All About Love - Relating with Women of the Bible – Part 2نموونە

ESTHER – LOVE FOR THE NATION

I wouldn’t dare question God why He would send me back to the Philippines. Just like Esther, “for such a time as this,” I know, He has a purpose, and He will accomplish it.

Both names – Hadassah and Esther – mean a “star.” And she really was the star of her exiled people in Babylon. God strategically placed Esther to be raised by her cousin, Mordecai, until God’s appointed time.

When Esther was taken into the king’s harem, eventually selected by Xerxes to be his queen, Mordecai advised to keep her Jewish identity a secret.

But a pompous Amalekite, Haman, rose to position of power and demanded everyone to pay him homage. That’s a big no-no for the Jews, who only bowed down to God. Mordecai refused to kneel before Haman, which angered him and he found a way for the king to sign an edict for all Jews to be annihilated.

Esther had a life-changing decision to make. She could either save her life alone or save her people. She could risk her life by approaching the king uninvited or risk the lives of all Jews in Babylon by staying quiet. She could side with the nation she rules or save the nation she’s from.

Mordecai’s wisdom challenged Esther. If she wouldn’t decide to save her people, deliverance would still come from somewhere, but there’s no guarantee she and her family would live. And who knows if God had raised her up in royal position for such a time as this?

Although God’s name wasn’t mentioned in the book, it’s obvious that Esther sought God for guidance and strength when she instructed Mordecai to call all the Jews in Sousa to fast with her for three days, after which she’d approach the king with the resolve, “if I perish, I perish!”

Esther approached the king not only with courage, but wisdom. After two dinner banquets, Haman hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai. Haman’s plot boomeranged on him, while Esther and Mordecai’s service to Xerxes, their love for God and their nation returned to them with honor and a holiday celebrated still these days.

It was up to Esther whether she would play the part God intended for her to play for her nation, and it’s likewise for us. But know this, sweet child, if you love your nation, God will bring the victory of His assignment through you.