Esther: Silent but Sovereignনমুনা

It’s thought that there could have been as many as 400 women involved in King Xerxes’ quest to find the next queen. But Esther was the one who caught the attention of Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the women in the palace harem. Verse 9 tells us that Esther ‘pleased him and won his favor’. Because of this, he gave her preferential treatment, providing her with beauty treatments, special food, and maids selected from the king’s palace. 

Although we know that Esther was very beautiful, it’s unlikely that it was just her external beauty that made her stand out among the most beautiful women in the kingdom. It’s likely that her character and behavior also attracted Hegai’s attention. 

But more significantly, God had chosen Esther to be Xerxes’ next queen and every detail of her journey from obscurity to royalty was ordained by Him. He caused Hegai to favor Esther and treat her with extra care. He would later move Xerxes’ heart to choose her as his queen. God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and power are seen in the events that led to Esther’s coronation. His mercy, compassion, and love are seen in the details of Esther’s experience in the harem. 

We’re told in verse 8 that Esther was brought to the king’s palace. We don’t know whether this was by force, but we can assume some reluctance on her part, knowing that regardless of whether she was chosen to be queen, there was little chance of her returning home once she’d become part of the harem. 

Esther was a young Jewess. She was protected and cared for by a guardian she loved and respected: Mordecai. It’s unlikely that she would want to leave her loving home and the prospect of a Jewish marriage for life in a harem, no doubt filled with rivalry and jealousy, and where she would be used for loveless sex for as long as she was considered to be beautiful. 

The fact that Mordecai told Esther to keep her nationality a secret (v. 10) suggests there was potential danger for her as a Jew in the palace environment. So it’s likely that she would have been frightened as she was taken to the harem. But God protected Esther and provided for her. He gave her grace and humility to endure her circumstances. He sustained her so that He could fulfill His purposes for His people. We often face situations in life that we wouldn’t choose. Perhaps even now you’re struggling with ill health or financial ruin; fighting with family members or friends; feeling rejected by a spouse, child, or parents; or working in an ungodly environment. Do you struggle to see God’s purposes in your situation? 

Jesus understands how we feel in these times. Like Esther, He had to leave His home and experience loneliness and separation in order to fulfill God’s purposes to save His people. Like Esther, He was surrounded by sinful behavior and faced the temptation to compromise. But He submitted to His Father’s will and even on the cross, His love, grace, and forgiveness were evident (Lk. 23:34).

Reflection

Pray that in difficult circumstances you will be able to see God’s compassion, mercy, love, and trust in His faithfulness, power, and sovereignty.