Thursday 5 March 2009

Book Of Easther: How God saves through people



Esther was a simple unfortunate Jewish girl who lived with her uncle Mordecai in a city called Shushan. As both her parents died Mordecai gave refuge to Esther who was his uncles daughter. In his home he looked after her as his own child and cared for her  with the help of God’s hands. Esther was fortunate enough to have been chosen as a maiden from other maidens that have been overlooked when the King Ahasuerus asked for a new wife to join his palace. But it was through Gods power and guidance that King Ahasuerus’ service men found Esther therein with her uncle Mordecai in the city of Shushan. It was from this instance that Esther’s future had changed and had a greater purpose only given by God’s Grace. As Esther settled in king Ahasuerus’ palace there had been conspiracy planned in the palace. Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite was an enemy of the Jews. Haman conspired against the Jews, he gave misleading information to the King with the intention of destroying the Jews. Thus, Haman wrote an ordered for the Jews to be killed. It was after the killing of her people the news came to Queen Esther and knowing that her uncle had been standing at the palace gate trying to speak with her she gave him the message of fasting so that their wish may be answered. Although Esther was not allowed to see the King before she had been fully purified and made ready for the King as the laws intends. Esther stressed that she may be breaking the laws as she says to Mordecai her uncle “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” Esther 4:11. Fearing of her death Esther did not hesitate she immediately acted and told her uncle this message “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Esther 4: 16. Esther went forth to invite the King and Haman to a banquet and she did not know that Haman was planning to execute her uncle by hanging him on the day of the banquet.

As the night fell and day was present Haman prepared for the execution and the King was confused to find that Mordecai had saved him and it was written in the book of Chronics. King Ahasuerus wanted to honor Mordecai for the kindness he showed towards him and asked Haman what should be given to those who honor and protect the king. Haman though the king was referring to him and answered “For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head.”Esther 6:7. The King ordered Haman to do as he said for Mordecai and Haman was ashamed as he though he would be honored. After this queen Esther held the banquet and told the King of the conspiracies Haman had been planning, when the King Heard about this he was shocked and order for Haman to be hanged where Haman himself intended to hang Mordecai.

With the belief and trust in God the Jews were fasting with the intent of finding an answer. Esther in her royal throne did not forget her people because she knows that her royalty was a gift given to her by God. There is a lot to learn from the Old Testament and the stories that are told have hidden messages just as the Gospels have hidden message underlining in the parable Christ teaches in the New Testament. Through these stories we are able to find the answer when looking inside and reading the metaphors that lie within the text and with the intention of knowing God and asking that he may reveal to us the true meaning and the wonderful mysteries of the Holy Trinity.



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