Esther: Called to save a lineage

 

Esther, also known as Hadassah, was of Jewish lineage and was living in Shushan. She had Mordecai as her foster father. She grew up in the fear of God under the tutelage of Mordecai. 

After the incumbent queen disregarded the orders of the king to appear during a feast, she was stripped of her position and a search began for a replacement. Some young ladies in the kingdom were selected and were prepared to stand before the king. After the whole exercise, Esther was selected to be the new queen.

Esther’s foster father, Mordecai would have been very grateful to God for her ascension to the throne. She was now at a position where she could become a solution to a critical challenge. The challenge was that Haman hated the Jews and he was planning towards their complete wiping out of from the land.

Mordecai refused to pay homage to a man he considered as an enemy of God and His people. This further infuriated Haman. Haman’s hatred skyrocketed when the king remembered a good deed of Mordecai and ordered him to be celebrated by Haman.

In the process of time, Haman prevailed over the king to sign a decree concerning the elimination of the clan of the Jews. On knowing this Mordecai wept so much and it came to the knowledge of Esther. He also sent a message to Esther that she needed to arise for the salvation of the Jews. He made her to understand that this was probably the reason she had come into the kingdom at that season.

Esther decided to seek the face of God concerning the matter through fasting and prayer. She also requested for prayers. God came through for her and her people. The enemy – Haman was defeated and the Mordecai was exalted. In the quest for fulfilling destiny in God, we see the following attributes in Esther…

She submitted to godly training and discipleship under her foster father.

She was obedient and discreet. She followed the instructions that Mordecai gave to her when he asked her not to reveal her nativity as yet.  

She was a woman of devotion to God. 

Our generation needs more women like Esther who would bring preservation and salvation through the power of the gospel and passionate prayers. 

“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14