Esther: God’s Perfect Work Through Imperfect People

Scripture: Esther 1:1-22

A True And Better King

The Book of Esther describes events that took place around 480 BC in the Persian Empire. In chapter 1 we are introduced to King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes), who was holding a banquet to gather support for a war he wanted to wage against Greece. We see the king holding an extravagant banquet that displays his enormous wealth. Reading about the king’s opulence is also a reminder for us that prosperity itself is not a measure of God’s blessing. Both honorable and wicked people can be materially well-off.

As we read, it’s important to remember that evil is not restricted to those who have power. The book of Esther is a story about powerful people pursuing evil ends, and it could be easy for us to think, “I would never do that if I were in their position.” The reality is that we will never know because we will likely never be in a position of such power and authority as the king of Persia was.

However, we should also read this story as a point of caution for ourselves and consider how intentional we are about loving and caring for those who we can influence. Just because our realm of influence might be small, it doesn’t mean that we can treat those around us however we wish.

In the opening chapter of Esther, we see the king in a drunken stupor calling for the queen to expose herself for the entertainment of his guests. And while this would be degrading and humiliating for any woman, it was a violation of custom to request this of a queen.

Her courageous refusal results in her being removed from her role as queen. And in an ironic twist, the decree that was sent out in response to the queen’s actions at the banquet ensured that the entire kingdom heard about the event.

And while God is never mentioned in the book of Esther, we will see his control implicitly throughout the book. As the biblical scholar Mervin Breneman writes, “Already the reader anticipates that Xerxes as a Gentile will be superseded by God’s sovereign choice of a new queen, even the Jew Esther. The narrative is now ready to introduce us to a new character. Vashti has courageously entered and exited. She has prepared the way for one to replace her and to exceed her courage.”

In the end, one thing we see in chapter 1 is how Jesus is our true and better king than Xerxes in every way.

• Xerxes thought he was a man who became God. Jesus actually is God who became a man.
• Xerxes died and no one worships him, Jesus conquered death and billions have recognized him as God.
• Xerxes had subjects from many nations. Jesus’s Kingdom has joyful worshipers from every nation.
• Xerxes threw enormous banquets to display his wealth. Jesus ate with outcasts to display his love.
• Xerxes’ kingdom came to an end. Jesus’ kingdom has no end.
• Xerxes thought of himself as the king of kings. But he died and was then judged by the actual King of Kings.

Today’s reflection

Jesus is different from every other ruler and authority who has ever existed in that he always used His power for the good of others. What is one thing you could do today to use your influence for the good of someone else?

Scripture: Esther 2:1-18

Jesus Has A Better Kingdom

Esther chapter 2 presents us with a difficult question; what should we do when we don’t know what to do? In a world where the “right” answer is not always obvious, how do we make wise decisions?

According to chapter 2 verse 16, the events in this chapter take place about 4 years after the events in chapter 1. Historically, this points to the events in this chapter, and to Persia’s losing military campaign against Greece. The king is unhappy.

To be clear, the quest to find the king a new queen was no beauty contest. In modern terms, we would call it human trafficking. Women were taken from their families and essentially forced to sleep with the king as he looked for Queen Vashti’s replacement. Each woman who was not chosen would be a part of the king’s harem for the rest of her life. While they might have been materially provided for, they would have no chance to marry or have a family of their own. This is what Esther was brought into.

It is worth noting that both Esther and Mordecai are Persian names, not Jewish names. This means that they had assimilated well into Persian culture. While survival certainly played a role in adopting the Persian culture that the Jewish people had been exiled into for about 120 years at this point, it also shows us this important truth: faithfulness is not accidental. We must be intentional about walking with the Lord, or we will drift away. It is clear that Mordecai had climbed the political ranks in Persia, and he likely had to compromise some of his Jewish convictions and beliefs to do so.

Nevertheless, Mordecai cares for Esther and her well being. She was put in a position she didn’t choose, and we must ask ourselves what we would do in her predicament. Given the difficult dynamics at play here, this story also reminds us that grace is better than judgment.

It will be easy for us to judge both Esther and Mordecai’s decisions as we read this book. It is a lot harder to know what we would have done if we were them. This doesn’t downplay the importance of honoring God, but it reminds us that we need as much grace as they do.

