I finish reading Esther today. Esther benefitted from being the wife of the king but it seemed that her relative Mordecai benefitted even more. Mordecai cared for Esther after her parents died and mentored her to become the queen of the land. When she was in a position of power he didn’t hesitate to call upon her to risk her life to save him and the rest of their people.
As a woman, it is interesting to me that Esther wasn’t the second most powerful person in the kingdom, it was Malachi, her uncle. Esther accepted her role based on the culture and the times in which she lived. She used her assets to the best of her ability. She and her people prospered because she embraced her situation and moved forward. She did the best she could with what she had. I admire Esther.
Ministers use the story of Esther to manipulate women to use their creative energy to be the silent partner in the background and promote their male partner’s interests. Esther used the tools that she had available during this point in time in history. I think that all women can learn from her as well as all men. Joseph was the man behind the pharaoh in Egypt. He used his talents to save his family and his people as well. He started where he was with what he had and used it to do what he could. Many people in the bible demonstrate this principle.
The key is to look at all the stories in the bible and extrapolate the principle and use it in your life to fit your particular circumstances. Moses was a great prophet who never made it to the promised land. I may never see every child in the world receive a free and proper education. I may not get to the promised land but I will certainly be the best leader that I can and let the generation that follow me see my vision realized. David was not able to build the temple but he was able to get all the materials together and make all of the arrangements that he could make to easier for his son to build the temple and I have two children and a grandson who can continue my work.
I admire Esther for her ability to assess her circumstances and make good decisions based on her circumstances. She didn’t spend her time pining away for different circumstances or waiting for her circumstances to change. She didn’t complain or freeze with anxiety or become depressed. She was astute enough to pray and meditate for three days and ask those who were asking her to risk her life to pray and meditate for three days before she took the action which may have gotten her killed.
I have to accurately assess my circumstances. The truth is that I can do a lot more than what I am doing if I didn’t waste so much time wanting my circumstances to be different. I live in the richest, most powerful country in the world and I take for granted conveniences that most people only dream about in their sleep. I know that I am blessed but it does not stop me from being stagnant. We watch television and movies and see someone’s fantasy of an idealized life and feel that our life doesn’t measure up to the lives of the fictional families. So I can learn some things from Esther about accurate perceptions.
I don’t need to compare my situation to Esther and feel like I have done something wrong by living life on my own terms. Women today enjoy so many more opportunities. We can create a life for ourselves using our minds and creative talent. We don’t have to rely on being attractive and pleasing in the eyes of a benefactor.
People, especially men enjoy beauty as much today as they did in ancient times yet beauty is no longer a defining factor. Women gained access to education, the right to vote and to be self determining a long time ago. The key is to start where you are, with what you have and do what you can. I see so many people allowing the opinions of others or fear of authority stop them from living a full life.
Malachi knew his own worth. He refused to bow down to a man that he didn’t respect. His adversary burned with hate. In the end it was his own hate and destructive nature which killed him. He was impaled by the same spear that he wanted to use to kill someone else. His adversary lived by the spear and he died by the spear.
Malachi informed the king of the plot against his life and the king rewarded him with a high position because of this warning and due to his relationship with the Queen. It must be noted that Malachi performed a great service to the king or he would not have been able to maintain his position. So it is important to do the right thing, to know the right person and to develop the rights skills for the position. One or two things alone are not sufficient.
I keep thinking about my daughter’s illness and how I would love for her to get better instantly. The truth is that she didn’t get ill instantly and she won’t get better instantly. Esther took a year to prepare herself mentally and physically to assume the role of Queen. I can allow my daughter to take a year and do the right things mentally and physically to get her body in the best shape possible.
Daily bible reading gives me a better perspective on time. I tend to want things immediately and if they fail to occur immediately, I blame myself. I condemn myself. Reading the bible stories assures me that things happen when they are suppose to happen if I keep the faith and keep moving forward.
