Who is your favorite Bible character?
Esther is my favorite person in the Bible that I enjoy using for character development. Although I love the story because of all the amazing things she did, I also appreciate her for the angst she experienced. I relate to this almost as much or more than I do to her feats of bravery.
Portrait of me taken by Picture People, April 2013.
After all, I’m not a beauty queen, even if some people think I’m beautiful. I’m definitely not a queen by anyone’s definition even if I might aspire to be or dream of it in my private thoughts. Frankly, that’s living too much in the public eye. I like my privacy. I definitely would not want to be put in the position she was put in to choose between her people and exposure. So, then…
…what captures my attention about Esther?
Over the years, as I have meditated on this story and considered the journey Esther took in her life, I have thought most about those things that caused her anguish and grief, attempting to identify with her humanity.
- What was it like to be Esther?
- How did she handle her every day life?
- How did she feel through the various shifts in her status?
- How did the changes in culture affect her?
- How did she find the strength to endure?
- How did she traverse the depths and heights of her experiences?
Many of the children of Ingrid are orphans or have only one parent to support them.
The first thing we learn about her in Esther 2:7 is that she was an orphan, adopted by her cousin, who must have been old enough to feel more like an uncle to her since someone her age would probably not have taken on that responsibility. Even so, they seem to have bonded deeply because she expresses her distress for him in Esther 4:4, providing garments to replace his sackcloth. This gesture gives us insight into her own anguish about mourning.
Did it bring up issues from her childhood and the death of her parents? Or did she simply feel the separation of his presence keenly because he could not come into the king’s gate without proper attire?
Although Jewish families are very patriarchal, the role of the woman in the home is significant (Prov. 31:10-31). We may consider her being ushered into palace life as a “rags to riches” story, but for Esther, in addition to losing her parents, she also lost the culture of her people. Palace life among people who may have had very different values, and certainly different views than her, was probably extremely challenging.
originally uploaded by anitapeppers at: http://cdn.morguefile.com/imageData/public/files/a/anitapatterson/preview/
fldr_2004_08_03/file000324750683.jpgWhat stands out most to me about her experience I find reflected in her response to Mordecai via her servant in Esther 4:11, “I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”
Imagine…
- being separated from your family and your culture
- being thrust into a totally different way of life
- being singled out of all those women to be the queen
- being applauded and honored in a high political position
- steering your way through palace politics
- navigating around jealousies and unpleasantness of the other wives
- and managing to make the king pleased as well as his courtiers
…AND THEN not being called to see him for thirty days! In my opinion, that was the most taxing of all of her experiences; to just be abandoned after all of the sensational publicity.
Giving music books and other instructional materials to one of the instructors of Ingrid Education Centre, February 2013.
Action must have been so much better than inactivity in addressing the issue Mordecai raised in Esther 4:14, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Surely that question burned into her psyche.
Through all of her experiences, ups and downs, and roller coaster ride to the end of the story where we find the king giving her ‘carte blanche’ to fulfill her desires, what kept her motivated and strengthened to carry out her place in history? Many would point to her humility, trust, obedience, and faith. What gets my attention is that she simply followed the advice of her coach and mentor. She asked for nothing except what her coach, Hegai, advised her, and she repeatedly heeded the words of her mentor, Mordecai.
Simple, but profound; she just followed directions.
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182/preview/fldr_2008_11_02/file0001298447328.jpg
Living a victorious life is not about winning the war as much as the daily battles, which cumulatively get us to the finish line. Esther traversed the highs and lows of her experiences by sticking to her values regardless of her environment and fulfilling her role with simplicity and with character.
I continue to appreciate Esther for the inspiration she provides me in my daily life for character development, for overcoming painful and glorious experiences, and not being swayed from my values by the seemingly roller coaster effect; she will always be my favorite heroine.
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