On one of our many trips to Branson, Missouri, my wife and I went to the Sight and Sound Theatre to see the production of “Queen Esther.” It was a tremendous show with professional actors. It was a biblical production with an awesome point of view that all of us need to adhere to.
I have been a student of the Bible most of my life. The small book of Esther is one I haven’t really studied; however, after seeing the show I have gained a greater understanding of what I have missed in my studies. It is about a young Jewish girl who marries the Persian King Xerxes.
This was during a time when many wanted the Jews to be annihilated just as the Nazi’s did during World War II and some of the countries want today. Israel is God’s chosen country and people.
As individuals we get questioned many times in situations concerning our beliefs. Many will back down and give in to peer pressure of what the world wants us to do. Even though we know that God is with us, sometimes we will doubt our commitment to Him and give into the desires of world.
Esther was raised by her cousin Mordecai, a devout Jew who would not bow down to or give into the Persian royalty. Esther along with Mordecai lived in Persia. She was a beautiful lady and was forced to enter a Persian beauty pageant for King Xerxes to choose another bride from. She won and the king married her not knowing she was a Jew. She could have been killed at any time because she was a Jew, but Xerxes loved her very much.
Esther’s prayer life was the same of her cousin Mordecai and that was to be faithful to God.
It wasn’t long before Xerxes appointed a second in charge of the kingdom by the name of Haman. Haman hated the Jews and at a point in time convinced Xerxes to let him wipe them off the face of the earth. Mordecai would not bow down to Haman and Haman was going to expose him and Esther.
During these times the wives of the king could not see him unless they were summoned by him. Esther, at the request of Mordecai and her Jewish friends, decided to approach the king even though she wasn’t summoned. Through her boldness to stand up against the evil Haman, Esther approached the king and was welcomed in to see him despite the objections of Haman. She was able to expose Haman and his plan of getting rid of the Jews. As a result, Esther saved the Jewish nation and was able to rid Persia of the evil man, Haman. Her faith in God and her fellow man was exemplary.
What about you? Will you stand up for what is right? Is your faith in God unwavering? Will you stand in boldness against what is wrong? Will you be the modern Esther?
Always remember what we are told in Romans 8:31; “If God is for us who can ever be against us?”
