I have never read the book of Esther before so I was so glad when us FYM'ers were asked to do just that. Obedience, bravery, selflessness, and honour and celebration  is what I saw through Esther and Mordecai.

Obedience

Readers are told that "many girls were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai" (2:8), and how a girl "had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments" before she could go before  King Xerxes (2:12). We do not hear Esther complain about being brought into a world full of strangers, or spending so much time with oil, perfumes, and cosmetics before she could even step forward, into the light of the King. And then when Esther is made Queen, she is obedient when she hears of the plot to kill the Jews in fasting and making sure that her family (the Jews) will not be destroyed, but that she will stand up to the King and speak what is right. No complaints, no what if's, no worries. Esther just does what she knows she needs to do.

Bravery

"And if I perish, I perish". Who says something like that?? That is truly knowing that God has you and that you can do anything through him. That is knowing that no matter what the outcome of a situation is, you have God in your heart. These words spoken by Esther really got to me, because though there is only one law "for any man or woman who apporaches the king in the inner court without being summoned...that he be put to death" (4:11), Esther still stands up and plans to approach the king, knowing that the law does not excuse her as a Queen. She is one brave woman.

Mordecai was also brave in that he stood up for what he believed to be true and right. Mordecai did "not kneel down or pay [Haman] honour" (3:2). He knew that he could not let the Jews perish, that he could not just stand back and let him and his brothers and sisters be destroyed. That takes more courage than many of us have ever experienced, for the fear of being put to death was not far off.

Selflessness

First, I saw selflessness in Mordecai for taking Esther because she had no father or mother. Both Mordecai and Esther were ready and willing to do so much for the Jews. They were willing to risk their lives to keep others safe. How many of us are driven by our own desires, even on a daily basis? How many of us would be willing to give everything up to spare the lives of others? They both knew that God had a plan for them; they just had to follow.

Honour and Celebration

So much honour was given in this short book. First there was King Xerxes who was always being honoured, or honouring his people. Esther is honoured for her beauty, and in the end for her bravery and obedience. Mordecai refuses to honour Haman, Mordecai is honoured for revealing the assasination plot of the King, and the Jews celebrate as they are victorious and are not destroyed.

There is so much in this little book of Esther. You realize that even though God is not mentioned once throughout all these verses, he was still in control. This was his plan that he had designed. God is always at work, working through all our lives. Just think, he made an orphaned girl a Queen. What does he have planned for you?