What Really Moves the World

Esther 2:1–4 (ESV) After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her. 2 Then the king’s young men who attended him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king. 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the citadel, under custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women. Let their cosmetics be given them. 4 And let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This pleased the king, and he did so.

So far, in the book of Esther, for all the pomp, power, glory and authority that Xerxes has going for him, he still largely plays victim to the events of his life and the opinions of those around him. It was his wife that refused him and sent him into a rage, it was his advisors that told him to cast her out and now in chapter 2 it is once again his younger advisors that tell him to replace her with a beauty contest winner (of course it was young men who suggested this). 

The point is - Xerxes seems anything but in charge of his life, never mind the world. And this is a constant picture of the pagan ruler in the scriptures. They are not obedient to God and therefore subject to their own whims, the people's popular opinion and the secret talks behind closed doors with their closest associates. It truly shows the necessity for Jesus as King. Why? Because Jesus lives in the Father's love. He doesn't need your approval and that means He will give you what you need and it may not be what you want. He will actually LEAD you and not follow you. He will not ask what to do for He knows what to do and what He does may hurt but will ultimately help you. 

Back to the story. 

Esther 2:5–7 (ESV) Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. 7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

The next figure introduced in this chapter is the anti-Xerxes. He's not rich or powerful, he's an exile and has no political esteem. He doesn't use women, he serves them, making sure Esther is taken care of. It will be this man, and not Xerxes who God uses to bring about the deliverance of His people. This should remind the church of something very important. It is not the politically powerful that guide us and protect us, it is the true Mordecai of our souls - Jesus Christ - who works under the auspices of the powers over us to bring us through the challenges before us. 

Covid has really shaken the faith of so many Christians in this sense. And I believe that the large-scale hope Christians put in political leaders betrays a lack of faith in Jesus who promises to love and guide us every single day. He doesn't have the office of president or senator. He doesn't need that. For He is the Word of life!

What we are also going to see is how Mordecai continues to prosper and freely work on behalf of the Jews. He is the main story here, not Xerxes. Cultures idolize power (Xerxe) and worships beauty (Esther). These values are esteems as world-shaping but it is not so! The wisdom and words of Mordecai are the world-shifting influence God uses. 

Eventually, Esther is successful in her beauty and grace. 

Esther 2:9–11 (ESV) And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king’s palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem. 10 Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known. 11 And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.

Mordecai told Esther to keep her identity as a Jew secret but later he will put a great deal of pressure on her to reveal herself when the time demanded it. Perhaps there is in this moment a simple reminder for God's people. We do not have to be vocal all the time about our faith and who we are. Even the name of God is absent from this book, but it doesn't mean He's not working. There are times to be silent and times to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:7). The question I'm sure we all have is - which time is which? And the answer? Jesus knows. And He, like Mordecai will be with you. When He tells you it's time - speak up! Because your words will be what He gives you (see Luke 21:15) ... and they you will shape the world.