What Makes The Story Of Esther Beautiful

If you never saw the movie, “One Night with the King”, I highly recommend you watch it. It is such a beautiful story that depicts a woman who has been chosen and set apart by God. God never sets people like you and I aside even though we may feel that way many times. He sets us apart in a way in which we cannot go where others get to go or do what others get to do. When God places you on a path that is different than those around you, it is for a specific reason, and the story of Queen Esther reveals why. She shows the beauty in being different. In being set apart. So what makes the story of Esther beautiful? This is what God revealed to me:

• She was different than the other women. The former queen, Queen Vashti, was what modern day society would love and accept. Vashti was physically beautiful. Men were easily attracted to her. Her physical appearance was used to gain her power. She was used for her body but because she refused to show off her body at the banquet, she was dethroned and killed. But to remember, she was the kind of woman that many would envy. This was not the same for Esther. Esther had that quiet inner beauty. She was physically beautiful on the outside but that didn’t gain her attention the way it did Vashti. She was what modern day society would shun. The reason why the king, King Xerxes, chose her amongst all the other girls was because there was something about Esther. He couldn’t put his finger on it but there was something about her that attracted him to her. What externally set Esther apart was that she was the only woman who knew how to read. But inwardly, she was quiet, humbled, modest, and reserved. She wasn’t loud or boastful. She wasn’t interested in the wealth and jewelry during the long candidacy as the other women were. The king’s eunuch noticed that she was different. That inner beauty made her so attractive. It made her set apart. 
• She was favored. God’s hand was upon her her entire life. That’s how she was chosen amongst the other girls.
• The root of Esther in Hebrew is hester, meaning “hidden.”  Esther remained hidden in God. God worked on her in secret. That’s how her inner beauty was developed. That’s how she was able to fulfill what God has placed inside of her even when she became queen in the palace. She stayed so close to God.
• Esther didn’t fold or bend. She stood firm putting her full trust in God. She walked in obedience even if it meant getting killed. She knew that her assignment was to save the Jews because Haman had plans to kill Mordechai because he didn’t bow down to him. Haman wanted to kill the other Jews as well. The only way to save the nation of Jews was through the king. And God favored Esther to be chosen to save the Jews.
• Trusting God leads to so much. If we look at how the story of Esther unfolds from beginning to end, her trust and obedience allowed the Jews to be saved. King Xerxes honored and promoted Mordecai, who exposed the plot of the two eunuchs who planned to assassinate the king. Esther had to leave to all that she knew to embark on an unknown journey. But through it all, God never left her side. Her obedience even allowed her adversary, Haman, to be killed. What was meant to be used for Mordecai’s death, him being hanged, was later used for Haman’s death.
• Fasting and praying can bring so much clarity. Esther knew that what she was about to do was beyond her control and she needed divine intervention to help her walk the walk that needed to happen. So she asked the others to fast and pray with her so that God can show clarity and give her favor in the eyes of her husband.
• What I love about this love story is that the king had such pure love for Esther. From the way he looked at her, especially on their wedding day, to the way he kissed her, it was so pure. He stood by her side. He fell in love with her before she fell in love with him. I believe that he loved her so much more than she loved him, and you could tell. He said on their wedding night that he made so many excuses to avoid the other candidates. In the evenings, he tried counting the stars to keep his mind off of her about her but he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He tried to come for her so many times after that first night of him meeting her.

God makes no mistake when He sets you apart. It can be a difficult journey to walk, believe me, I know, but continue walking. If God blessed Esther in ways unimaginable, I believe that He will do it for us too!

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