The Story of Esther

I hope you enjoyed my little introduction to the Book of Esther over the last few days. It is an incredible story, isn’t it? That a king would fall out with his Queen and basically search the land for a replacement….that that replacement would be this mysterious girl of unknown origin……the scene is set for an incredible story of intrigue and mystery.

Esther is a fascinating book. All about a woman. If it were a film, it would be in the Netflix category ‘Film with a strong female lead’. And it is the only book in the whole Bible not to mention God at all. Not once. So why is it there? How can this story about a woman using her position and beauty to get what she wants for her people have anything to do with God?

My Bible Guide describes this book as ‘an exciting tale, full of colourful characters, strong passions and extraordinary coincidences’. Extraordinary coincidences? Is that where we see God at work?

It’s a story of protection – God’s protection – that the Jewish people really need to hear at this time. Many of the Jews are still living in exile in Persia. They feel forgotten by their God and isolated from the rest of their people.

So has this fanciful tale been made up for this purpose? The events seem unreal and the characters almost pantomime-like……and yet the story is carefully set in a precise location and time in history. A provincial capital, Susa, in the third year of the king’s reign. The facts are accurate. The writer clearly knows and understands the workings of the Persian court and government.

I guess we’ll never know the truth behind the story – any more than if ALLSTARSONLINE had been a real publication. However, throughout history, this story has been taken as a timely reminder of God’s protection and deliverance and still remains a popular and frequently read book among Jews today. It can inspire and encourage us too as we look into it over the next month.

So, as we’ve seen, the Persian emperor, King Xerxes, holds a lavish banquet and summons his wife Queen Vashti, to appear and show up her beauty. The very first trophy wife. Except she refuses. She doesn’t want to be treated as a possession, to be objectified and valued only for her beauty. A very modern protest. for which she is banished. A woman can’t be allowed to get away with that. The king has to make an example of her before his other wives follow her dangerous and rebellious defiance.

But the king is left with a hole in his life. Possibly in his heart. His advisers suggest that he choose a new queen from among the most beautiful virgins in the empire – hence the ‘Queen of Hearts’ scenario.

Enter Hadassah (‘myrtle’ in Hebrew) or Esther (‘star’ in Persian) as we know her. She lives in the care of her older cousin Mordecai, who may already hold position in the Persian court according to historical sources. She’s pure and beautiful – and has a great personality. No, seriously, she does. Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the royal harem, loves her. She’s his favourite among all the girls. She acts wisely and with humility. From all the reality shows we have seen and loved, I’m sure you can imagine what the rest of the girls behave like…..! She’s different.

This is already raising so many issues for me that I can’t wait to discuss. Uncomfortable issues about a woman’s beauty and how to handle it and use it and not be used…….I like Vashti’s defiance and the stand she takes. I want to look into that more. And Esther seems to handle herself well too. I want to look into that more too. The whole thing about being a woman fascinates me.

So we’ll press pause on the story of Esther for the next few days, if that’s OK and look into BEAUTY – AND HOW TO HANDLE IT.

I don’t think I’ll even handle the discussion very well to be honest, because like every woman I know, I am conflicted on this issue. But let’s see how we go.

See you tomorrow.