Femme Friday Esther

Big news came to the village that day, the King was making an announcement! It was an announcement for all the girls and women this time. Not one for the leaders and other men to grumble about. This proclamation was an opportunity for women to be uplifted. Women, or at least one woman, would no longer have to wonder about going to bed hungry any more. She could sleep in a bed with a soft mattress and smooth sheets. There would be comfort in cool and warm temperatures. One lady would become queen! 

Can you imagine that kind of opportunity? To go from a place of poverty and scramble to one of wealth and security? What must it have been like for Esther when she found out she would not have to wonder for her safety as an orphan woman with out the protection of male relatives? As a child who had grown up under Persian rule, no parents or older siblings to care for her. The ward of an outspoken and cantankerous old uncle. Esther's story is the equivalent of Megan Markle marrying into the English royal family. An ancient Cinderella story from the Bible. 

via GIPHY

Esther enters the beauty pageant of all pageants. She makes it to the final rounds, being buffed, primed and readied for the King of Persia choosing. Esther is not just beautiful, she also could win the award of Miss Congeniality, Miss Moral and Miss Obedience. Esther is a woman of character and righteousness among the other women in the harem. She stands out from the crowd by being gracious and kind. Continuing to live set apart as an Israelite while amid the Persian beauties. 

In the finale, Esther wins. She gets to be queen. Her nearest male relative and advisor is her Uncle Mordecai. He's outspoken and a straight shooter. Mordecai has called out hypocrisy in some of the ruling families. Mordecai has made enemies in powerful places. One of them is Haman, a man who has the ear of the King. In fact, Mordecai has become so bothersome to Haman, that Haman hatches a plot to be rid of the entire Jewish population. When Mordecai learns of the plot, he directs Esther to intercede for her kinfolk. 

At first choice, it seems obvious. Of course Esther is going to speak up about being Jewish. Why wouldn't she use her favor with the King to save her people? Things are rarely that simple. There were some consequences Esther might face if the King didn't like Esther questioning his authority. Because the reason Esther got to be queen, is that her predecessor denied a request from the King. People had been killed by the King for entering his presence uninvited. What if the King of Persia found out Esther is Jewish and decides to ignore her pleas for safety and protection. Then she would be killed and the rest of the Jewish exiles! 

Esther does it. She gets into her royal robes and steps into the throne room. As she approaches the throne, maybe her steps get a little slower. There was only one way Esther was going to come out of the throne room alive. That was if the King lowered his scepter. Granting a pardon to the ones approaching him uninvited. The King does pardon Esther, the Jews are saved. A national holiday is established and still part of the Jewish calendar year. 

Esther shows us the possibility of opportunity. The relief a people group can feel when they have an advocate at the king's table. The importance of being the voice for the oppressed. Esther is both our ancestor and our example.