Lessons from the Book of Esther - Make Ripples

The book of Esther is full of intriguing, powerful events and it is rich in timeless lessons. Esther was an orphaned Jew living in Persia being raised by her cousin, Mordecai. Growing up, she could have never imagined that she would one day be queen and save her people, the Jews, from annihilation.

The first lesson we obtain from Esther occurs when Haman, the highest official under the king, issued a decree to destroy the Jews. Upon learning of Haman’s orders, Mordecai urges Esther to beg the king for mercy and plead for her people. Esther replies with her fear of approaching the king without being summoned because that meant certain death unless the king extended his scepter to spare her life.

Mordecai tells her in Esther 4:13-14:
“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

The lesson we can derive from this is that God has brought each one us to this specific point in time and to a specific place for a purpose.

We read in Acts 17:26
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”

God has marked out our appointed time in history just like he did with Esther. He directed her steps to bring her to Persia and to the eventual position as queen. He had plans for her just like he does with us. He knew us in our mother’s womb and all our days have been ordained as we read in Psalm 139:16
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

The next lesson occurs in this same pivotal moment. Esther had a choice: risk her life by approaching the king or place it safe. Mordecai warned her that if she didn’t make the choice to step up, deliverance for the Jews would come from another place, but her and her family would perish.

Just like Esther, even though all our days are predestined, we still have freewill as to what choices we make throughout our days on this earth. We must have courage and faith to step into God’s will. No matter the resistance we meet or the fears we face, we must do what is right in God’s eyes. And when we trust in God, he will guide us.

As we read in Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Another lesson from Esther is that God will provide everything we need to fulfill our calling. Esther had the gift of beauty and favor to be chosen as queen. In the face of persecution, God gave her the courage and the words she needed to approach the king with her request.

God has gifted us with everything we need to succeed, just as he did with our heroes in the Bible.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:5-9
“in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge… so that you are not lacking in any gift… He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful.”

The next lesson comes from both Esther and Mordecai who were influencers in their day. They used their positions to influence the lives around them, in spite of their level of importance in Persia. Mordecai was a Jew in a low position, sitting outside the palace gate and ordered to bow down to his superiors. Meanwhile Esther was in the high position as queen, having access to the king and his officials. It didn’t matter what their position was, they both had a major impact on others.

This shows us that we also can be influencers no matter who we are. With God’s help we can have a positive affect on others. Think of a pebble thrown into a pond. It makes ripples. We are pebbles in this life making ripples, impacting others… even when we don't see the results. Consider Apostle Paul. Could he have ever guessed what he wrote, while in prison, would go out into the world and reach billions of people for hundreds of generations? One act, no matter how big or small, has the potential to have a great impact. God will direct your ripples to where they need to go. It may not affect someone until 2 or 3 degrees away from the original person on whom you made the initial impression, but your ripple will reach its destination.

The final lesson comes from the adversity which Esther and Mordecai faced. With the looming annihilation facing their people, Esther and Mordecai had to step out in faith. They had to draw strength from God to take the risks necessary to save the Jews. This adversity caused Mordecai to be courageous and it caused Esther to step out from hiding her Jewish heritage and step out from being fearful. They both became spiritual giants and fulfilled their calling.

What we can draw from this is that our experiences, our hardships, our personal lessons have made us who we are today. Through our winding path in life, we have become more courageous, sympathetic, understanding, wiser, confident, resilient, and spiritually stronger along with a firmer faith. God allows these experiences to cause us to become who he created us to be.

Apostle Paul knew what it was to face adversity and he was thankful for it because he knew God’s strength would work through him as he shares in II Corinthians 12:10
“I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

There are so many more lessons we can derive from the book of Esther, but let us take these few lessons we explored today and look at our lives. God has indeed placed us here for such a time as this, he has a predestined purpose for each of us, he has given us everything we need to succeed, and he has allowed experiences to develop us... All this allows us to fulfill our calling, make an impact on others and glorify Him in the process.

So.. Be a pebble. Make ripples. And ask God to direct your daily ripples to where they need to go. Remember, you have been placed here for such a time as this.