“And the King loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set a royal crown upon her head, and made her Queen instead of Vashti. “. Esther 2:17-18
Do you feel orphaned? Esther lost both parents. Do you wonder about your future? Esther had an uncle who adopted her but who had no influence nor position. Are things falling apart around you? King Xerxes just returned from stinging military defeats and an economy and country in shambles. Esther was a Jew and as such was a foreigner in her own country…that was dying.
BUT GOD…
The story moves very quickly to a beauty contest. Esther enters because her uncle Mordecai believes in her and encourages her to try. We all need to be encouraged (ask God to encourage you today!!!), and ask ourselves, is there someone I can encourage today? Let this be the encouragement you have been hoping for…ENTER THE BEAUTY CONTEST. You may be poor, sad, dispossessed but the thing you are seeking is right in front of you…humble yourself and risk losing…then see, like Esther, your “gift will bring you before Kings and not unknown men.”
Esther wins the beauty contest…why?! Simple. Because God was working quietly, discretely behind the scenes, and in the shadows completely controlling the situation and circumstances so that Esther “obtained grace and favor,” from the Lord with the King!
Lastly, she was not made Queen to hold the title and spend the resources lavishly upon herself or her family. She was made Queen to save the WORLD!
She saved the Jews (God’s redemptive plan for mankind too), and her family, including Mordecai, and these were not only safe and secure but they all got promoted and prospered in a new season for them all. God wants to do the same for you. However, you have to move forward and at the right time, help someone else have the confidence, or you can ask God to give you the confidence to enter the beauty contest He has set up in front of you
Remember, Esther had to eventually take the step of faith…