The full story of Esther can be found in the book of Esther in the Old Testament.
She stands in the courtyard outside the palace. She’s fixed up her hair and done her beauty treatments, she’s dressed herself in the finest garments she owns. She’s done everything she can to make herself presentable to the King. She can only hope now that she finds favor with him.
But either way, Esther won’t back down. Her loyalty to her people is far greater than her fear of death.
It had taken a bit of convincing from Mordecai, she’ll admit that. When she’d first received word from her cousin about Haman’s plot to kill the Jews, she’d tried to convince him there was nothing she could do.
Everyone knows what happens to those who approach the King unbidden, she’d written. Certain death—unless he extends his golden scepter to you. But he hasn’t asked for me in the last 30 days, and I can’t expect he’ll be too happy to see me.
If I go to him, I may die.
Esther had left that last part out of her letter, but she hoped Mordecai still got the message.
Now, as she stands outside the palace, she recalls his response. Maybe you were made Queen for exactly this reason. To save us all. Her heart had clenched so tightly that she could hardly breathe. Maybe you have been placed here for such a time as this.
Esther can’t deny the truth of his words. Her cousin—God bless and keep him—has always known how to get through to her.
So, yes. If she acts, she may die. But if she doesn't act, all her people will surely die.
She closes her eyes and says a prayer. Then she steps forward, through the courtyard gates and into the palace.
The King, seated on his throne, looks up as soon as she enters. A broad smile spreads across his face, and before she’s even had the chance to bow before him, he lifts his golden scepter toward her.
Now that she’s here, she can be honest with herself: she hadn’t expected him to respond favorably to her presence. She expected death, and she was ready to meet it head on.
But her cousin—God bless and keep him—was right. She was brought to her position for such a time as this.
Esther steps forward and touches the end of the King’s scepter. “Thank you, my lord the King,” she says.
“Now,” he says, “what is your request, Queen Esther? Anything you ask, I will give to you.”
*
Believe it or not, God’s name isn’t mentioned even once in the book of Esther. But through Esther’s brave intervention, His presence and care for the Israelites are more than evident.
All along, God had been orchestrating events so that no harm would come to His people. He knew of Haman’s plot to kill the Jews before Haman himself had planned it. He allowed Esther to become Queen over all the other women in the King’s harem because He knew she had the courage to take a step of faith even when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed.
It certainly helped that Esther had Mordecai—someone who believed in her, who encouraged her in her calling when she doubted whether she had the power to influence the King. But at the end of the day, her actions were fueled by a faith-filled boldness and a deep love for and loyalty to her people.
There are times when God asks for our trust in Him, our boldness, and our obedience before He gives us clarity. You may feel Him calling you to do something you don’t feel qualified to do, or go somewhere you think you have no business going. That can be scary! It’s natural for us to want assurance that we’re going to be okay before we make a big decision. Like Esther, you may be thinking, if I go to the King, I might die! There’s no shame in that.
But here’s the comforting truth: When we’re listening for God’s voice and seeking His guidance, we don’t have to doubt that He will work everything out for our good and His glory. And God doesn’t leave us completely in the dark, either. Even if He doesn’t give us all the answers, He’ll often use people—like Esther had Mordecai—to encourage us, to speak life where we see only death, and to remind us that God may be calling us to that place, that person, that job, that ministry for such a time as this.
