Stepping Out In Faith

How do you respond to crisis?  Have you ever had to step out in faith?  In chapter 7 of Esther, we see her courageously reveals her heritage to save her people.  She then exposes Haman for the evil man that he is.  

In this scripture we are taken to the second feast that Esther has prepared for King Ahasuerus and Haman.  And what a feast it was!  The king again asks Esther what her heart's desire was, that he would grant her wish, because he was so pleased with her.  She responds the following way:

"Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.  For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” (v. 3-4)

Esther was bold in her request.  She was stepping out in faith.  She believed that God would save her and her people.  She was able to point out to the king the evil deeds of Haman.  It says in Psalm 73:12-13,

"This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence."

Doesn't this describe Haman perfectly?  Are you ever faced with the wicked?  Do you ever feel like the wicked always prospers?  Haman was one of these wicked.  He was elevated into a high position all the while plotting the destruction of the Jewish people.  I'm sure when we feel like others are elevated to positions that we don't deserve because of their wicked doings, that they will never be punished for those deeds.  But, in the end, they will.  It may not be in the time that we think it should happen.  Everything always happens in God's time.  Just as it did with Haman.  

Remember this:  God will honor you when  you boldly do what is right!

Winning Favor

Four years!  That's how many years have passed between the time Queen Vashti was banished and the time that King Ahasuerus chose a new queen.  Esther is finally introduced in Chapter 2.  What I want to look at today is how exactly Ester came to be queen and the implications it has for us.  

Scripture tells us that Esther was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin.  She was orphaned and was being raised by her cousin, Mordecai.  Her Hebrew name was Hadassah.  Esther was her Persian name.  She was chosen to go to the king's palace to vie for the attention of King Ahasuerus because she was beautiful.  She was placed into the care of Hegai, a eunuch in charge of the concubines and harem of the king.  Esther 2:9 tells us "And the young woman pleased him and won his favor."  Hegai was so pleased with Esther that he elevated her to the best place in the palace.  

Esther spent a whole year in the "beautification process" to win over the king.  During this time the ritual was to spend the first six months with oil and myrrh and then another six months with spices and ointments.  So, what was the deal with the oil, myrrh, spices and ointments?  This was the ultimate in spa days.  Can you imagine the facials, massages and mani/pedi's that these women received.  

Let's look at some of Esther's qualities as described in Chapter 2:

1.  "Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known" (v.10).  This tells me that she was trustworthy as well as obedient.  

2.  "When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised..." (v.15).  She was teachable.  She was humble.

3.  "And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai" (v.22) - Here Mordecai had learned of a plot to kill King Ahasuerus.  She proved that she was wise and faithful.  

With all of that being said, I believe that we are in preparations for our King.  Our King Jesus.  The day is coming.  Are you going to be prepared?  Right there in Esther, she being an example, it tells us how we must prepare.  We must be trustworthy and obedient to God's word.  We must be teachable and humble.  And We must be faithful and wise.  Jesus is going to return.  It's just a matter of when.  We must prepare now to win the King's favor.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word and what it teaches us.  Thank you for the opportunities that you give us to be immersed in your Word.  I pray that I take what is learned and help to apply it to our lives.  Forgive me, Father, for those times when I was not prepared, or I was not willing to be prepared.  Help me be prepared for Jesus' return.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.