Esther 2:12-23 Savvy Esther’s
Success
The
turn came for each girl to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months
under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their
cosmetic treatment, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes
and cosmetics for women. When the girl went in to the king she was given
whatever she asked for to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. In
the evening she went in; then in the morning she came back to the second harem
in the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who was in charge of the
concubines; she did not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in
her and she was summoned by name.
When
the turn came for Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had
adopted her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing
except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now
Esther was admired by all who saw her. When Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus
in his royal palace in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the
seventh year of his reign, the king loved Esther more than all the other women;
of all the virgins she won his favor and devotion, so that he set the royal
crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Then the king gave a
great banquet to all his officials and ministers—‘Esther’s banquet.’ He also
granted a holiday to the provinces, and gave gifts with royal liberality.
When
the virgins were being gathered together, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s
gate. Now Esther had not revealed her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had
charged her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.
In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and
Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and
conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus. But the matter came to the knowledge
of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the
name of Mordecai. When the affair was investigated and found to be so, both the
men were hanged on the gallows. It was recorded in the book of the annals in
the presence of the king.
****
Sometimes it’s little things that
speak in scripture. As the women in the harem each get their chance to impress King
Ahasuerus they can take advantage of anything available to them in the harem –
special cosmetics, an elegant dress, beautiful jewelry – whatever they think
will make them stand out as most appealing to the king. But when it is Esther’s turn, she doesn’t
select anything special. In fact she instead took the advice of Hegai, the
king’s eunuch as to how to prepare. Who better would know the king’s likes and
dislikes? And, as we read, the impression she made on the king not only made
him love her above all the others, but also moved him to make her queen,
putting her in an influential place to affect the future of her people, the
Jews.
When we are in a position to make an
impression or choose a path as a result of a decision, do we sometimes
overthink the issue? I know I’m guilty on more occasions than I would admit of
trying to figure out exactly what the perfect choice is and attempting to
puzzle through all the possible braches of the decision tree. And sometimes I
end up frozen in indecision or insecurity about which path to take.
Esther gives us two good pieces of
advice - to just be who we are and to look to others more expert than we are
for advice. God created each of us as a different expression of his image and
perfection and in gratitude we should do our best to live up to and fulfill
that reflection. No one is better at being you than you are and trying to take
on characteristics of others that are not natural to you is like putting on
clothes that don’t fit. And for those times when our own wisdom and strength is
not yet as developed as we need, God puts us in community with others who can
lend a hand. It might be someone with whom you can talk through your situation;
it might be a professional or other person with experience in the area you are
exploring. And always it is the avenue of prayer to look for God’s guidance.
And you may be amazed, as Esther probably was, that you could end up with an
incredible outcome that allows you to bring God’s kingdom closer to those
around you.
Prayer: Loving Father, remind us always that
you were pleased to create us as we are and that you imbued us with many
blessings and talents. Help us to use those gifts to our best advantage to
magnify you. Amen.
Mary Beth Commisso is a member of
Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY
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