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Obedience Observed

My favorite book of the Bible is Esther. Interestingly, the name of God is not mentioned in the entire book, but I love the bravery of the young Jewish girl who won the heart of the king. I guess it appeals to my girlish notions of the ultimate love story. 

However, I want to explore further than just the surface of the story right now. At the very heart of Esther, the Queen and the Book, was obedience. She was orphaned early in life and adopted by her cousin Mordecai. When she was ordered, probably against her will, along with the other girls in the region to be presented to the king as a potential wife, she obeyed her cousin’s order not to reveal her true identity. She kept secret that she was Jewish. 

She found favor in the king’s eunuch in charge of the beauty treatments required for the girls, and as a result, obeyed his instructions on selecting only what he suggested in order to win the king’s affection. It worked. Still, she honored Mordecai’s instructions and never reveal her nationality. The king fell in love with her and made her queen. Still she obeyed…

“Esther continued to keep her family background and nationality a secret. She was still following Mordecai’s directions, just as she did when she lived in his home. Esther 2:20 NLT

Well, as the story rocks on, an evil man named Haman decides that he hates Mordecai, and, filled with rage, convinces the king to annihilate the Jewish people. It is at this moment that Mordecai appeals to Esther for help. But there’s a catch: if she visits the king uninvited, she would possibly lose her life. She asks her family and friends to fast and pray for three days and prepares herself to meet with the king.

Esther is pleasing to the king and he offers his scepter as a sign that she is welcome in his presence. She requests an audience with her husband, the king, and Haman. During the dinner that she has had prepared, she obeys Mordecai once more and finally reveals her nationality to the horror of both the king and Haman, who begs Esther for his life. The king, enraged by Haman’s trickery has him killed, and the Jewish people are saved. Because one woman obeyed.

Submission to authority is not always easy. When Esther married and became queen, she certainly was no longer bound to honor the request of her cousin. But she did anyway. Many young people (myself included… a while back) get a small taste of freedom and feel they are no longer bound to authority figures like parents, older siblings, teachers, etc. How I wish I had been more submissive to authority in my late teens and early twenties!

The fact is, God has placed people in positions of authority for His glory and purpose. Esther wasn’t looking to be queen, and was likely forced into a situation that was frightening and foreign to her. Yet, she obeyed.

How do you handle obedience? If you can’t submit to authority that God has placed in your life, how can you truly submit to God? Ask Him to soften your heart to accept and work under those placed above you with a servant heart. And remember that those who are faithful in the little things will become ruler of many.




© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries. All rights reserved.


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