One cannot help but be inspired by reading the triumphant stories of history, and the Biblical story of Esther from the intertestamental period is no exception.
Esther, the book, is clearly Jewish. Most Christians ignore the book in favor of the more popular story, such as the stories of David and Goliath, the prophets, the books of wisdom, or the Torah (or the Pentateuch). However, the golden grains of truth that fidelity and trust are eternal keys to success in life in any age are lost.
Life for Jews in this post-exilic period was anything but easy. They would identify with the oppression suffered even in this era by various groups, for example minority groups in Zimbabwe. King Xerxes (Hebrew name Ahasuerus) was a bit crazy; treating his own family cruelly, much less the Hebrews, whom he simply wanted to annihilate (see Esther 3:9-11).[1] But, God’s purposes prevailed as history reveals.
One of Esther’s theological messages is the juxtaposition of destiny Y faith. One people, the majority, believed in destiny, while the Jews chose faith. The ridiculous thing about this comparison is that God sneers at one (fate) but anoints the other (faith). Faith is a combination of “divine providence coupled with human vigilance [i.e. prudence] and timely action [i.e. diligence].”[2] Destiny is just wishful thinking, it has no substance and is backed by inaction. The author of Esther proves to us that the three qualities of faith (providence, vigilance, and action) are represented in history, since neither Esther nor Mordecai could foresee what would be required of them beforehand, until the moment to act arrived.
Backflips appear to be God’s domain, as Ahasuerus’ right-hand man Haman is hanged and the man he tried to exterminate (with his draft decree), Mordecai gets his job having won the king’s favor . No one could have predicted this. This turn of events is an example of divine providence backed by faithful waiting and action. Esther 8:17 and 9:3 are examples of the common attribution of God as sovereign on earth and the wide influence of Mordecai.[3] Many became Jews by acknowledging the one true God.
Surprisingly, there are still many people who reject the truth of God’s providential hand in ordering the world and instead believe in destiny, meaning horoscopes, tarot cards and clairvoyants. It is God’s eternal purposes that win every time. When people choose to falsely believe ridiculous and unfounded notions and fail to act to help their cause, they fail in consistent and demoralizing ways.
And what about applying these lessons to ourselves, personally? The book contrasts the rudeness of Ahasuerus’ festivities, which brought “dire consequences”, and the opposite and diligent action of fasting (and praying) which “works for good”.[4] This ultimate example of faith trusts God to provide us with opportunities to cooperate with his divine purposes. We must have hope (through prayer and fasting) and then always be ready to act when called to act, expressing the courage required. We must see that everyone, without exception, has a part to play in God’s purposes in the world, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. Let’s reflect on these specific examples:
The true hero of this story is Mordecai because of the steadfastness of his faith in pushing Queen Esther to act despite the very real risks to her own life in attempting to cooperate with God in delivering the Jews. But the extreme right also needed the heroic action of the Queen; she obeyed Mordecai’s direction by ordering a fast of the whole nation and vowing to ‘go to the king’ at the end of it, even though she was against the law, and she could have been executed for it. This is true courage. She might have been comfortable on the throne, but she didn’t break faith.
Haman’s arrogance should also be an example to us. His pride was his undoing, as he could not bear to regard anyone (except the king) as his equal. “God has an amazing track record of making evil plans backfire on planners.”[5] Those who dig holes for others will fall into their own hole (Proverbs 26:27). The great lesson is this: the schemers in our lives will get what they deserve, but only if we leave the action of retribution to God. Not only this. We too must not be conniving or we will succumb to judgment. God is no respecter of persons. He judges equally and without favoritism. He leaves justice to the true king. Trust him and he will do this, in his way and in his time.
Mordecai’s humility is also a shining light of example for us. He foiled the assassination attempt on the king’s life (6:2), but never sought a reward for it. He must have trusted God. He didn’t need to convey his act or be glorified for it. God’s purposes were for the king to finally find out and then seek to reward his faithful servant. justice arrives. How often do we wait as patiently as this or leave the congratulations alone? This is a great challenge for all of us not to seek rewards for our good deeds.
Also significant is the patience of Esther’s faith in not acting ahead of time. The king was giving her ‘up to half the kingdom’, but she had the nerve to invite the king and Haman to another banquet honoring the king. There was nothing devious about the plan, she simply chose to bless the king and further please him. That is obedient faith; not act only of your own free will, but wait. Voluntarily love someone without condition.
As we await our justice, God’s justice, we must be prepared to act as He calls us. Because we were born for such a time as this! Be of good cheer when the time comes, because it will come. The future always does.
Faith is infinitely better than fate. We cannot afford to ignore such truth and we have nothing to lose if we try. We can only gain credibility by exercising faith. Sometimes it is about waiting patiently and sometimes it is about acting. Faithfulness and trust tell us when each act is appropriate.
Copyright © 2008, Steven John Wickham. All rights reserved throughout the world.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Joyce Baldwin, Esther In new bible commentary (Leicester, England and Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1994, 2004), p. 443.
[2] Baldwin, Ibid., p. 443.
[3] Esther 9:3 tells us that “all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had seized them.”
[4] Baldwin, Ibid., p. 444.
[5] New International Version of the Bible of Application to Life, (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. & Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), p. 833.