The closest I’ve come to being a beauty queen was when I was ten. Granted, there weren’t many people in the audience, just my poodle, Sparky. And I should’ve been setting the table for my mom because we were having company that night, but rather than being obedient, I decided to become Miss America.
My runway was our brick hearth. I gracefully walked down it’s path waving to the adoring crowd with my imaginary crown and flowers. The applause… the cheers… I was in my element, but my glorious moment of pageantry ended when my foot slipped off the brick.
I hobbled to the couch to examine the stinging scratch from the fall, but when I looked at my leg, there was a hole in it. A huge gash. The fall had taken a chunk out of my leg, and that’s when I howled for my mom. Needless to say, we didn’t have company that night. I returned home from the emergency room with ten stitches.
So, really, I’ve never been a beauty queen. Only in my dreams. But truthfully, if I ever were one, I think that rather than Miss America, I’d rather be Esther. Other beautiful, wise, and powerful women walk the pages of the Bible, but Esther exhibited all these traits—inner beauty, wisdom, and power. Let’s take a look at what we can learn from this beauty queen concerning these three desirable traits.
Her given name was Hadassah which means “myrtle.” The name symbolized not only a beautiful tree but also the hope of Israel. I wrote in my book, Radiant Influence:
According to David Guzik of The Enduring Word commentary, the meaning of Hadassah, which is “myrtle” holds great significance. He writes, “In prophetic symbolism the myrtle would replace the briars and thorns of the desert, so depicting the Lord’s forgiveness and acceptance of his people. (Isaiah 41:19; 55:13; cf. Zechariah 1:8)” I love how this meaning relates to the destiny she would fulfill for her people.
Her name depicted forgiveness and acceptance. I wonder if those beautiful characteristics also flowed out of Esther. Was she forgiving and accepting? Hegai favored her. Was this why? I know she was beautiful on the outside, but I believe kindness, perhaps humility drew Hegai to her. God’s hand was definitely working, but Esther did her part. Did her family’s Jewish faith ingrain the importance of generosity and love? Both of these virtues are rooted in a forgiving and accepting heart. We can learn from Esther and her story that beauty will only take you so far. There were many pretty girls in the contest to become the queen, but Esther’s beauty emanated from her heart, not her face.
Esther’s story could easily be named “Esther and Mordecai,” but I guess that was too long a name for a book of the Bible. Yet, it could be argued that Mordecai’s role may be greater than Esther’s. Without Mordecai’s counsel and Esther’s obedience to his persuasion the story’s ending would’ve been tragedy rather than celebration. We can learn from her willingness not only to listen to Mordecai but her obedience. Ya’ll, if I just would’ve obeyed my mom and set the table, I would not have a scar on my right shin.
But I think Esther’s wisdom was also a result of prayer and fasting. The God of the universe heard Esther’s petitions for wisdom of how to approach the king and how to petition for her people. For three days she seeked God’s wisdom over her own. When we need wisdom, we who live on the other side of the Cross where Holy Spirit now indwells in us can simply go to our source. We can pray and ask for guidance. We also can open up our Bibles and seek the counsel of God’s Word. Do nothing without the counsel of God.
I lost some of you already. We all like the word power but few of us enjoy patience. I know I’m right because I like drive-thrus and microwaves too. Patience is not a favorite virtue, but it is vital my friends. Many of us think we don’t want power either, that is until we don’t have any power to change a terrible situation, then we would love to have power, right?
Anyway, power and patience. Esther had both! But she had to wait for a long time to be placed in that position of power. Do you know how long she waited to see the king the first time (before she became queen)? Four years span from the time of Vashti’s dethronement and Esther’s date with the king. Four years! And during that time Esther gained favor with Hegai and all around her. God’s plans take time. We just need to wait and trust.
Esther also demonstrated great patience when she was given the opportunity to petition the king for the salvation of her people. She seeked God, fasted and prayed for three days. When the day came, she put on her robe of power and position to enter the inner chambers of the king. Again she showed patience when she invited the king and Haman to not one, but two dinner parties! I am not that patient, in fact, I think one dinner would’ve been all I could’ve stomached. I love her patient, methodical, powerful tactic. We need to slow down. Whatever dream you’re waiting on or prayer you need answered, wait.
Oh, to have calculating, wise, and trusting patience like Esther. Her story tells us so much about true beauty, wisdom, and power, but I’ve been convinced after spending a lot of time in study, Esther a once ordinary girl named Hadassah, often had to remind herself that God was in control.
I think over and over she had to go back to her heritage and remember who her people belonged to, who she belonged to. Esther’s physical beauty landed her in a crazy beauty pageant, but it never was about Esther or her beauty. It was always about God, His heart, His wisdom, and His power. May we never forget. It’s evident that Esther never did.
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