Biblical scholar Karen Jobes writes this in response to Esther chapter 2:

“This episode from Esther’s life offers great encouragement and comfort when we find ourselves in situations where every choice is an odd mix of right and wrong. Only God knows the end of our story from its beginning. We are responsible to him for living faithfully in obedience to his word in every situation as we best know how.

Even if we make the “wrong” decision, whether through innocent blunder or deliberate disobedience, our God is so gracious and omnipotent (all-powerful) that he is able to use that weak link in a chain of events that will perfect his purposes in us and through us. Esther may have looked back on this episode of her life with shame and regret, or she may have looked back on it with a clear conscience, knowing that she acted as wisely as she knew how at the time. In either case, every one of us also has both kinds of episodes in our own lives. Esther’s story shows that we can entrust them to the Lord and move on.”

Here is the good news for us as we read the story of Esther: your past does not disqualify you from God’s purposes.

Perhaps you can think of times where you have compromised your faith and your convictions, but what we see over and over again through Scripture is God using broken people in spite of their past. His grace and forgiveness are greater.

Today’s reflection:

What in your past do you feel like God cannot forgive you for? What would it look like to take him at his word today and believe that he always responds to repentance with grace?

Scriptures: Esther 2:19-23, Esther 3:1-15

When Life Is Unfair

In this passage, we see Mordecai the Jew save the king from an assassination attempt, but not be rewarded. Then Haman the Agagite (historically Agagites were bitter enemies of the Jewish people) gets promoted to second in command over all the kingdom. If you were an ancient Jew reading this story, these events would not make you happy.

Mordecai refuses Haman’s new edict that he must be bowed down to, and Haman uses the refusal as an opportunity to manipulate the king into writing an edict to wipe out all the Jewish people. This raises an interesting question for us as readers: how should we respond when life is unfair? There is no world where genocide against an entire group of people can be justified because of one person’s refusal to bow down. Yet that is what happens.

Yet the reality is that our level of trust in God determines our response to unfair treatment. We will see later in this book that it’s a good thing Mordecai wasn’t rewarded for his actions immediately, but in the moment that also seems unfair.

When really hard things come our way, it is hard not to be anxious, scared, or worried. So what can we do to trust God when life is unfair? Look back to God’s faithfulness in the past. Seeing God’s past faithfulness helps you trust him in the future.

It won’t take all the worry away, but it will encourage you. We are so quick to forget how God has moved once our next want or need comes up, and so we forget how good he has been.

Not only that, but this passage also shows us something else. King Xerxes no doubt did many evil things, but in this scenario he is the passive party to evil, while Haman is the perpetrator. And while it is worse to be the one leading the charge, passive compliance to evil is still evil.

Put another way, our love for others determines our willingness to care about them. Especially when doing nothing would be easy, and doing something could cost you something. As the book continues we will see that Esther could have done nothing. She was the queen after all, who was going to harm her? So will she have the courage to move?

But for now, we reflect on one final important truth. When life is hard and unfair, our hope does not only come from God’s goodness, but also from his power.

It’s a small thing if God cares for us but has no power to do anything against evil. It’s an entirely different thing if he is not only good but is also powerful enough to make all things right. And this is what the heart of the Gospel is all about. That God’s providence is greater than life’s injustices.

God sees all things and is over all things, and just like this story (for now) seems hopeless, nothing takes God by surprise. Injustices happen in this life, but the story isn’t over just yet.

Today’s reflection

What difficulties are you currently facing that are hard for you to trust God with? Reflect on the times God has been faithful to you in the past and see how it encourages you in the present.

Scripture: Esther 4:1-17

Risking Your Comfort For The Good Of Others

In chapter 4, Mordecai learns of the planned genocide and eventually finds a way to tell Esther what has happened. Mordecai wants Esther to plead with the king to reverse the edict, but this is much easier said than done.

Other than those who were part of the king’s inner court, no one could approach the king unannounced – including the queen. To do so could result in the punishment of death if the king so chose. And whatever the reason, the King had not summoned her for the last 30 days.

Mordecai responds by saying that even Esther herself should not assume she will survive this edict if she does nothing. And perhaps, Mordecai says, this was the very reason God has made you queen. So Esther decides to hold a fast for provision and safety that she would not be killed for approaching the king unannounced, especially in light of her reasoning for wanting to speak to him.

