Introduction
The story of Esther is the story of a young woman who faces a choice. A choice she alone can make, a choice no one can make for her. She must choose whether she will fit the mould society has for her, or reject it in favour of the pattern of life that God asks of her.
Who are the characters
Although their names may be unfamiliar to most of us, the characters are typical, even of our day.
There’s the king, Xerxes, the most powerful in the whole world. He has everything he wants, everything money and power could buy, but he lacks almost everything he needs. He lack inner strength and conviction. He’s easily swayed by those around him and he’s lost touch with reality because reality doesn’t serve his goals. In other words, he may be cash rich, but he is character poor.
There is Queen Vashti. She has position and influence, but it the end her refusal to play the king’s games costs her the position of queen. In one respect at least, queen Vashti sets the scene for the choice Esther will have to make later when her time to choose comes.
Haman is the chief villain in the story. He’s a more able and powerful leader that Xerxes, but he’s also selfish, jealous, deeply manipulative and intent on the destruction of the Jews.
There’s Moredecai, the thorn in Haman’s side and the man who demonstrates principle and character in a way no other male character in the book seems to do.
And lastly there’s Esther, the central character. A young orphan girl whose only asset, at least at first, appears to be her youth and beauty.
These are the characters around which the story will unfold. It’s a story of intrigue and political power struggles. A story about the weakness of one leader and the evil intent of another. About the self-interest of a king and the selfless sacrifice of a queen. It’s a story in which one woman rescues all the men!
It’s a story, as one preacher put it, about a culture so superficial that middle-aged men would try to impress other people by showing that they had so much wealth and power that they could attract a wife with youth and beauty.
It’s hard to believe that human society ever sank to such levels, but once looks were everything, especially for young women, and little else counted.
As far as society was concerned, Esther’s only duty was to please the king. It was after all the reason she got the job of queen in the first place. She from all the candidates had been the one who pleased the king most.
There was a whole entourage of people who dedicated themselves to keeping the king happy, because an unhappy king was a problem king. So Esther’s job was simply to play the part of the dutiful and beautiful wife of a wealthy world leader. To not do what Vashti had done, but simply to go on pleasing the king. To sit around doing little else than her nails and hair, and to be paraded in front of others as the ultimate trophy wife.
But through the words of her uncle, Esther had to face the fact that she may not have risen to such a position on the whim of an ageing egocentric king, but according to the purposes of God Almighty.
Esther rejected her stereotypical role in order to fulfil her true role, the role that God had positioned her to fulfil. But it wasn’t an easy choice to make. She had to think long and hard about it.
The choices we must make: For such a time as this
What the world would want from us… conform to society’s values and expectations. But is that what we want for ourselves? To live a life of such mediocrity that it’s just like every other life. How about choosing to live life to the fullest? Jesus offers all those who will trust him and follow him a full life, an abundant life. Not a life full of possessions and power, but a life full of meaning and value and significance.
Esther had the choice, and it was a hard choice.
Here’s the story: Haman has hatched his plot to murder all the Jews and manipulated the king into making happen. Mordecia has found out and sent a message to Esther to enlist her help. But there’s a problem. The king hasn’t sent for her for thirty days. She is no longer the light of his life. She might have youth and beauty, but she doesn’t have the king’s undivided attention or affection. After all there were 127 other contestants for the role of queen.
So Esther tells Mordecai that she’s scared and doesn’t want to do it…
11 "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold sceptre to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."
Understandably Esther fears for her life, but it’s not just about her anymore.
12 When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: "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 then Mordecai presents Esther with a challenge. He says:
And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther replies and calls a fast and she chooses to face a destiny that society did not have in mind for her.
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
The choice is simple: Let the world shape your destiny or let God shape it.
Employing our gifts and shape for God’s purposes.
Are you chasing the shadows, looking to fulfil the dreams and aspiration of a superficial society or would like your life to mean something? To have value beyond the day when your good looks and fine physique have given way to the impact of age.
A life that means something
Rick Warren, the senior leader of Saddleback Church, says that we all share 5 common purposes:
1. We were made for God’s pleasure
2. We were formed to be part of God’s family
You were never meant to make the journey of life on your own. You were purpose designed to be a part something so much bigger.
3. We were created to be like Christ
The Bible tells us that God’s plan is that we all become his sons and daughters, members of his family, sharing the likeness of Jesus his one and only Son who came to earth to live and die on our behalf.
His example of personal sacrifice and commitment are to our pattern of life.
4. We were shaped for serving God
You have gifts and abilities that God wants to use to make an impact on our world. You have a passion for something deep within your heart that fires your purpose, and you have and are gaining experiences that make you who you are and that God will use if you will let him.
5. We were made for a mission
Your mission has eternal significance
“The consequences of your mission will last forever; the consequences of your job will not. Nothing else you do will ever matter as much as helping people establish an eternal relationship with God.” [284]
“We will have all of eternity to celebrate with those we have brought to Jesus, but we only have our lifetime in which to reach them.” [284]
Your mission gives your life meaning
“William James said, “The best use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” [285]
My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others about God’s wonderful kindness and love (Acts 20:24)
Find out what you do best, and then do it in a way that makes a difference, Jim Wallis
The Choice you must make
It’s a simple choice: the world’s pattern or God’s pattern.
