The book of Esther isn’t very long, but it is packed with interesting and important wisdom for Christians today. Found in the Old Testament and only 10 chapters long, Esther is a relatively quick read that offers lessons about mentorship, preparation, courage, and even manners. This book serves us well as Christian believers as we work to share the Gospel to all ends of the earth.
What Is the Book of Esther About?
Scholars don’t know much about who wrote the book of Esther, nor exactly when it was written. But we do know the book was intended for the Jewish people to help them understand both how they were saved from destruction and also why the Jewish festival of Purim is important. Although God is not mentioned in the book, it is clear that God saved the people through the work of Queen Esther with help from her cousin, Mordecai. It is typically read aloud during the celebration of the holiday to help underscore its importance and its meaning.
The book is about a young Jewish woman, Esther, who is chosen to be the new queen of Persia. With help from Mordecai, they are able to save the Jews from destruction. At first she keeps her Jewish identity secret, but after a plot by one of the king’s advisors to kill all Jews in the kingdom is uncovered, she reveals her background to the king and thwarts the plan, securing much good for the Jews in the process.
Here are seven important lessons we can learn from the Book of Esther.
1. Our Place Is Never Secure
The book opens by introducing us to King Xerxes and his wife before Esther: Queen Vashti. We’re told the king was having a party with his friends and had too much to drink, then asked his wife to display her beauty before his guests. Vashti refused, angering Xerxes (Esther 1:12), which set the story in motion and opened up a place for Esther to step in.
Now, the Bible is not saying the king was a good man. Many of us, if we were the queen, would resent having to prance around as a spectacle in front of our husband and his drunk friends. We would feel disrespected and used, like a possession or an object rather than a person.
Maybe the queen thought she could do whatever she wanted without repercussion. Maybe she thought she was well within her rights to refuse the king’s request. But clearly this was not the case. In spite of her crown, her position as queen was not secure after all. The king stripped her of her title (Esther 1:19). Then he began to seek a new queen to replace her.
Today, we might think our life is extremely secure. Perhaps we are healthy, happily married, and have a great job that we love. But things can change in an instant. A tornado or other natural disaster could claim our home or our life. We could become stricken with cancer or another devastating illness. Our spouse could die or decide to leave us, and people are fired every day from jobs without ever expecting it.
On this earthly world, our place is never secure. Things can change at any moment. The only constant is the Lord. As God promises in Malachi 3:6, “I the Lord do not change.”
2. Sometimes We Need a Long Period of Preparation for Important Work
The Bible tells us Esther and the other young women vying for the position of queen had to go through extensive beauty treatments — twelve months in total, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics (Esther 2:12). Then she would go before the king for his assessment. Of all the women, the king liked Esther the best, and he picked her to be the queen. But the process wasn’t instant. It required a lot of work and preparation before she became queen.
Sometimes we get the impression that things come easily in this life. Perhaps we think we’re supposed to go to college and get a great job, just like that. In reality some of us have to work really hard for that job. Sometimes it doesn’t come right away, and we need to put in time in a lesser position or an internship just to get our foot in the door.
Or sometimes we sense God telling us something he wants us to do, so we take steps to make it happen, then… we wait. Nothing happens. Instead of the green light, it feels like we’re stuck at a red light for an incredibly long time, wondering how long it will take to come to fruition.
The truth is that waiting periods can be very good for us. Perhaps Esther and these other young women did not need the beauty treatments they received. Perhaps they were perfectly beautiful already. Still, maybe they used that time to get to know the people in charge and to find favor with them — Esther certainly did (Esther 2:9). There were other lessons she likely learned during this wait.
Similarly, most of us learn significant lessons whenever we are forced to wait for something, whenever we are forced to work hard for a goal.
Think about it. When you plant a seed, it doesn’t grow a vegetable by the next day. It takes some time. There’s a process. Embrace it.
3. A Good Mentor Can Be Extremely Helpful
As an orphan, Esther didn’t have parents to guide her. Instead, her cousin Mordecai served as her guardian and looked after her best interest (Esther 2:7-8). He gave her important advice, advice that she heeded. She respected Mordechai, even if she didn’t understand.
For example, he told her not to reveal her nationality at first (Esther 2:10, 20). Even after she became queen, Esther continued to heed his good advice.
Not all of us have enjoyed a good upbringing. Perhaps our parents were not Christians, or they taught us more about what not to do in life than what to do. But the book of Esther can help us understand that no matter where we come from, we can benefit from good guidance. Whether from a relative, a friend, or a professional or spiritual mentor, seeking out wisdom from a person we respect can be extremely helpful to us.
4. Courage Is Critical
A long while later, an evil plan was orchestrated by Haman, one of the king’s advisors. Because of this, a decree was issued to kill all the Jews in the land on a certain date that was approaching soon — the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar (this roughly corresponds to the month of March). While Esther’s identity as a Jew was secret, her cousin Mordecai was in great distress, not only for himself but for all of his people. He urged Esther to beg the king for mercy.
But Esther was terrified. She wasn’t permitted to go see the king without an invitation; she could be put to death for such boldness.
Mordecai insisted. He reminded her that she had a job to do and needed to stand up for him and for her people. As he told Esther, “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?” (Esther 4:13-14).
She heard her cousin loud and clear. Even with the risk, she needed to gather the courage and help.
And so she agreed.
Likewise, we need to have the courage to do difficult things today, also. Perhaps we are Christian in a workplace dominated by nonbelievers, and owning our faith could mean unpopularity or disdain. Perhaps we live in a place where it’s illegal to be Christian.
But as Jesus sad in Luke 9:26, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Let us not fear what can hurt us on earth but only what can hurt our souls for eternity.
5. Prayer and Fasting Makes a Difference
When Esther decided to speak to the king, she knew it was a risky move. So she asked Mordecai to gather the Jews and fast for three days on her behalf before she went to the king.
Today, we can do the same — fasting or praying (or both) in preparation for difficult work ahead of us.
As Jesus urged us in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
6. Manners Also Make a Difference
When Esther approached the king, she didn’t just barge in and make her demands. She acted with decorum. She dressed in finery and waited respectfully in the inner court of the palace until the king noticed her. Then, when he invited her in, still she bided her time and kept her manners appropriate for the ruler of the land. She invited him first to one banquet, and then another banquet… and ultimately made her request when he felt properly respected and appreciated.
Today also, the manner in which we do things makes a difference. Certainly we can share the gospel by insulting people or shouting it in a harsh, loud voice from a rooftop. But we can also do so in a more kindly, thoughtful manner, establishing relationships with people and getting to know them in a merciful, compassionate way.
How something is done can make a difference in our success.
7. Women Are Important to God
Sometimes, we get the mistaken impression that women are not important in the church. This cannot be farther from the truth. God designed us all, male and female, in his image (Genesis 1:27). Scripture contains numerous examples of women who have helped further God’s kingdom and glory, from Ruth and Naomi to the prophetess and judge Deborah to Mary, mother of Jesus.
Esther used what she had available — her beauty, her status as queen, her good standing with the king, and more — to do the right thing. Because God acted through her, the people were saved.
It doesn’t matter our gender, our age, our physical abilities, or our status in life. All of us are important to God and can help God fulfill his purpose.
If you haven’t read the book of Esther, consider taking the time to read it today and consider the many lessons you can learn from this powerful book.
Who knows? Perhaps God wants you to learn those lessons “for such a time as this.”
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/JadeThaiCatwalk
Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. Her newest release is an Advent daily devotional for those seeking true closeness with God, which you can find at https://www.jessicabrodie.