Turning the Heart of the Queen

I’m between coursework that has required much of my writing time, so today I’m turning some attention back to my study of Esther and sharing a few thoughts. The book of Esther has some powerful takeaways.

As chapter two continues the story of Esther’s rise to royalty, we see more of what possibly lies ahead for her life with King Ahasuerus. History tells us how cruel he was, and, undoubtedly, Esther has heard many stories about him as she lived quietly with cousin Mordecai. I doubt that she dreamed about catching the king's eye.

In addition to his cruelty, he was repulsively immoral. Vashti had not been his only “love” (defined loosely), and now that she had rejected his directive and had been flicked away, and his battle with the Greeks lost, Ahasuerus wanted some comfort. And what a king wants, a king gets, even if he has to tear young girls away from their families and add them into his pleasure harem. 

Esther is about to be forced into a cesspool of defilement. Certainly not what she had dreamed a marriage would be. She could have gotten out of her predicament simply by not pleasing the king. I’m not saying displeasing him because the king had murderous power, and this king was not timid about using it. But she didn't have to trade a night with the king for position or fame, but that is often an allurement that many have difficulty resisting.

Because the story isn’t really about Esther, we soon begin to see God’s hand moving into  what has taken place at the palace. Esther made a poor/sinful decision, but God can redeem where we may fail. He uses whoever and whatever will fulfill His ultimate purpose.  God chose to use the position of the queen at that time and place. Esther had positioned herself as queen. Now it was God's time to make His move.

God moves in mysterious ways, ways that we often haven’t any idea about. He had a purpose for the Jews in exile, and He, too, chose Queen Esther as a human instrument to bring that purpose to fruition. Not only was God turning the heart of the King, He was going to turn the heart of the Queen also.

My own takeaway: I want to pay attention to my own heart, to let it be turned Godward, perhaps also being an instrument in the hand of the Redeemer. I don’t want to be passed by as Mordecai told Esther, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish.” God would have his purpose fulfilled with or without Esther. He probably won't choose to work through me in such a history-changing plot as He did Esther, but she probably didn't think she'd be doing what she did, either. God has other plans and purposes that, for reasons unknown to us, He works through people to accomplish, albeit a small role He may ask us to play. If He calls us for such a role, He will also provide. He doesn't need strong and courageous people. He needs willing people. The strength is His. The courage He gives.

God’s sovereignty and providence is seen throughout the book of Esther. Whatever He wills, He accomplishes. King Ahasuerus may have thought that was his own prerogative, but God  stepped in and reversed the plot.

Perhaps some of our own reversals in life are God-directed as well, for such a time as this.

Image ~ Reading in the Garden

Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky, 1868-1945

public domain, via WikiCommons