While we read this passage, it is easy for us to say what Esther should do; that she should be willing to risk her life to save her people. After all, we will likely never be in such a position as Esther. And yet, as we read this story we are invited to consider our own lives. While we can’t save an entire population of people, we can influence the people God has placed in our lives.

To put it another way, you can’t change the world for everyone, but you can change the world for someone. Instead of wishing you could positively impact thousands of people, realizing you can’t, and then doing nothing. You and I can instead do for one person what we wish we could do for everyone.

In reality, a lack of action typically follows a lack of trust. Because we don’t think we can make much of a difference, we can downplay the difference we could make in the lives of those around us. If we assume an act of service towards someone won’t make that much of a difference, it’s easy to ignore what God might be asking us to do.

The truth is, in order to do what God has called you to do, you must be who God has called you to be. Esther has a choice to make. Will she be the kind of person who places the needs of others above herself, even when it could cost her everything? Or will she allow her fear to stop her from standing in the gap?

Regardless of the magnitude of our decisions, we face the same predicament. Will we follow the way of Jesus, who gave up his rights and privileges for us, or will we pursue our rights and protections over others?

Today’s reflection

Is there a situation in your life right now where it would be easier to do nothing than to risk your own standing (be it financial, time, or reputation) for the good of someone else?

Scripture: Esther 5:1-14

When Idolatry Becomes Your Identity

In Esther chapter 4, we read about reactions to the king’s decree to annihilate the Jews living in Persia, and Mordecai pleaded with Esther to do something on her people’s behalf. He tells her, “Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” In this passage, watch as Esther and Haman struggle to advance their opposing plans.

Esther, courageously and at the risk of death, approaches the king and asks for a meeting. He happily obliges. Strangely when the time of the banquet comes and the king asks Esther what she wants, she asks for another banquet instead. We aren’t told why she postpones her request, but the King accepts.

Haman is elated. He again is asked to join the king at another privileged banquet. However, as soon as he sees Mordecai he is enraged again. So, at the encouragement of his wife, he prepares a large gallows on which to publicly execute and humiliate Mordecai.

In this chapter we see the different approaches of Esther and Haman. In humility, Esther fasts and prays for God’s protection and wisdom. Haman hurriedly seeks to destroy a man who won’t bow down to him. You can almost feel what James writes in James 4:6 that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Haman also shows us that our idolatry can become our identity. Haman craved power and recognition, so much so that he was willing to do anything to get it. If we are not careful, we can place our identity in things (even good things) that cannot do for us what Christ has done and continues to do.

Financial security, a relationship, public recognition, etc., if that is our ultimate pursuit, shapes all the decisions we make. Causing us to be blind to the freedom and grace we receive from Christ. Ultimately, our identity is not something we chase and achieve, it’s something we receive.

We are given love, mercy and acceptance not based on our accolades, but on Jesus’ sacrifice and invitation. We are loved by God not for what we do, but through what he has done for us.

Today’s reflection

What is one area in your life that you are tempted to give greater importance to than Christ? What guardrails can you put up to help keep lesser things from becoming god-like things in your life?

Scriptures: Esther 6:1-14, Proverbs 16:18

The Good Providence Of God

Chapter five of Esther left off with Haman building an outrageously high gallows on which to hang Mordecai, and looking forward to a second banquet with the king and Esther. Tensions are high, yet we see that God is present and active even in the darkest moments.

The night before Haman was going to ask the king to hang Mordecai, the king could not sleep and ended up reading about the time Mordecai saved his life. He sees that Mordecai, surprisingly, was never rewarded for this, and wants to rectify this at once.

At the same time, Haman, full of pride, assumes that there is no one worth honoring more than he is. So when the king asks how he should honor someone, Haman assumes that of course the king intends to honor him. In an ironic turn of events, Haman finally learns that what he proposed for himself will actually be done for Mordecai, whom he wanted to have killed. At the end of chapter 6, Haman’s wife declares what we can feel is imminent: Haman’s downfall is coming.

This chapter (and this book) show us the destructive nature of pride. In fact, it could be argued that pride is the number one predictor of ongoing sin in your life. It’s our pride that keeps us from being honest with others about our problems. It is our pride that makes us think we can overcome our sin all on our own. It’s our pride that makes us think we are the exception and that we won’t be found out. But nothing is hidden from God.

We also see in this chapter that nothing happens outside of God’s control. He is over all things, even when it doesn’t look like it. And up until now in the book of Esther, it didn’t look like it. While this doesn’t mean God will work out everything how we want, it does mean that nothing happens without his willing or allowing it.

