The Courage of a Queen
Jul 26, 2009
Throughout the pages of the Bible we discover accounts of people displaying valor and courage. Some are well-known Biblical personalities like David facing Goliath or Daniel facing the lion’s den, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego facing the fiery furnace. As we have been reading through the Bible in 90 days we are also discovering some not-so-well-known examples of courage under fire. Every day in our world Christians exemplify courage in the midst of some very difficult, trying and frightening situations. Did you know that from 1900 – 2000, more Christians were martyred for their faith than those martyred from the time of Jesus to 1900?
Esther lived around 470 BC during the Babylonian captivity. The book in the Bible with her name spans about a 10-year period. At the time the Empire of the Medes and Persians was the most expansive extending from Western India on the East to Greece in the West. The king of this empire was Xerxes. Esther was a Jew living in a foreign land because years before God’s people had been taken as slaves by the marauding army of the Medes and Persians.
As we look at life and at our own lives, life is not only like a box of chocolates, it is very much like a bowl of cherries—a lot of fruit with a lot of pits. We can rattle off a list of blessings as well as name a lot of cursings—the good and the bad. Life is a mixed bag, isn’t it?
The historical account of Esther’s life is one of courage. Courage is strength to take risks. Courage withstands and overcomes fear. But what is the source of courage? The strongest source of courage in the face of fear is faith, and the greatest source of faith is that which comes from our relationship with the living God. That is exactly what Esther did.
I. Let’s look at Esther 4:11-14. The heroes of this episode are Esther and her cousin, Mordecai. As we read through this account, we see how God weaved the comings and goings of the players on this stage in history. We see how Mordecai saved the King from a conspiracy. We see Esther chosen from among all the women of the kingdom to be the Queen. Is it all happenstance or fate? No, because our God is the God of history and one who is involved in the affairs of His world.
The evil Hamann has influenced the King to issue a decree that the Jews should all be killed, a genocide. With God’s hand involved in putting people in the right places at the right time for the salvation of His people, all Esther could see was that she was in big trouble. Our God is the God of history and one who is involved in the affairs of His world. And so we live by faith trusting in a kind and loving God who knows what He is doing. But from the Queen’s perspective, what Mordecai was asking her to do could get her the death sentence.
When we speak of courage we often assume that the opposite of courage is fear. When you think about it, perhaps a better antithesis to courage is not fear but conformity! Esther’s temptation was not just to remain silent, but rather to blend in with everyone else in the royal palace and to not rock the boat as she hid herself from her identity and her people. Esther is like us, isn’t she? Or perhaps it is more appropriate to say that we are just like Esther. Don’t want anyone suspecting that we might be Christian! Better to blend it and not cause waves.
Sometimes it takes a crisis to jolt us out of our conformity. It is often a threat of danger, the suffering from pain, a terrible injustice, fear of the future that causes us to rise to the occasion. Examples abound: MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving), William Booth and the Salvation Army, William Wilberforce and the anti-slavery movement in Britain, Alex’s Lemonade, the Koman Foundation to fight breast cancer, Dave Bailey and Ranch Hope for Boys, et al.
Our God is always looking for people who will ‘stand in the gap,’ and who will take a stand for right living and holiness, who will allow themselves to be empowered by the Holy Spirit accomplishing things way beyond their own abilities and strength. In Ezekiel 22:30 we read, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” In 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”
It is often times in the midst of a crisis that we find our calling. We may have to stand-alone. We may have to separate ourselves from the crowd. We may have to fight against forces more powerful than “a speeding bullet.” Our God is waiting to empower those who are willing to stand in the gap against evil, whatever that evil is and wherever that evil is found.
II. The 2nd truth we discover is that out of our fear comes faith. Read Esther 4:15-17. Esther recognizes her unique call “for such a time as this.” If she goes before the King without invitation, she may die, but if she does not go, she is certain to die, along with her people. Notice that Esther not only resolved to be used by God, but she also had a plan. Sometimes God says ‘now’ and sometimes God says wait. The key is discerning the difference and that is not always easy. Yet even in God’s ‘now’ moments there is always a time of preparation and plan. No knee-jerk reaction here. No impetuous response here. No rush into the King’s throne room and set ol’ Xerxes straight! There is a fine line between being courageous and foolhardy. Instead, Esther’s legitimate fear caused her to pause and to pray and fast and to connect with God’s perfect will and the details of God’s plan.
People are not born courageous as a part of our DNA. Courage is not a temperament/personality trait. Rather, courage is a character trait. It is choosing to do the right thing in spite of being afraid. Listen to these words from King David in Psalm 27:1-3, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.” The contrast in Scripture between our strength and what we can do in God’s strength is obvious. Our courage blossoms when God is the source of that courage and we put ourselves in His care. Faith in God equals God’s power, which equals God’s courage. I love what Marion Morrison said, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway!” (We know him as John Wayne) Our fear is the impetus to infuse us with faith in God’s ability and leads us to courage.
III. The 3rd lesson in this account of Queen Esther is that when you get out of yourself you discover courage. Read Esther 7:3-5.
We notice that Esther moved from what was good for her to what was good for her people. Instead of saving herself, she was able to save the Jewish people. When she was self-focused she was hesitant, uncertain, and fearful but once her perspective changed, she found the courage to do what was right, not what was convenient.
We see this same kind of courage in the Apostle Paul who time and again put his own safety aside for the sake of reaching people for Jesus. 1 Thess. 2:2, “You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, even though we were surrounded by many who opposed us.”
We have all seen news accounts of people who have risked their own lives to save someone in danger. Just this week 2 firemen brothers rescued a toddler from a burning car. A couple weeks ago construction workers, using a crane, saved a woman when her boat was swept over a dam. Courage and bravery is sparked when we see someone in need, someone in danger, and we put their welfare ahead of our own. We get out of ourselves and we focus on others.
Fear is a horrible taskmaster and a dreadful dungeon. What fear is enslaving you? What fears have you all bound up? Is it self-consciousness? Is it embarrassment? Perhaps it is fear of rejection, or loss of security, or maybe even the loss of your comfort?
Knowing Jesus releases us from self-absorption, ego, pride and selfishness. Knowing Jesus helps us to focus not on ourselves, but on His Kingdom, on the needs of other people. We become other focused and not self-focused. It is in losing yourself that you discover a courage you never knew you had.
In Mt 16:25 Jesus said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose if, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
What crisis are you facing? Queen Esther has taught us that it is in crisis that we find God’s calling for such a time as this. Is God calling you to a new cause because of that crisis?
What fears are holding you back? God is inviting you to put your faith in Him and find your courage.
Is your whole focus on yourself? God is calling you to die to yourself, and get out of the “It’s all about me” syndrome so that He can use you to do not just good things but some great God things for Him.
The courage of Queen Esther is not just a fairy tale or nice story. It is a reality that has happened and is happening to scores of people and it can happen to you!