Fit For a Queen

“The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor

in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head

and made her queen instead of Vashti” (Esther 2:17) NKJV.

kings and queens still reign. Who determines who rules and reigns? God does. He always has, even back in biblical times. Queen Esther wasn’t always Queen Esther. Sure, she was born for this, but she was not born royal. Her life began like most of ours – with normal parents – except they were Jews who lived in exile. Her ancestors had been carried away into captivity (as prophesied) by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. I suspect her life was quite normal until the day her parents died, and Esther became an older cousin’s ward. That seems tragic, but God was on the move and positioning Esther for His plan. Under Mordecai’s hand, God groomed her for life as a queen. Her training was impeccable. Did she know it? Of course not. We are being prepared today for tomorrow, but we’re not aware of it. God is always at work in our lives, molding and shaping us and moving us about to accomplish His plan.

Although His work in us is perfect, we feel far from perfect most of the time. He planned it that way, because He wants us to need Him, every minute of every day. That’s why Esther’s story is so incredible. One day she had to trust God like never before, not just for her life, but for the lives of all the Jews in the Persian Empire. She recognized God’s plan to use her to save her people. Esther is a true heroine. She regarded the lives of others as greater than her own. She didn’t merely profess great love for others, she lived it. In one of the most heroic scenes in the Bible, Esther will risk her life to save her people. God has placed her in the right place at the perfect time. This was her time - it was her moment - and she got it. How thrilling! God elevated an orphaned Jewess to great heights and power, for such a time as this. Through her obedience, her faith touched everyone in the palace and beyond. Esther knew her purpose and endeavored to make a difference where she lived, worked, and played. You won’t be surprised to learn that there is an enemy at work, weaving a trap to destroy not only Esther, but all the Jews. Not to spoil it for you, but Esther’s story has it all. A king and a queen, beauty and intrigue, love and romance, wealth and power, even an evil adversary. If you’re unfamiliar with Esther’s story, you can read it in its entirety in Women of the Bible and God’s Redeeming Love.

Prayer: Mighty and gracious Lord, please give us your eyes. Help us to see the greater needs of those around us and move toward them. Position us to make a difference for your kingdom. Amen.