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Visit our new blog. It lists all the new things that we are doing and what new material has been added to our site. We even list new missionaries who sign up with us for technical support so you can pray for them. FCM BLOG

Esther – For Such a Time as This

Esther is unique among Bible characters for a number of reasons. She is one of only two women for whom a book of the Bible is named (the other being Ruth). And Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not mention the words “God” or “Lord.” Yet God’s presence in the events of this book is obvious. Most students of the Bible find only commendable qualities when studying Esther’s life, and some good qualities are certainly evident. However, a closer examination of this woman will show us that Esther had both strengths and weaknesses.

Background:  The events of Esther take place in Persia (a few hundred miles east of Israel) where the Israelites had been taken captive by the Babylonians. After the Jews had been in captivity for about seventy years, the Emperor Cyrus gave an order allowing them to return to Palestine, and many did so (483-473 BC). Events in Esther’s life took place during this time, in the period between Ezra chapters 6 and 7. The Persian King Xerxes, who ruled some time after Cyrus, is also known as Ahasuerus.

Esther’s Life and Times:
Esther was a Jewish girl originally named Hadassah (“the myrtle”) living in Shushan, the capital of Babylon. Her family did not return to Jerusalem with the other Jews. Because her parents had both died, she lived with her older cousin Mordecai, who held an office in the household of the Persian Emperor, Ahasuerus. After divorcing his chief wife Vashti, Ahasuerus held a beauty pageant of sorts to find a new wife. Esther entered this competition and was chosen to be his wife. She received the name Esther (meaning “star”) when she entered the royal harem (2:7). Soon after this Haman the Agagite, the Prime Minister, had a dispute with Mordecai, who refused to show the proper respect to him by bowing when he walked by. Haman convinced Ahasuerus to give an order to put all the Jews in the Empire to death. Mordecai caught wind of this and convinced Esther to appeal to the Emperor on behalf of the Jews. In the mean time, Ahasuerus was reminded about Mordecai’s past service to him, and he enlisted Haman to publicly honor Mordecai. Esther later told the king about Haman’s desire to kill all the Jews, which would include herself, and the king’s wrath turned upon Haman, who was hanged on the gallows originally intended for Mordecai (chapter 7). The Emperor also gave the Jews permission to kill all their enemies throughout the entire kingdom, which they did. The Jews established an annual celebration, the feast of Purim, in memory of their wonderful deliverance.

Esther’s Character: 
Positive Character Traits

1. Esther appears in the Bible as a woman of godly character. She is a dutiful daughter to her adopted father, Mordecai. She is obedient to his counsels, and anxious to share the king’s favor with him for the good of the Jewish people.
2. Esther “obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her” (2:15). She had both beauty and charm. Of all the women in the beauty contest, she was chosen to be the king’s new chief wife. She must have been the perfect “Miss Babylon.”
3. The fact that God used her as an instrument to avert the destruction of the Jewish people suggests a strength of character and commitment to the God of Israel. Her agreement to approach the king without being called for and her statement “If I perish, I perish” reveals a willingness to sacrifice her life for her people. As Mordecai said, Esther was in a position of influence “for such a time as this” (4:14). She used her position of influence to change things for the better.

Negative Character Traits
Unfortunately, a closer examination of Esther’s life reveals some details that might change one’s high opinion of her. Some of Esther’s faults we can blame on Mordecai as Esther’s guardian, but Esther is still somewhat guilty. When studying the life of Esther, we should both appreciate her strengths and recognize her weaknesses.

