When I begin to think of courageous people in the Bible, I almost always think first of Esther. Esther was a young Jewish woman who was an orphan and had been raised by her uncle Mordecai during the time after the exile when the Jews lived in Persia. Esther was beautiful, gracious and kind and won the honor and heart of King Xerxes to become his Queen. Mordecai encouraged Esther to keep her identity as Jewish woman a secret.
There was another man in the story, the villain, named Haman. He had high power in the kingdom and wanted the people to bow down to him. Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, which angered him greatly. When Haman discovered that Haman was a Jew, he got the king to agree to a decree that all the Jewish people would soon be killed. Mordecai shared this troubling news to Queen Esther, asking her to reveal her identity as a Jew to the King. With her position, she might be able to save all the Jewish people. But with it came a risk for herself to even approach the king and ask of this favor.
Mordecai responds to Esther in chapter 4: 13-16: “‘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 royal position for such a time as this?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai, ‘Go gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’ “
Queen Esther knows the risk she is taking, but she also knows it is the right thing to do. That’s what courage is all about. It doesn’t take away the risk, the fear, or the challenge that lies ahead. The people who are most courageous are not without fear, but they don’t allow the fear or the risks to overcome what is right and good.
There are times that each of us face in our life as well that are challenging. How do we stand up in the moments where our voice is needed? Or take a step of faith when we’re unsure where the journey leads us? Consider Queen Esther, and the courage and faithfulness she showed and know that God is also with you each step of the way. So be strong and courageous!
Amy Givens, Director of Youth Ministry
