jews living in his province of Persia after they had been exiled from Jerusalem.
Third, Haman the King’s Prime Minister. He had a dislike, well, hate for Mordecai because Mordecai would not bow to him, as the law stated that he wrote. As a result, he wanted Mordecai hung on gallows, then wanted the entire tribe of the Jews killed. Mordecai would not bow to a mere human, only God.
Fourth, Mordechai, relative of Hadassah and a very devout Jew, had raised Hadassah and now watched at the King’s gate to be near her if she needed him.
Finally, Hadassah, a beautiful and devout orphan when the story begins, a powerful and brave woman who saves the Jewish remnant at the end of the story. She realizes she might be the only way her people would survive and concludes; ‘if I perish, I perish.’
Connections to today; We are in an age when our very core is being torn at, and everything we as Judeo-Christian America stand for is being pulled down. Laws are being made that are diabolical, yet, when we cannot agree or obey, we suffer consequences.
Yet, there is a remnant of Godly believers who are standing up for what is right. We are praying, and having our own ‘protests’ by standing up for ourselves. Esther and Mordecai knew God was the only solution to their problem, and they had been chosen to stand for their people. We need to remember that now! Even as family and friends do not understand. We must not back down at this critical time but dig our heels in considering the next generation.
God always makes a way! That’s the good news. He had the plan all along to rescue His people from the hands of the enemy. He already has the plan, has people in place and we just continue to pray and wait until we see His hand move on our nation. In Esther’s case, she was the beloved Queen of Xerxes who saved him from a death threat, and her people from annihilation. Mordecai was elevated in a Persian government to second in command, and all of the Jews throughout Persia were also treated with respect.
“Lord, please work your will and way in this nation that has it’s roots in You and your Word, Amen.”
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