Your background does not hinder your future with God

Dear Friends,

The book of Esther shows the choice we make between seeing His hand in our circumstances in life and seeing things a merely co-incidence. Although the name of God is never mentioned in this book, it is apparent that Jews of Susa sought HIS intervention when they fasted and prayed for 3 days (Esther 4:16). Esther first appears in chapter 2, she is an orphaned Jew brought up by her uncle Mordecai. If we see chapter 1, we see a new queen is sought because Queen Vashti refused to display her beauty to the people when King Xerxes calls for her. This is the beginning of God opening doors for Esther. It is also interesting to note that, our faithful God does have hands in the affairs of the world. Lets see briefly the important events took place in this book.

Preparation time: Esther is chosen to be queen and she goes through the normal 12 months of beauty treatment before meeting the king. The beauty treatment in Esther days was a physical treatment carried out with oils. Oil represents the Holy Spirit which enables us to have inner beauty in our Christian life. Are you allowing God to give you beauty treatment in your spiritual life? Lets subject us to the Lordship of Holy Spirit to gain inner beauty in our Christian life. Gods preparation time can sometimes be longer. Moses spent 40 years in the desert looking after sheep before coming to deliver the Israelites. The refining of our character is very essential to Gods plan for our life. God cannot use a proud woman or man.

Favor of God: In this book, we notice that Esther found favor of those around her. We can be granted such favor as we accept our situation in life by utilizing her example of maintaining positive attitude, coupled with humility and determination of leaning on God and seeking his will and favor in our circumstances. Fasting is a Godly exercise which brings us closer to God. Esther agrees and asks Mordecai to organize a time of fasting for her. She is well aware that she needs Gods favor if she is to succeed. Could you fix fasting prayer to acheive Gods favor in your christian life?

God works in His own time and season: In chapter 5, Esther approaches the king and invites him and Haman to a banquet; this is an attempt to get the timing right before she informs the king about Haman’s plot to kill the Jews of which she is one. Esther got her timing right and in Chapter 7, Esther reveals to the king that she is a Jew and Haman has plotted to kill them all. God’s timing is always best. We need to wait for Gods timing in doing things. It is dangerous to jump out before Gods time. Joseph was in jail until it was Gods time for him to be released. God will move in HIS own time when we remain faithful and alert to HIS leading.

Your background does not hinder your future with God: Esther was an orphan, God still used her and she saved Jews of Susa. Some of the disciples were fishermen, tax collectors etc, but still God used them. Moses was not good in speaking but God used him. Your background does not determine what God can do with you, only your faith does. Esther proved to have Godly and teachable character that also showed great strength and obedience. She shows us that remaining respectful and humble even in difficult if not humanly impossible circumstances often sets us up to be the vessel of untold blessings for both ourselves and others.

May the God of Esther favor everyone of us to succedd in our christian life? Amen and Amen.