Esther 8: 3 – 4 Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.

The Book of Esther is one of only two books of the Bible named after women. I recommend reading it in one sitting if possible. It is an amazing account of a beauty pageant, of love and favor, played out against a background of intrigue, rivalry, deceit and hate, all designed to wipe out the Jewish people in her day. Esther won the beauty pageant and became Queen to King Xerxes but was advised by her uncle Mordecai to keep her Jewish ethnicity a secret throughout the competition. Little did she realize at the time that God was placing her in a situation which would require her to risk her very life to save her people!

When the time came that the edict was sent out by Haman under the king’s signet to destroy the Jews, her uncle Mordecai sent her a message: “Do not think that because you are in the King’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13 – 14)  Esther called on all her attendants and all the Jews to fast for her before seeking an audience with the king. Eventually the King held out his scepter to her, a gesture which conveyed favor and granted her request to spare her life and that of her people.

Your life is not just about you. Sometimes you are the only one in a situation who could speak up and turn evil away and bring joy or relief to many. There is divine purpose in the position in which God has placed you.

“It is my desire that the joy that comes to my children from serving me should reverberate to those around them and beyond so that my nature can be revealed to those observing your lives. I am a good and loving King. I am rich and generous and my children are my joy just like Esther was to the king. My children have my favor.”  Hallelujah!