A WALK IN MY SHOES: How I Queen Esther Fought For My People
(Based on The Story of Esther: Esther 5:1-14; 7:1-10)
On the third day of my fast, I put on my royal robes and entered the palaces’ inner court just across the king’s hall.
I did this because I wanted the king to take note of me and sure enough he did.
Welcomed by his golden sceptre, I touched its end and was asked the purpose of my visit. To my surprise, He was even willing to give me half of his kingdom, but my request was simple. “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I have prepared for the king.”
He responded with swiftness to my request and immediately sent his employees to summon Haman to the banquet. He and Haman honored my request and attended the banquet where they drank wine and had a great time. My king approached me again, wondering what it is I could have possibly wanted. For a second time, he mentioned being willing to part with half of his kingdom for me, but again I requested the two men join me for another banquet that I’ve prepared for them tomorrow.
By now, I’m sure you’re wondering what my motive is… right? Well, here is the deal, when the king requested to know what I wanted at the second banquet, I finally shared with him my request.
“If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of my people will be spared. For my people and I have been sold to those who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate us. If we had merely been sold as slaves, I could remain quiet, for that would be too trivial a matter to warrant disturbing the king.”
The king was surprised. He requested to know who was responsible for all of these adversities, but once I revealed that the perpetrator responsible was Haman, the King became enraged.
Now, let me tell you a little bit about Haman…
Not only did he abuse and murder my people, but he was also a boastful man that desired to be worshiped by everyone. I knew that by requesting him to join the king at my special banquet, I would appeal to his boastful, egocentric self.
So, I used it to my advantage.
I also didn’t want to make my request known to the king the first time he asked me what I wanted because I wanted him to wait in anticipation and understand the importance of my request. I wanted him to see that it wasn’t easy to talk about what was bothering me.
I was terrified, but in the end, the king showed me and my people favor. Haman plotted to have my cousin Mordecai impaled on the pole, but found himself caught in the very trap he set for my people. The King had Haman and his family impaled, and the decree to stop all jews from persecution went into effect immediately.
In a nutshell, that’s how I fought for my people. I prayed, I fasted, and I trusted that God would deliver us. He did, and I can’t help but think that maybe I was created for such a time as this, to deliver my people.
