Esther: Opportunity for Spiritual Growth

by: Verlyn Verbrugge

Esther wasn’t used to thinking of others. Like many beautiful women, she was used to others thinking of her. When she had participated in the contest to become the new queen, she received an inside tip from Hegai, the king’s eunuch, regarding what she should take along for her one-night “audition” with the king. Esther did not disclose her race, knowing King Ahasuerus would not choose a Jewish girl to be his wife (read Esther 2). Beautiful and clever; so Esther became the queen.

But suddenly things changed. Haman, a leading advisor to the king, decided to wipe out the Jewish people because of his hatred for Mordecai, Esther’s cousin. A date for the pogrom had been set, and Mordecai knew the only hope to avert disaster for the Jews was for Esther to intercede with the king.

But it was dangerous for Esther to do that. She had not seen the king for a month. Mordecai insisted, however, that God was involved here, that Esther had “come to royal dignity for just such a time as this” (4:14).

This was a time of spiritual growth for Esther: to start thinking of others besides herself. The fate of the entire Jewish nation rested with her. So she called for prayer and fasting on her behalf and then boldly entered the king’s chamber at great personal risk. And the Lord rewarded her.