Esther was a Benjamite.  Her cousin Mordecai cared for her as if she was his own daughter after her father and mother died.  When Queen Vashti refused to come to King Ahasuerus, her crown was taken from her and a new queen was sought among the virgins of the citadel of Susa.  Esther was among the virgins and ultimately pleased the king the most and became queen.  The king established Haman authority over all the princes in his kingdom and after Mordecai refused to bow down and pay homage to him, Haman plotted to kill the Jews (Esther 3:1).  Mordecai urged Esther to make plea with the king in order to save the Jews although she was not to come to the king and could be put do death unless the king held out his golden scepter towards her.  Nevertheless, Esther considered God’s will above her own when she took advantage of the opportunity He had given her as queen to go and make a plea with the king and she also considered God’s people above herself knowing there was a chance she might perish when she did so.
In the New Testament, Jesus teaches the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30).  He says in verse 29, “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken way” (NASU).  Being queen, Esther was given a talent for which she had the choice to “trade and gain” or “bury.”  The talent she was given was the position of authority and ability she had to go to the king and make a plea for the lives of God’s people, knowing that she might perish.  For this, she considered God’s will over own.  Esther 4:13-14 states, “Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.  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.  And who know whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?’”.  I am guilty of living life from day to day and not “trading and gaining” from the talents God has given me.  I have to remember, as a Christian, my life has a very specific purpose and I have been given the talent to tell others the Good News.

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.  I and my maidens also will fast in the same way.  And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:15-16).  Galatians 6:2 says we are to bear one another’s burdens.  Not only did Esther take advantage of the opportunities God gave her, but she carried the burden of God’s people when she made the decision to go to the king and make plea for their life.  I have to ask myself if I am willing carry the burdens of God’s people, the church, just as Esther did.  I know there is no better time to start than now, and it is as easy as encouraging or edifying another Christian,  asking how they are doing, and praying for them.  In addition, I think it is important to ask other Christians to help bear my own burdens.  After all, that is way God created the church.

Esther was not only beautiful on the outside, but more importantly, she was beautiful on the inside. The book of Esther is my favorite book in the Old Testament because Esther was a great example of a godly woman.  I have said that I want to be like Esther when I “grow up spiritually,” but then I have to stop and ask myself, “What am I waiting for?  God has given me the opportunity now.”

By Kerstin Allison
Kerstin and her husband, Britton, are graduates of The Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. They now live in Oklahoma City, OK and worship with the church that meets at North MacArthur. Currently they are going to school and once they are finished, they hope to do international mission work.