Esther’s Obedience unto perfection

Esther 5:2, ‘So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.’

Esther was appointed to be the queen of King A-has-u-e-rus, for which she was chosen & sanctified. Looking back from this point to her past, we see a unique life of Esther. She had gone through a tough childhood.  Esther 2:7, ‘Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.’ She was orphaned at a young age and was pained to loose persons who loved and cared for her the most. Yet, the merciful God did not forsake her.

Obedience: God worked in Mordecai’s heart to adopt her as her own child and Esther learnt obedience under his care. Obedience is not an inherited trait. It’s something which needs to be learnt and developed. Its often the toughness of situations or authority that teaches a person to obey. On the other hand it’s the love that motivates a person towards obedience. In Esther 2:10, we see how she kept her identity as a secret as per instructions of Mordecai. Here, she was away from Mordecai in the palace of the king. She had found favor in sight of the keeper of the women. But the changing situations did not change her obedience towards Mordecai, who had given her the love and care of her parents.

Completeness in obedience: Obedience is complete when nothing more or less is done other than what is being instructed. In Esther 2:12-15, we read about how all the maids in the palace took something of their own desire while going to the King’s house. But when Esther’s turn came, she required nothing other than what Hegai, the King’s chamberlain had appointed. She might have desired as other maids desired. Yet she chose not to require what she desired. She replaced her desires completely with the chamberlain’s appointed things. Completeness in obedience can be achieved when one completely dies to ‘self’.

Continuing in obedience: Obedience is obedience in God’s sight when it continues to be so in all circumstances. Esther 2:20, ‘Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.’ Here, Esther was now the queen of the land, enjoying the privileges, honor and the power of being the wife of the royal head of the land. Yet, its amazing to see her complete obedience to Mordecai, who had now become a historical figure of her life. This portrays Esther as a deeply committed, faithful and a grateful person. She could not disobey the one who had brought her up thus far. The present power and honor bestowed upon her could not change her attitude towards the lives connected to her past. How often and fast do we forget people who had been a shoulder in times of tears, a helping hand in times of weariness, a comfort in times of loneliness and despair. God always reminded the Israelites never to forget the way they had come. If we have been blessed today, let’s not forget the lives who have been a channel to build us up thus far.

Challenges in Obedience: Esther continued to obey Mordecai completely, even when she was a queen. But then came a time, when she found it tough to obey her uncle. Her obedience to Mordecai was challenged. Esther 4: 8-9, ‘He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. ⁹ So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai.’ Mordecai had asked Esther to go and speak to the king for the lives of the Jews. Haman who was set above all princes had deviced a plan to destroy the whole lot of them. But here, Esther hesitated to obey her uncle. She sent back Mordecai the message of how fatal it was to go and speak to the King. Obedience is challenged when the fear of death overshadows us. Esther, who had obeyed Mordecai thus far, now found herself hesitating to obey him. She feared the rule of the palace of being killed if approached the King without being called.

Fear of the Lord overcomes all challenges to obedience: In Esther 4:13 & 14, Mordecai boldly proclaimed the help from the Lord in faith, which no man or power could stop. And how Esther and her fathers’ house would be destroyed if she would not stand for the divine purposes. Esther here realized the truth that no soul could escape the judgment of the living God, whether king or queen. This fear of the Lord, which dawned into her heart enabled her to overcome the fear of death. She became willing to obey the instructions of Mordecai, at the cost of her own life, if needed.

Perfection in obedience: Obedience is perfect when it’s done in the complete control of the Lord. Esther did obey Mordecai, but now in the perfect guidance of the Lord. She called for three days fasting among all Jews. She herself fasted and then approached the King. Mordecai had not asked her to fast. But when Esther was free from the fear of death and became willing to obey, she stepped into the divine guidance for obedience. God gave her the mind to humble herself through fasting and prayer and thus found favor in the King’s sight. Further, she did not present her petition on the 1^st day of the banquet. She found herself postponing the same till next day (Esther 5:8). And a lot of things happened in this time gap of one day which was essential to quench the wicked plan and favor the God’s favored ones.

Perfect obedience reveals perfect timings: Esther 6: 3-4,’Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” ⁴ So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.’ The wicked plan and the divine plan arising in two minds at the same time is amazing. This is where the divine purpose is flashed and fulfilled. And this is termed as ‘God’s perfect time’. This happened only because Esther obeyed not only in completion, but also in perfection. Her mind and her mouth was ruled by heavens, more than her uncle Mordecai.

The gallows prepared for Mordecai ended up swallowing the life of Haman and the honor expected by Haman was bestowed on Mordecai. At the same time, the people of the Lord, the entire community of Jews had light, gladness, joy and honor (Esther 8:16). This was the divine plan and purpose of the Lord i.e. to honor those who honor Him and to protect His own people for the promised seed of Messiah to be brought forth into this world for the salvation of all mankind. Perfect obedience revealed the calling and purpose of Esther’s life. Perfect obedience revealed the divine purposes. Perfect obedience lead to glorification of the Lord.

Dear friends, we begin our faith journey by accepting our Lord as our savior and we prove our faith through obedience. As we grow closer to the Lord, our obedience grows to completeness, continuance and then perfection. Such pattern of obedience which seeks growth always overcomes all challenges. And only such overcoming obedience finally achieves the divine purpose for which one is called and sanctified.

Christ always obeyed the heavenly Father. Yet in the garden of Gethsemane, His obedience was challenged. But God sent an angel to strengthen Him to continue to obey unto perfection. Hence, the purpose of Christ’s coming on this earth was fulfilled on the cross of Calvary. Anything less would have failed the divine plans and purpose. May we learn to not only obey, but also to grow in obedience, thus doing what we are called to do? May God bless us all.

 God bless us all

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