What were you born to do? | In an astonishing twist, beauty and boldness transformed the fate of a nation (Esther 4-10)

What were you born to do? | In an astonishing twist, boldness and beauty transformed the fate of a nation (Esther 4-10)

Finding out you are in danger…

Mordecai immediately went into mourning once he learned the edict’s fate predicted the death of their nation. As an aside, but likely unbeknownst to him, the edict stemmed from the festering hatred Haman had for him. Not only did Haman want to destroy Mordecai, he wanted to destroy all the ‘people like him’, all of the Jews. Talk about power going to one’s head. A refusal to bow a knee set off this entire cascade of events.

In all likelihood and what the writing implies, is that Esther was in isolation in the harem’s quarters and did not have knowledge of the edict before Mordecai shared the news with her. Since Mordecai was not allowed past the king’s gate, he sent a messenger to show the edict and explain it to her.

Speaking in truth and love…

Now, Mordecai is a major influence in Esther’s life. Overall, she retains an obedient spirit throughout the entire book, that he is her cousin changes none of that.

This is the first piece of advice we are told Mordecai gives to Esther. She does not reveal it. Her trust was not empty or in vain, the very next verse shows how much he cared for her.

And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.

Esther 2:11

Their relationship mimicked a healthy father-daughter relationship. When Mordecai went into mourning, she sent him clothes; she was not able to see him if he could not get past the gate.

When the truth hurts…

Esther had a “Moses moment” after she finds out what Mordecai requests of her. She requests the task be given to someone else. Her fear trumped the reality of who she was, where she lived, and who she had access to. The Jews were in mourning, none of them could even go past the gate to the King’s inner court to risk their life. She was likely the only Jew that literally had access to attempt a meeting.

Mordecai’s response, through, is reminiscent of fatherly advice.

Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:13-14

Sometimes, we all need a reminder… amiright?! She needed to hear the flat out truth: she was in danger as it was already clear that a Queen was replaceable. His level of faith was also within that message that she needed to hear. Click To Tweet

Sometimes, we all need a reminder… amiright?! She needed to hear the flat out truth: she was in danger as it was already clear that a Queen was replaceable. His level of faith was also within that message that she needed to hear. He KNEW that God would save them in some way or another. Perhaps, he kept with him the promises of his forefathers that God had declared He would maintain a remnant.

She also needed a healthy dose of reality. She was in arm’s reach, so to speak, of the one man that could alter the fate of her people.

What God uses…

Let’s consider that in today’s world, beauty is an over-exaggerated asset or hindrance. In VERY general, fallen-world terms, women strive to attain more of it and men enjoy looking at it. The Bible does not promote it as anything to do with your personal relationship, yet, it does provide examples when God uses it.

Think back to Saul, he looked like a king, his stature was stately and he was handsome. While that aided in the Israelites wanting him as king, it eventually backfired on them. One of the biggest lessons still used today was delivered.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

This lesson has surpassed time.

Or perhaps, the entire book of Song of Solomon, a major focus is the love the two have for each other wrapped up in beauty.

Here, God used Esther’s beauty after Queen Vashti refused to ‘sell’ her beauty to ogling eyes. Esther made it into the harem because she ‘had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at’. (Esther 2:7b)

Grasping that truth in the midst of an obsessed culture…

What were you born to do? Workout your body or workout your salvation? … [The answer] arises out of a desire to reach hearts aimed at God and not eyes aimed at figures. Click To Tweet

What were you born to do? Workout your body or workout your salvation? It is common in Christian homes to not overemphasize beauty, from how skinny one is down to how many workouts one does. This arises out of the desire to reach hearts aimed at God and not eyes aimed at figures.

He handknit you together to be EXACTLY who you are! From the curliness of your hair to your skin color, down to the width of your feet. You are you, and you're exactly who He made you to be! If you define a person because of their… Click To Tweet

However, it is important to recognize who you are and how God made you. He handknit you together to be EXACTLY who you are! From the curliness of your hair to your skin color, down to the width of your feet. You are you, and you’re exactly who He made you to be!

If you define a person because of their God-given looks, you best take a look in the mirror and dig into your Bible. Your beauty may determine a fate you never imagined. Your skin color may aid in the influence you offer to others. When you diminish a person who was handknit by our Creator (meaning anyone), you essentially say God’s creation was a mistake.

Esther was made beautiful in form and figure by God, He knew it would aid in her becoming a Queen and providing her the opportunity to show how He can use anything to save His people.

Encouragement without empty flattery…

Mordecai asked a question that required deep thought. He presented it in a way to get her to think for herself and encouraged her to make her own decision. “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” In other words, what were you born to do?

His message did not include flattery, guilt, passive-aggressiveness, or shame.

She did not give a rash answer or one steeped in fear this time. Instead, she seemed encouraged by his faith and this bolstered a backbone in her. She requested that all of the Jews fast with her. (It is assumed but not mentioned, that prayer was involved since fasting for the Jews involved prayer.)

Encouragement and courage are both contagious. So too, encouragement often breeds courage. Click To Tweet

Encouragement and courage are both contagious. So too, encouragement often breeds courage.

Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

Esther 4:17

They also demonstrate a picture here for adult relationships. A mutual respect was given to each other. In familial structures, the acknowledgment of adult autonomous children with the capability and desire to make their own decisions can sometimes be met with, shall we say, unacceptance. Here, he respected her request and carried out her instructions. It was a two-way street, based on respect and love.

The bold stand…

She dared to the very thing she feared. She risked her life to approach the King and save her people.

Her first feast with King Xerxes and Haman came and went, and her second was the following day. In an ‘only God’ series of detailed events, we see that on the same day as the second feast, Mordecai was honored for sparing the King’s life.

His boldness to ensure the King was not assassinated had not been acknowledged much past court records. Until now.

Even after Haman meets his fate, Esther again is bolstered with courage to approach the King and request even more from him.

Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king.

Esther 8:3-4

Not only does King Xerxes hold out his scepter, he finds a way to spare her people. Furthermore, it is implied in Esther 9:11-12 that Esther remained in his presence and did not have to approach him again. Rather, he asked her what further request he might grant.

The contagious courage…

The Jews in Susa listened to her request for fasting. When the counter-edict came out, many people became Jews because they were fearful of the Jews. Not only that, but the people in all the provinces were fearful and could not stand up to the Jews or Mordecai.

God took one beautiful young lady and elevated her to a position in which an entire nation of all people groups were affected.

What were you born to do?

Your life may not weave its way into royalty. Your influence may not journey past your immediate children. But are you recognizing who God made you specifically to be, where He was placed you, and who He has put around you? Do you see the details that are making up your life? Are you attributing those details to a life in Christ and starting to see the tapestry being weaved together that represents your life?

The book of Esther wisely points us to see the everyday details, those that we would normally look past, and see how God is behind them. Take the time to consider your own life. Pick an event (a new job, leaving a job, a new friend, a dark season, a trial) and specifically see the hand of God leading to and through it. Find those baby steps and His leading. Practice this habit and learn it well.

Becca Manderson

Let the beauty of these details inspire a bold faith that you share with those around you!

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