1. Esther was willing to stay in Persia when many of the Jews were returning to Israel, the proper home of the Jews. God had instructed them to return to the Promised Land, but Esther and Mordecai did not. They were disobedient and unfaithful in that regard.
2. Esther and Mordecai evidently had accepted the Persian culture rather than maintaining Jewish distinctives. Esther adopted a Persian name rather than keeping her Jewish name Hadassah. Mordecai told her not to reveal that she was Jewish and she agreed. Both of them seem embarrassed or ashamed of their ethnic origins. Perhaps is Ahasuerus had known that Esther was a Jew in the first place, he never would have agreed to Haman’s evil plot.
3. Esther agreed to participate in a worldly beauty contest and to enter the harem of a heathen king. Mordecai at least should have known better than to allow his dependent to be associated with a royal harem. It was undoubtedly inappropriate for a Jewish girl to live in such a place. Further, the Mosaic Law prohibited her marriage to a non-Jew (Dt 7:3). Neither she nor her guardian seemed at all concerned about this, however.
4. Once they convinced the Emperor not kill the Jews, they secured permission from him to allow the Jews to take vengeance on all their enemies. The Jews proceeded to slaughter thousands of their enemies around the country. Esther especially asked that Haman’s ten sons, who likely shared no guilt in the matter, to be hanged. Such cruel revenge was certainly not God’s will.
5. The fact that we never find Esther praying or calling upon the name of God suggests that she was a very secular person. She asked her friends to fast for her, and the idea of prayer may be associated with that, but the text doesn’t say so explicitly.

Other Lessons from the Life of Esther:

1. God is sovereign. Even though God’s name is never mentioned, the main theme of the book of Esther is God’s providential, sovereign care for His people. God works out his purposes behind the scenes, without much fanfare. Mordecai seems to appreciate God’s sovereignty when he suggests that Esther became queen for “such a time as this.” What are some other “coincidences” that reveal God’s providential control over the events of this story?

Vashti is removed and Esther is chosen as queen; Mordecai discovers the plot against the king; the king can't sleep and calls for the records to be read, and he reads the part about Mordecai’s good deed; Haman enters the room just as the king wants someone to parade Mordecai around; the king extends the scepter to Esther.

1. Trust God to take care of you. God’s ability and willingness to deliver his chosen people is a key theme found in Esther’s life story. Mordecai was confident that if Esther failed, deliverance for the Jews would arise from another quarter. Esther’s willingness to approach the king without being called suggests that she was relying on God’s providential care for her. Even when God's people are far from him and disobedient, they are still the object of his concern and love. He is working out his purposes through them.

The fast-moving events that seem to be under the control of men such as Ahasuerus and Haman prove in the end to have been directed by God for the benefit of his people. Even the law of the Medes and Persians, which should have brought about the slaughter of the Jews, was overruled. *1
Application: God’s sovereignty means that the coincidences of our lives are not just random, chance events, but providentially controlled circumstances. No such thing as luck, good or bad. We can trust that God is at work in the details of our lives. Cf. Rom 8:28.

1. God is not limited by man’s sinful schemes. At several points in the story it seems as if the Jews are headed for disaster. Haman tricks the Emperor into making a decree to destroy the Jews, and there seems to be no means of rescue in sight. But God causes the plot to turn. The Emperor discovers Mordecai’s previous good deed, Esther shrewdly enlists the Emperor’s aid, and Haman ends up dying on his own gallows. God delivers His people through unexpected means. These and other surprising plot twists in the book show that nothing man does can upset God’s plan.
2. God is merciful and gracious to His undeserving people. Esther, Mordecai and the other Jews who stayed in Babylon enjoyed God’s providential care in spite of their underlying disobedience. God did not abandon His people just because they refused to return to Israel, as they should have. Remember that the conduct of the Israelites was frequently contrary to what God expected of them; but he continued to preserve them, if only as a remnant.

Application:  It may appear that powerful people are hindering God’s program, but such is not the case. God rules in the affairs of princes and paupers. Nothing man can do can hinder God’s overall plan. God can uses us in spite of our failures.

1. One’s own personal sins and failures often negatively impact others. Mordecai’s lack of respect for Haman resulted in a plot to kill all the Jews.

Application:  Your sin often negatively affects others. Think about how your actions will affect others.  

