Esther – Learning from Imperfect People

In this engaging Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, Matthew Vander Els delves into the Book of Esther, revealing its profound lessons about faith, identity, and God’s work through flawed individuals. This series, initially envisioned as a brief exploration, has proven to be rich with complexity, irony, and humor, challenging our preconceived notions about God’s Word. The Book of Esther doesn’t always unfold as we expect, often surprising us with unexpected twists and turns.

The study begins by contrasting the romanticized portrayal of King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes) in popular media with his biblical depiction. Far from being a benevolent figure, the Xerxes of the Bible was a ruler defined by supreme power, wealth, arrogance, and a relentless pursuit of glory. His actions in the first chapter alone illustrate his corrupt and dishonorable nature, such as his exploitation of his wife, Queen Vashti, whom he commanded to appear before a drunken assembly merely to display her beauty. Vashti’s courageous refusal, interpreted as standing on a foundation of dignity, led to her banishment. This event, according to the Greek historian Herodotus, likely occurred before Xerxes’ ill-fated war with Greece. Faced with the loss of his queen, Xerxes sought counsel from his young, unmarried men, who proposed a competition to find a new queen from among all the virgins in the kingdom. This process, where the king would spend one night with each woman before choosing his favorite, is likened to modern-day corrupt approaches to finding a spouse.

As the narrative progresses into Chapter 2, the focus shifts to the protagonists: Esther and her cousin and adoptive father, Mordecai. They are introduced as Judeans living in the capital city of Susa, a land far removed from Israel, even farther than Babylon. Significantly, the teaching emphasizes that Esther and Mordecai are not portrayed as paragons of religious zeal, unlike figures such as Daniel or Ezra. They appear to have assimilated into the pagan Persian culture, even bearing Babylonian names: Hadassah (Esther’s Hebrew name) and Esther (her Persian name). Mordecai’s lineage is meticulously detailed: he is a Jew from Judea, a Benjamite, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish. This lineage connects him to King Saul, the first king of the united monarchy of Israel, who was also a Benjamite and the son of Kish. The author suggests that this connection to Saul, a king who ultimately disobeyed God, might be intentional, highlighting the imperfect heritage of even key figures in God’s plans. Furthermore, Mordecai and his family were among those exiled from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, a consequence of the people’s disobedience. While King Cyrus of Persia later allowed the Judeans to return and rebuild their temple (events chronicled in Ezra and Nehemiah), many chose to remain in Persia. The speaker raises the question of whether they were supposed to return, referencing prophecies in Isaiah about the end of exile and the restoration of Israel. He then connects this to the coming of Yeshua (Jesus), who fulfilled these prophecies by ending the exile from sin and bringing people back to God.

Esther is introduced as Hadassah, which means Esther. She was orphaned and raised by Mordecai. The text emphasizes her exceptional beauty, both in form and face. When the king issued his decree to gather young women, Esther was among those taken to the king’s palace and placed under the care of Hegai, the custodian of the women. She quickly gained Hegai’s favor, receiving preferential treatment. On Mordecai’s advice, Esther did not reveal her Jewish identity. The speaker draws a parallel to believers today who might conceal their faith due to various pressures, questioning the authenticity of such silence in light of the transformative power of Yeshua. He stresses that our faith is meant to be public, a proclamation of the good news, and that we are called to be image-bearers and ambassadors of God. Hiding our faith can be a form of unfaithfulness to our vocation.

The selection process for the new queen involved twelve months of beautification. When Esther’s turn came, she sought only the advice of Hegai. She won favor in the eyes of all who saw her, and ultimately, King Ahasuerus loved Esther more than all the other women, setting the royal crown on her head and making her queen in the seventh year of his reign. The king celebrated this occasion with a great feast, Esther’s feast, and granted a remission of taxes and royal gifts. The speaker notes the seemingly contradictory nature of a Judean woman marrying a pagan king, something generally discouraged in Scripture, leaving the reader to ponder Esther’s motivations and godliness. He encourages the audience to observe Esther’s character development throughout the book, noting her initial passivity evolving into boldness and assertiveness.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Be Authentic in Your Faith: Don’t selectively reveal or hide your faith based on convenience or comfort. Embrace your identity in Yeshua publicly.
• Discern When to Stand Firm: Exercise wisdom in deciding when to confront opposition and when to humble yourself. Not every perceived offense requires a battle.
• Recognize God’s Work in Imperfection: God uses flawed individuals to accomplish His purposes. Don’t disqualify yourself or others because of imperfections.
• Remember Your Redemption: If you are a believer in Yeshua, your ultimate redemption has already occurred. Live in the reality of that truth and your identity in Him.
• Audit Your Motivations: Regularly examine your reasons for taking a stand on certain issues. Are they rooted in genuine faith or personal pride?

References

Bible Verses:

• Esther 1
• Esther 2
• Esther 3
• Purim (implied reference)
• Daniel 1 (implied reference)
• Ezra 1 (implied reference)
• Nehemiah 1 (implied reference)
• Isaiah 40 (implied reference)
• Isaiah 46 (implied reference)

Books and Resources:

• Herodotus’ Histories by Herodotus
• Works by Xenophon
• One Night with the King (Movie)
• The Bible