Esther 4: 6 – 8 “So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.”
Mordecai must have had some pretty impressive sources. After all, how in the world did he know such sensitive details of the transaction between Haman and Xerxes? How did he know about the offered bribe, including the exact amount of money? Surely such information was not public knowledge. Mordecai was a smart fellow, and knew how to find answers. But in spite of Mordecai’s extensive knowledge, he was powerless to help himself or his people.
Esther, on the other hand, knew nothing. She was just a sweet young thing, who existed pretty much for the pleasure of her husband. She got to lay around all day getting manicures and pedicures, and having her hair and make-up done, so that she would look beautiful any time her husband called for her. She was a trophy wife, and all such ugly matters were kept from her knowledge.
So on the one hand, we have Mordecai, who was an intelligent man, a high-ranking man in the kingdom, and he was powerless. On the other hand, we have a little orphan girl who had been chosen for a position simply because of her looks. Xerxes didn’t really care if she was smart or not. The expectations for the queen were pretty low – she just had to look pretty, all the time.
And yet, who did God choose to use, to save the nation of Israel? That’s right. He chose the one that no one would expect. She didn’t have much to offer; she was a poor, no-account orphan, who happened to have a pretty face. To me, this just goes to show that we don’t have to have the complete package, by the world’s standards. God created us exactly the way He wanted us to be, in order to fulfill His divine purpose.
What if Esther had been of average looks, but she could read and write and recite poetry and confound all of the learned men of her time? By today’s standards, perhaps intelligence and education might be valued more than beauty. But it wouldn’t have saved Israel. God knew what He was doing. He made Esther a knock-out for a reason.
Do you feel like you don’t have the complete package? Perhaps you’re smart, but you feel you’re lacking in the looks department. Or maybe you are beautiful, but you have trouble with relationships. Perhaps you are an excellent cook, but you are nervous in front of crowds. Friends, stop being so hard on yourselves! God made you in His image. He made you with a specific purpose in mind. Stop worrying about what you can’t do, and start focusing on what you can do for Him!
Are you a knock-out, like Esther? Use that to draw people to Him. Are you smart, like Mordecai? Use your intelligence to point others to Him. Are you an excellent teacher, or cook, or housekeeper, or mother? Use the gifts and talents God has given you. He had a reason for making you exactly as you are. You are important, just as you are, to His purpose and plan for the world.
Dear Father, I don’t have much to offer You. But what I have, I offer freely.
Amen
Renae,
You make an excellent point. So often we compare ourselves to others and think what we have isn’t enough, but you’re so right. Whatever God gave us is enough; in fact, it is perfect for His purpose.
A young girl from a poor family, a carpenter, some dirty, smelly shepherds, a hot-tempered fisherman, a tax-collector, a good time girl…..I wonder if WE had written the story, would any of these characters have got a part?
We shouldn’t be upset by the fact that we only seem ‘little’. There’s a long history of little people being called to do big things!
Thanks, Lillie. I think we’re all guilty of comparing ourselves to others, when God wants us to be totally committed to Him, just the way we are!
Excellent points and examples, Jackie. I wish I’d thought of them! 😉
Take me, Jesus, all of me, the whole package. I’m yours.
Jean
Jean, I kept thinking of the hymn, “Just as I Am” as I wrote this.
Thank you Renae for your prayers and love.God bless you my dear friend.
Amrita, I’m so sorry about your aunt, and I will continue praying for you and your family in this loss.
I’m glad we are friends.