1. Use your position to effect change. Mordecai recognized that Esther had a unique position, and that she could use it to influence the king. She was willing to do so, even though it may have cost her her life. Mordecai expected God to deliver the Jews, either through Esther or through another means.If you fail to serve God and fulfill his purposes, someone else will get the privilege of doing so.

Who are some other biblical characters who used their position to change things?  Joseph, Boaz, Daniel, Ebed-Melech (Jer 38:7f)
Application:  God may have you where you are for a special purpose. Try to be an influence for good in the place where you are. You may be where you are “for such a time as this.” Take opportunities to serve.

1. Stand up for your convictions. Mordecai and Esther did not allow themselves to become victims of Haman’s wicked plans. They stood up for themselves and worked to prevent the coming disaster. They actively resisted evil.

Application:  Stand up for what you believe. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion and oppose evil.
Note:  Mordecai is often commended for his refusal to bow to Haman. His strong Jewish faith and heritage prevented him from giving undue honor to a mere human, so we are told. However, nowhere in the passage is there any suggestion that bowing down to Haman was an act of worship (unlike in Daniel’s case). In 5:9, Haman is again angered because Mordecai would not stand up or move for him as he passed. Haman is not asking for worship but merely respect to one in a higher position. It would not have been wrong for Mordecai to respond to Haman with an appropriate bow. There are many examples of God’s people bowing down before a king or other superiors (cf. Gen 23:7; 27:29; 1 Sam 24:8; 2 Sam 14:4; 1 Kings 1:16). He is really showing a stubborn lack of respect here, not a genuine concern for obeying God’s Law. The most probable reason for Mordecai's refusal to show appropriate honor to Haman was pride; no self-respecting Benjaminite would bow before a descendant of the ancient Amalekite enemy of the Jews. It was this lack of respect that motivated Haman to destroy the Jews in the first place. You might say that Mordecai brought this crisis upon himself and the whole Jewish population. Haman is clearly the bad guy in the story, but Mordecai’s stubbornness is also to blame.
Another Note: The vengeance that Mordecai and Esther wreak against their enemies is clearly indefensible. The Jews kill about 800 people in the capital city and another 75,000 people throughout the kingdom. What Haman wanted to do to the Jews, the Jews did to their enemies. The killing of Haman’s sons is an example of a son being held liable for the guilt of the father, which violates the Law (Dt 24:16). If Haman’s actions are so evil, why are these murders acceptable? The Jews are guilty of doing the same thing Haman wanted to do.

Conclusion: Had Esther and Mordecai obediently returned to Israel, we would not have this record of God’s providential work on behalf of his people. This does not excuse their sin, but it does recognize that God used both of them for his purposes in spite of their failures. The scheming of sinful people cannot thwart God’s plan. Esther’s story reveals God’s sovereign care for his people, even those who are not following him wholeheartedly.

Discussion:

1. Why did some of the Jews stay in Persia rather than return to Israel?  Some, like E and M, were likely born there and considered it to be home. They had roots there–families, businesses, relationships, etc. Things were going pretty well for them. Older people were likely too infirm to make the trip. However, anyone who could have returned should have.
2. What are some factors that mar the virtuous image we have of Esther? She agreed to become a member of the emperor’s harem. She also refused to acknowledge from the beginning that she was Jewish. She also adopted the Persian name Esther rather than her Jewish name Hadassah. It seems she and Mordecai had adopted the Persian culture rather than maintaining Jewish culture. Some of this we can blame on Mordecai as Esther’s guardian, but Esther is still somewhat at fault.
3. What are some qualities we see in Esther that are commendable?  She was willing to risk her life in order to save her people–“if I perish I perish.”
4. Why is Mordecai somewhat responsible for this whole episode?  He stubbornly refused to show respect to Haman.
5. What is the primary lesson of Esther’s life?  God’s sovereign care for and deliverance of his sinful people.