Esther
July 20, 2025
Esther was a woman who faced difficult situations but found the riches of God's grace when she endured them by faith...
Esther 4:14"For such a time as this" highlights the idea of divine timing and purpose.
Esther was an orphaned little girl who was raised by her cousin, Mordecai. Through harrowing events, she marries Xerxes, the king of Persia, the most powerful man in the civilized world.
Esther 4:16 If I perish, I perish.
Esther had beauty and courage, but more important, she was willing to sacrifice her wealth, her power, and even her own life for God's greater purpose.
The book of Esther graphically depicts the victorious struggles of the dispersed Jews during the time of the Persian king Ahasuerus against the nefarious plottings of a certain prime minister named Haman. Although God's name is not mentioned once in this book, His hand is continually evident in all the circumstantial details of the story.
Esther, by her beauty, supplants Vashti as queen; Mordecai, by his skill, supplants Haman as prime minister. All the characters from the king down to the obsequious enslaved people play their parts at just the right time. Haman is the incarnation of evil; Mordecai, the essence of goodness; Ahasuerus, thought weak and pliable, has strong points also.
Esther, cousin and ward of Mordecai, becomes the heroine of the story by her willingness to risk her life and position, at the direction of Mordecai, for her people in their time of dire need.
Choosing the Path of Least Resistance or the Path of Faith
Romans 2:7-8 Eternal life to those who strive for glory, honor, and immortality by patiently doing good; but wrath and fury for those who, in their selfish pride, refuse to believe the truth and practice wickedness instead.
Romans 2:19 There will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who practices doing good.
The book of Esther is not just a historical narrative; it offers timeless lessons about courage, faith, and the belief that God can use even the most unlikely circumstances to accomplish His purposes.