Providence can be described as God’s guidance, protection, care. The book of Esther shows us the providence of God is always at work, even when we can’t see it. The book of Esther shows us that there are no accidents in God’s providence.

What others meant for evil, God can use for good. Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in the crucifixion of Jesus. When all seemed lost, salvation was given.

Today’s reflection

What is one area of your life where it is tempting for you to think God has abandoned you? Ask him to help you trust in his providence today.

Scriptures: Esther 7:1-10, Proverbs 11:6, Proverbs 29:16

God Treats Us Better Than We Deserve

In chapter 6, we saw the tables begin to turn for Haman and Mordecai, and now Haman’s downfall will be complete. In chapter 7, Esther finally makes her request to the king that he spare her life and the life of her people. Until now, the king and Haman did not know she was Jewish, and once Haman realizes this, he knows his fate is sealed.

As Esther presents her request to the king, it’s also an invitation for us to consider our own prayers. She and her people had been fasting and praying for God’s protection. Will God come through?

Here’s an interesting thought experiment: if God answered all your prayers, would the world look any different, or just your life? Think of all you have prayed for in the past week. Was it primarily for God to help with things you were facing? Did you pray for the needs of others or the salvation of others? Does our prayer life display a love for God or a love for self? In this story, Esther’s prayers were focused on the needs of her people.

When it comes to Haman, we are also reminded of the power of sin. Sin deceives us into thinking we won’t be found out. There is no world in which Haman thought his plan to kill Mordecai and then all the Jewish people would end in his own death.

In the same way, it is easy for us to forget the power sin can have over us. We often don’t feel its effects until later, which gives us a false sense that sin isn’t that bad after all. But a righteous God despises evil, and he despises sin. In fact, the story of Esther and Haman’s downfall is a reminder to all of us that we all will face the judgment of God. We have all fallen short. We have all sinned.

It begs us to ask the question then, how does God relate to people who disobey him? Will we all, like Haman, face destruction? Yet while we reflect on the weightiness of sin, Scripture points us towards the hope we have in Jesus.

The good news of the Gospel is that while God is a righteous God, he is also a loving God. He doesn’t minimize or dismiss our sin, but takes it upon himself for our sake. The judgment we deserved was taken by him.

In the end, Scripture shows us that God treats us better than we deserve. We might not be as evil as Haman, but we have all disobeyed God and hurt others. In fact, Jesus treats us like Mordecai in this chapter when we all can be like Haman in our selfishness and pride.

Our sin is heavy, God’s grace is more.

Today’s reflection

How does it make you feel to know that God treats us better than we deserve? What would it look like to extend that same grace to someone else today?

Scriptures: Esther 8:1-17, Galatians 6:10

God Fights For His People

Chapter 7 ended with Haman’s demise, but his edict was still in place. While Esther and Mordecai themselves would be safe, Esther’s concern was for her people. She now pleads before the king on behalf of her people.

The king responds favorably to Esther’s plea for help, and authorizes her and Mordecai to send out a competing decree against those who were planning to use Haman’s edict as an excuse to attack the Jews. Since edicts could not be reversed, a new edict must be issued to combat the previous one.

Some readers of Esther might be bothered by the Jews wiping out and plundering their enemies, seeing this as too harsh an action for godly people to take. But a careful reading of this passage clarifies for us that they weren’t given permission to attack others, but to only defend themselves from those who would assault them.

The carriers of this new decree brought with them a tangible hope for the Jews. Seeing Mordecai in such a position of honor would have brought further assurance to the people that this wasn’t all a dream – they really could be saved! Of course, we must wait and see what will happen, but for now we have hope.

One of the things we are confronted with in this passage is that how we treat the people of God matters. God cares for his people, and this theme is repeated throughout both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, there are many times that it might even seem easier to love, forgive, and care for those who do not know Jesus than it is to do the same things to fellow Christ followers. But that must not be.

Ultimately, followers of Jesus today are called to fight against sin and evil through love. Now that Christ has come, we follow his example in loving and caring for even our enemies.

Interestingly, at the end of chapter 8 it says there was much joy over the new edict that would protect the Jewish people on the day of attack, “and many ethnic groups of the land professed themselves to be Jews.” But the text doesn’t tell us all the motivations behind this. Was it because the Jews appeared to be gaining power? Was it because they saw how the God of the Israelites seemed to be protecting his people, and they wanted his protection as well? Was it a genuine conversion to Yahweh? Perhaps a mixture of some of the above?

