Star…

Tidepool in Porto Covo, west coast of Portugal. by Alvesgaspar

Good morning, beloved,

I listened to a message of Kay Arthur‘s last night. If she said it once, she said it ten times: o, the wonders of the Word of God! How matchless, how amazing! Oh, friends, I’m listening and smiling. Her enthusiasm, her joy for the word of God…I love it. I love her joy. Well, I’m back in Esther today. Rather than give you back story and try to help you understand the story..that would be too nice of me. Ha! 🙂 I’m going to make you read the first two chapters of Esther on your own and catch up to me. 🙂 It will take you 10 minutes max. That’s if you have three dogs playing with a loud toy and four children whining about chores and a husband asking you questions about breakfast (thank God for that man..)…just sayin’.  I’ll wait..

I marvel at God’s timing. I marvel at God. Spend time marveling. 🙂 Isn’t it interesting that in Esther, you never hear or read God’s name mentioned? Yet His powerful hand is moving throughout this story. You can’t help but see Him moving the times. I love it.

Seeing the timeline is important…Understanding that the beginning of Esther was Ahasuerus‘ 3rd year of reign (never thought I would be able to spell that…). That he didn’t get around to thinking about picking another queen for another 4 years. That the virgins were in beauty treatments for an entire year…and cosmetics in Hebrew means  a scraping, rubbing…and from all I can figure these precious virgins never went back home. There is so much here to see than just a story. These are real people. A real story. Lives affected by a king who decided to find a queen from the commoners from his vast kingdom.

Yet, what has always drawn me to this story is Esther. The inner and outer beauty of this woman who captivates all who meet her. Quite honestly she has much that could have embittered her…her parents are gone (2:7), she was taken to the king’s palace (2:8), she does not make know her people (2:10).  Yet, Hadassah‘s name (means myrtle is changed by her guardian and cousin, Mordecai, her protector…to Esther which means star.  And as I said…

…she please [Hegai] and found favor with him. (2:9). …when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail..came to go in to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the women advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her. (2:15)

Contrast this beautiful woman with Vashti. I’m not going to the king! I’m having a party of my own. No way. Have the king make his own sandwich! (Veggie Tales Esther…sorry..) Vashti did not think about others or an obedience to those over her.

There is much for me to “chew on” here. How about you? Esther’s story cannot be void in our lives today. Not at all. As we will see in the days to come, Haman moves slowly. The enemy moves slowly. Yet, he will take ground. Who will win the victory? Who will win in the end?

Pray on. Pray on.