Esther Was Favored And So Are You!
When the king's order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king's palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the Harem. She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately, he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king's palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.
Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her. Esther 2:8-11
Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her. Esther 2:8-11
Esther, in the natural unfolding of events, had everything going against her when she was a young child. Her native land, Judah, had been captured and decimated by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Along with Jehoiachin, their king, Nebuchadnezzar had forcibly removed a number of the Jews out of their land to live in Babylon. Esther's family was among those exiled to Babylon. To make matters worse, Esther became an orphan. Both her father and mother died. So what kind of future did an orphan have, living in exile with no parents? How was she going to make it in a "strange " land?
But the ways of God are simply amazing. God had preordained for Esther to be adopted by her cousin, Mordecai who brought her up as his own child. God had also favored Esther with a wonderful gift: she "had a lovely figure and was beautiful." This God-given asset opened the door for her selection to be in the running for Queen. Esther had divine favor from birth. Her beauty was not accidental. Her adoption by Mordecai was no accident either. It was part of a divine plan. Esther was a favored girl!
Then came the favor Esther received from Hegai, the king's eunuch: "She pleased him and won his favor...He assigned to her seven attendants selected from the king's palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem." Obviously, from Esther's viewpoint, life was simply unfolding. She must have seen how "fortunate" she was but I doubt if she really understood what her life was gearing up to at that point in time! It was a bit too early!
But there is something interesting about Esther even at this early stage. Esther must have been a respectful and obedient girl. She listened to the advice of her "father" Mordecai and did not reveal her identity as a Jew. It is also obvious that Esther carried herself in such a way that she won the favor of the king's eunuch, Hegai. Esther must have been a well-behaved person.
As we pursue life and as we raise up children and families and have the opportunity to impact and influence others, we need to remember that nothing about our lives is a thing of chance. Our God-given physical beauty, our intellect, our gifts and talents, the ministries God places us in, our chosen career paths, our children, our life-opportunities, the schools we attend, the people we meet and even the places we live are all part of God's plan and favor for our lives.
The Scripture declares: "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me O God. They cannot be numbered!" (Psalm 139:16-17).
Please remember this: Esther was a favored girl, but so are you! God didn't create you with a package of disfavor. God created you with a book full of precious thoughts for your life. Lift up your head no matter what you might be experiencing right now. Turn everything over to God today and start consciously living as a favored person. Esther was favored and so are you!
But the ways of God are simply amazing. God had preordained for Esther to be adopted by her cousin, Mordecai who brought her up as his own child. God had also favored Esther with a wonderful gift: she "had a lovely figure and was beautiful." This God-given asset opened the door for her selection to be in the running for Queen. Esther had divine favor from birth. Her beauty was not accidental. Her adoption by Mordecai was no accident either. It was part of a divine plan. Esther was a favored girl!
Then came the favor Esther received from Hegai, the king's eunuch: "She pleased him and won his favor...He assigned to her seven attendants selected from the king's palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem." Obviously, from Esther's viewpoint, life was simply unfolding. She must have seen how "fortunate" she was but I doubt if she really understood what her life was gearing up to at that point in time! It was a bit too early!
But there is something interesting about Esther even at this early stage. Esther must have been a respectful and obedient girl. She listened to the advice of her "father" Mordecai and did not reveal her identity as a Jew. It is also obvious that Esther carried herself in such a way that she won the favor of the king's eunuch, Hegai. Esther must have been a well-behaved person.
As we pursue life and as we raise up children and families and have the opportunity to impact and influence others, we need to remember that nothing about our lives is a thing of chance. Our God-given physical beauty, our intellect, our gifts and talents, the ministries God places us in, our chosen career paths, our children, our life-opportunities, the schools we attend, the people we meet and even the places we live are all part of God's plan and favor for our lives.
The Scripture declares: "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me O God. They cannot be numbered!" (Psalm 139:16-17).
Please remember this: Esther was a favored girl, but so are you! God didn't create you with a package of disfavor. God created you with a book full of precious thoughts for your life. Lift up your head no matter what you might be experiencing right now. Turn everything over to God today and start consciously living as a favored person. Esther was favored and so are you!
Prayer: Father, I thank you that your plans for me are one of favor and not misfortune. Please help me to arise and shine from this point on. Help me to arise and walk in my divinely ordained favor. Amen.