Queen Esther

One thing I read about in the Bible this week was the story of Queen Esther, and there are three people I'd like to talk about from that story. Those three people are Queen Vashti, Queen Esther, and Mordecai. Each of these people put aside their own safety to stand for truth or help others. 

Queen Vashti

She was the queen, wife of King Ahasuerus. Ahasuerus reigned over the land “from India even unto Ethiopia” (Esther 1:1). This was a pretty large kingdom. During this time, they held a royal feast. The feast for the men and women were separate though. So, on the seventh day of the feast the king called for Vashti to come into his feast so that everyone else could look at how beautiful she was. She refused to do that. I feel at this point, the queen was being very assertive and demanding a certain level of respect. I admire her for doing this. I think this is when Vashti was standing for truth; she was standing for the truth that all people – including women – deserve respect.

We all know though, that Vashti’s husband wasn’t any ordinary husband; he was the king! He had the power to do whatever he wanted in response to Vashti’s defiance. This is why I say the queen is one of the people who put aside her own safety. Those around him suggested that other women might “despise their husbands” (Esther 1:17) because of what Vashti had done. Basically, they didn’t want other women to be getting ideas and following the queen’s lead. These people suggested the king send for a decree saying that Vashti is not queen anymore and women must honor their husbands. Ultimately, this is what King Ahasuerus did, and Vashti was no longer the queen.

Queen Esther

          Esther was chosen through a long process to become the queen after King Ahasuerus removed Vashti as queen. Through a chain of events, the king’s right hand man became hateful towards the Jews and wanted to destroy them. Well, Esther herself was a Jew. After fasting and prayer, Esther approached the king uninvited, which was an invitation for a death sentence. However, King Ahasuerus granted her permission to speak (and live) (Esther 5:2). She then invited him and his right hand man (Haman) to a special dinner. During that dinner is when Esther exposed Haman, and her people were saved (Esther 7-8).

Original site of Queen Esther picture

Mordecai

          Mordecai risked his life and stood for truth when he refused to bow down to Haman. (This was part of the chain of events that caused Haman to hate the Jews.) Mordecai didn’t believe in worshiping anyone but his God, so he didn’t. However, it had been a commandment from the king to bow down to Haman, and so by disobeying Mordecai was breaking the law of the king (Ester 3:2-3). He was staying true to the Lord though, which was most important to him.