Regardless, it is worth pointing out that regardless of the reasons we might have originally come to Christ, it is still a good thing to come to Christ. Put another way, there is no bad reason to come to Christ. Even if our initial motivations are somewhat self-serving (i.e. thinking he will fix all our problems), Jesus still welcomes us.

Today if you find yourself drawing near to God because you need him for something, join the club. We all need him, and he gives us his grace even when we don’t deserve it. As Romans 5:8 says, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

When we demonstrate this self-sacrificing love for others, we fight the way Jesus fought. Love is our greatest weapon. Love is how Jesus rescued us.

Today’s reflection

What is one small sacrifice I can make for someone else today in order to love them like Christ has loved me?

Scripture: Esther 9:1-19

God’s Promises Are Greater Than Our Circumstances

Esther chapter 9 finally answers the question we have all been waiting for: will the Jewish people be saved? On the day the original edict allowed for the destruction of the Jews, very few people now took advantage of the opportunity to legally kill and plunder them. Why? Because many people now respected their position of apparent power in the kingdom.

This passage tells us some people did come and fight, but that the Jews were able to subdue them. However, the Jewish people did not plunder their fallen enemies (even though they could have), as their primary goal was survival.

This chapter also shows us what happens when we pursue power and influence above all else. The pursuit of power means we must be willing to constantly change wherever the winds are blowing at the moment. But this is not the way to follow Jesus. Jesus didn’t seek power, but gave up his power to serve us. At the end of the day, we can pursue power or we can pursue Jesus, but we can’t pursue both.

The book of Esther also shows us that God uses imperfect people to accomplish his perfect work. There is no doubt that Esther and Mordecai were very courageous at various times, but they were also imperfect. Again, in order for Mordecai to have risen in the political ranks in Persia he would have had to do things that went against his Jewish convictions.

In this chapter, we see Esther ask for an additional day to fight their enemies and for all of Haman’s sons to be killed (verse 13). Now we aren’t told the reasoning for this, and there could have very well been a good reason for it, but on the surface it seems excessive. Yet God still used them. And this is good news for us, because it means God can still use us as well.

The book of Esther also shows us that our circumstances don’t dictate the promises of God. Even when things looked bleak for God’s chosen people, he was working out their salvation. This story shows us that God’s promises aren’t conditional. Even when the Jewish people rejected the Lord and went their own way, God’s promise (given to Abraham in Genesis 12:3) to one day save the world through them was never revoked.

Salvation still came. Jesus did what God had promised. And no matter what you may have done in your life, the promise is still true for you as well. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Today’s reflection

What circumstances are you facing right now that make you question God’s love for you? What would it look like for you to bring your doubts and fears to the Lord today?

Scriptures: Esther 9:23-32, Esther 10:1-3

God Is Always Working

The closing section of Esther celebrates the saving of God’s people and serves as a recap of why the Jewish festival of Purim was to be celebrated. God saved his people; good triumphed over evil. 

As we conclude the book, we could take many reflections from it. When we see how Esther courageously spoke up to the king for her own people, we can consider who in our lives might need us to speak up for them. While we may not be in a position of great authority, there are no doubt people in our lives who we could still help. There are people in our lives who we can still love, meet a financial need, or advocate for. Will we be willing to do it? 

We also see in Esther that God always delivers his people. Even when it doesn’t seem like he will. Even when we can’t comprehend a way that he will. Who would have thought at Jesus’ crucifixion that salvation was being offered to the entire world? One day Jesus will return again, and on that day all the pains and troubles of this life will be made right. God’s people will be delivered once and for all. 

Finally, we see that just because we might not understand what God is doing, that doesn’t mean he isn’t working. Before Haman rose to power and planned his destruction of the Jewish people, God was making a way that the Jewish people would be saved. This is who our God is. 

He uses imperfect people, broken systems, and even evil schemes to accomplish his purposes. And even if you can’t see what God could possibly be doing right now, we have no idea how your suffering might be used for great good in the future. Will you have the faith to trust him? 

Today’s reflection

Think back to a time in the past when you didn’t see God working until after you saw the entire picture. How does that encourage you to trust him with what you aren’t seeing now?