Esther: Courage

Maybe you are like me, you hear some of the teachings of many in the religious world, and then you wag your head and think, "If they would just read their Bibles." I admit, I think that every time I hear or see a televangelist. I become a bit irritated when I listen too long — the pompous claims of near-perfection; the lies of prosperity; the false sense of peace; especially, the misrepresentation of walking with God. The misrepresentation of walking with God, this portrayal of a honky-dory world without issue, insult, or incident, is irritating because it clearly contradicts the Bible. It not only goes against the Lord's words to His apostles (Jn 15:18, and many more), but against the narrative of the Old Testament saints.

The Old Testament saints are commended for their allegiance to God despite the hurdles and harm they faced from the world. Each of His saints overcame adversity due to faith. We might reason that, for some, it turned out better than for others because of how their words were received, but the overall point is that they took the leap of courage that God expects of them. As sure as David was courageous in his opposition to the Philistine giant, and Moses in his stance against Pharaoh, so is the example we find in Esther.

Esther was not just a woman who brought her concerns to her husband. Esther was a woman who was formerly of slavery and now in a position in the land which she did not naturally come into. In addition to this, she went into this position because of her husband's brutality and personal insistence. We can recall her predecessor as queen, Vashti, whom her now-husband banished because she would not come and entertain the guests (scholars reason that it was not a matter of rebellion, but that the king's request was provocative).

In the courage of faith, Esther would approach the king and request their safety: "grant me my life … spare my people." (Esther 5:8). This act of courage came with uncertainty — would her request be respected? Would he change his word? Would he banish her as well, and her people suffer? All of this she approached with the noble mindset of the saints of old, "If I die, I die" (Esther 4:16).