Learning From Esther

Queen Esther’s inspiring biblical example gives us insight into how we can have faith and courage in the face of our trials and challenges.

Queen Esther, the heroine in the book of Esther, was a remarkable woman. She grew up in exile from her homeland under Persian rule and, through her faith and courageous actions, God saved her people from genocide.

Esther gained favor in the eyes “of all who saw her” (Esther 2:15). Along with physical beauty, she likely had a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4). These qualities made her most appealing to the king, perhaps leading him to choose her as his queen (Esther 2:17).

After becoming queen, Esther’s cousin and caretaker, Mordecai, instructed her not to reveal her Jewish identity. Yet it became evident to him that this could no longer remain the case after the decree went out for the complete destruction of the Jewish people under Persian rule (Esther 3:13).

Esther would have to reveal her identity and put her life on the line to save her people. Not only were the physical lives of the Jews in Persian-ruled territory on the line, but it is evident Satan wanted to attack the plan of God because the Messiah was prophesied to come from Judah (Genesis 49:10).

From fear to faith

After Mordecai asked her to plead for the lives of their people before the king, Esther feared for her life (Esther 4:11). When Mordecai admonished her with his famous words—“who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)—Esther immediately called for a three-day fast.

Although God’s name is not clearly mentioned in the book of Esther, we can discern that she sought God’s special help by drawing closer to Him through fasting and prayer, asking all the Jews in Shushan to join her (verse 16).

Repentance a priority

Though Esther’s prayers are not included in the Bible, we do have the prayers of Daniel and Nehemiah as examples of effective, fervent prayer while fasting (Daniel 9:3-19; Nehemiah 1:4-11). These are prayers of repentance, seeking God’s forgiveness for personal as well as national sins, beseeching God for deliverance.

These prayers, along with the appropriate actions taken, show us how faith and moral courage are built.

When we face trying situations in our life, we can go to God for faith (Acts 3:16), strength and courage (Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 40:29).

Wisdom, patience and proper timing

After fasting for three days, Queen Esther stepped out in faith and risked her life to go before the king uninvited. In the Persian court, the king could have anyone put to death who attempted to appear before him without an invitation. But she found favor with the king and was accepted by him. When she was received by the king, she did not present her petition publicly in the king’s court. Instead, she requested a private dinner with the king and Haman, the instigator of the plot against the Jews.

It wasn’t until the second private dinner with the king and Haman that she submitted her request. The wicked Haman was hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai, and the Jews were saved through God’s protection, coupled with their efforts to defend themselves (Esther 8:7; 9:1, 5). The fruits of Esther’s efforts and God’s divine providence are history.

Being a work of God and doing a work of God

Queen Esther, along with Daniel and Nehemiah, could not know the extent to which their words and actions would affect others then and in the future. They came to know God and trust in His ways according to their knowledge, understanding and character development along the path of their lives.

We can continue to seek God and do the same. “Yet who knows whether you have come to [your circumstances] for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

Sue Ellison is a longtime member of God’s Church, attending the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.