Esther Series – part 5

Pastor Eric A. Green

 

So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women.

Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women.

Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her.  Esther 2:8, 9, &15

Have you ever witnessed a beauty pageant?  How do you choose one young lady out of a multitude of lovely, beautiful, and talented ladies?  Truly, it comes down to a matter of tastes and preferences - .the criteria is very subjective and the judges have a difficult decision to make. 

Now imagine the contest to become the next queen of the most powerful king in the world!  You talk about politics, maneuvering, treachery, dirty tricks. You can bet things behind the scenes were not very pretty.  This group of women included the rich, well connected, the best looking, and every Cinderella wannabe in the kingdom. 

And then there was Esther.  In the world's eyes, she was no one from nowhere.  In fact, Mordecai instructed her to keep nationality and family origin a secret, because if she were known to be a Jew in captivity it would be used against her!  Naturally speaking, Esther was the least likely to be chosen by the king . . . but God!!!!

There is a spiritual concept at work here that no one but God calculated, and it made all the difference in the world!  That concept is "favor”. 

        Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her.  Esther 2:15b

I define favor as the personalized, particular, gracious hand of God operating in the life of His child. 

God's hand on Esther was only factor that separated her from all the other lovelies, and this favor was poured out for a purpose.  In fact, God's favor is always connected to His purpose for our lives.  You see, Esther was God's tool to save His people from the genocidal plot soon to be hatched against them.  My point is this - Esther received this favor because she was obedient to God's leading in her life, and the favor remained as long as she kept that focus and fulfilled God's purpose.

The same is true of us in regard to favor.  We enjoy and recognize the marvelous favor of God in our lives when we remained focused on the life and role He has designed for us.  When we get outside those lines, He still loves us, but we lose the sense of His hand moving in all things on our behalf - we begin to work for things He would give us if we were obedient.  May we all allow God, who chose us out of this world, to place us where He gets the glory from the favor He bestows on us. Amen.

Pastor Eric