An Adopted Girl Called Esther
But after Xerxes' anger had subsided, he began thinking about Vashti and what she had done and the decree he had made.
So his personal attendants suggested, "Let us search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint agents in each province to bring these beautiful young women into the royal harem at the fortress of Susa. Hegai, the king's eunuch in charge of the harem, will see that they are given beauty treatments. After that, the young woman who most pleases the king will be made queen instead of Vashti"
This advice was very appealing to the king, so he put the plan into effect.
At that time there was a Jewish man in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. He was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei. His family had been among those who, with King Jehoiachin of Judah, had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.
This man had a very beautiful and lovely young cousin, Hadassah, who was also called Esther. When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter.
As a result of the king's decree, Esther, along with many other young women was brought to the king's harem at the fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai's care.
Esther 2:1-8
So his personal attendants suggested, "Let us search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint agents in each province to bring these beautiful young women into the royal harem at the fortress of Susa. Hegai, the king's eunuch in charge of the harem, will see that they are given beauty treatments. After that, the young woman who most pleases the king will be made queen instead of Vashti"
This advice was very appealing to the king, so he put the plan into effect.
At that time there was a Jewish man in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. He was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei. His family had been among those who, with King Jehoiachin of Judah, had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.
This man had a very beautiful and lovely young cousin, Hadassah, who was also called Esther. When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter.
As a result of the king's decree, Esther, along with many other young women was brought to the king's harem at the fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai's care.
Esther 2:1-8
Queen Vashti had been banned for life from the presence of her husband, King Xerxes, as a result of her refusal to appear before the king when requested. The search was on for a new queen to replace Vashti. The replacement had to be a beautiful young virgin who, by all accounts, had to be one of the most lovely young women in the entire empire. So, who was it going to be?
The account tells us that a Jewish man named Mordecai had a beautiful and lovely cousin called Esther whom he had adopted and raised as her own daughter when her parents died.
Esther was one of those beautiful young women selected for consideration as Vashti's replacement. Obviously, Mordecai had adopted Esther out of the goodness of his heart to give her the same opportunities his own children had. But little did Mordecai know that Esther was destined by God to preserve the Jewish lineage.
Question: So what if Esther had not been adopted by Mordecai? What if Mordecai had neglected her? What if Mordecai had not nurtured Esther to become the beautiful young lady she grew up to be? Would she have had the opportunity to be selected for the role she ended up playing? The truth is: There are many wonderful boys and girls whose futures are uncertain because they have no "Mordecais" to step into their lives to help them develop their full potential in life. Would you consider becoming a Mordecai to an Esther? What a blessing it would be for humanity to help release more "Esthers" into the world!
The account tells us that a Jewish man named Mordecai had a beautiful and lovely cousin called Esther whom he had adopted and raised as her own daughter when her parents died.
Esther was one of those beautiful young women selected for consideration as Vashti's replacement. Obviously, Mordecai had adopted Esther out of the goodness of his heart to give her the same opportunities his own children had. But little did Mordecai know that Esther was destined by God to preserve the Jewish lineage.
Question: So what if Esther had not been adopted by Mordecai? What if Mordecai had neglected her? What if Mordecai had not nurtured Esther to become the beautiful young lady she grew up to be? Would she have had the opportunity to be selected for the role she ended up playing? The truth is: There are many wonderful boys and girls whose futures are uncertain because they have no "Mordecais" to step into their lives to help them develop their full potential in life. Would you consider becoming a Mordecai to an Esther? What a blessing it would be for humanity to help release more "Esthers" into the world!
Prayer: Father, please help me to prayerfully consider being a "Mordecai" to an Esther. Amen.