Esther: The Woman I Most Admire from the Bible:

Ever since I was a young girl, my favorite woman and, therefore, character, from the Bible (minus Jesus) is Esther.  I remember that I first started loving her story when I watched it in Veggie Tales.  I have read through her story multiple times in the Bible.  It is so wonderful that there is a woman who is brave and courageous that I can look up to.  The Bible is actually filled with women who are strong believers and filled with love and courage, and Esther is one of them.  I find this incredibly encouraging when those women were alive during a time when women were not in positions of power and were not often regarded in society. 

I love her story because she is very much an example of courage and bravery.  I can only imagine how scared she must have been when she was tasked to tell the king that his right-hand man has made a decree to kill all her people.  Therefore, she is actually supposed to be killed like the rest of them.  Also, she was not supposed to enter the king’s quarters unless she had been summoned, so she was taking a risk even if he wouldn’t have heard out what she had to say, and the bad news that she had to share.  She also was great at listening to what the Lord had planned for her.  She had a role to play in saving her and God’s people, and she followed that role.  

This is always a good reminder that sometimes we as people need to have courage.  We especially have to have the courage, to tell the truth.  This may be admitting that we are Christian in a group of people who are against Christianity, this may be admitting that we did something wrong, when we really are afraid of the repercussions.  I know that I have been brought up, to tell the truth.  My mom really values truthfulness, and she wanted me to as well.  I would say that I do overall, but I know that it can be the most tempting to bend the truth in order to help me in situations.  It takes courage to always tell the truth, even when it doesn’t benefit us right away.  However, we owe ourselves and the people around us the truth at all times.  

Esther also really had courage when it came to sharing the Lord’s message.  She was a Jew who followed God, and she was willing to admit she was a Jew and was one of God’s people.  She did not disown her identity, but she held firm in who she was.  I am, again, not the best at boasting who my identity is in Christ.  I would say I do not go out of my way to really talk about the Lord and all that he has done for me.  I don’t always go to people and tell them about the Lord, and his love for all of us.  I know if I am honest it is because I am fearful of being uncomfortable around others.  I know that is not a good reason.  I know that I should be willing to risk being in an uncomfortable position for the sake of the Lord and for the desire of others to hear about the Lord, even if it will make me uncomfortable at the moment.  I also have to remember that this becomes easier and easier with practice.  

Esther also really cared about listening to God’s plan.  I will say that she listened to God through her cousin Mordecai, but it was still very important that she listened.  I say this a lot, but it can be so hard for me to follow God’s plan.  I love to make my own schedule, my own goals, and my own plan, and while I think that is how God has made me, A type-A person type, it is also important that I don’t make my plan more important than God’s plan.  I need to remember to listen.  I may need to take more time out of my day to slow down and really hear what the Lord has to say about my future.  

One of my favorite verses from the Bible comes from the book of Esther.  Esther’s cousin Mordecai tells her that she may have been put in the position she has been for a reason. This is in Esther 4:14, “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 who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”  I just love that verse, and I always will.  God did plan for Esther to be in the position of Queen so she could save the Jewish people who were her family.  

It is a good reminder for me, as well as for everyone to remember that we have been placed in the area that we are because the Lord has planned it to be that way.  There have been certain coworkers that God has placed in my life for a particular reason.  There are certain students that God wants me to teach.  There are opportunities through fundraisers, leadership positions, and hobbies that God has given me for a particular reason.  I may not fully understand everything now, but I have to trust that God knows.  

My challenge for you this week is to think about who from the Bible is someone that really inspires you.  There are so many wonderful people to look at in the Bible.  There is Paul, Peter, Mary, Martha, David, Moses, Ezra, Ezekiel, Elijah, and many, many more.  It is also incredibly important to look at the reasons why they are someone that you admire.  What are the characteristics that they have that you want to possess? Those who are in the Bible are in there for a purposeful reason and God made sure their story was told.  This can include the good and the bad.  Now we have the opportunity to learn from them.