Esther (Greek) 5:1-6: a reflection

1It came to pass on the third day, when she had ceased praying, that she took off her servant’s dress and put on her glorious apparel. Being splendidly dressed and having called upon God the Overseer and Preserver of all things, she took her two maids, and she leaned upon one, as a delicate female, and the other followed bearing her train. She was blooming in the perfection of her beauty. Her face was cheerful and looked lovely, but her heart was filled with fear. Having passed through all the doors, she stood before the king. He was sitting on his royal throne. He had put on all his glorious apparel, covered all over with gold and precious stones, and was very terrifying. And having raised his face resplendent with glory, he looked with intense anger. The queen fell, and changed her color as she fainted. She bowed herself upon the head of the maid who went before her. But God changed the spirit of the king to gentleness, and in intense feeling, he sprang from off his throne, and took her into his arms, until she recovered. He comforted her with peaceful words, and said to her, “What is the matter, Esther? I am your relative. Cheer up! You shall not die, for our command is openly declared to you: ‘Draw near.’” 2And having raised the golden sceptre, he laid it upon her neck, and embraced her. He said, “Speak to me.” So she said to him, “I saw you, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of your glory; for you, my lord, are to be wondered at, and your face is full of grace.” While she was speaking, she fainted and fell. Then the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her. 3The king said, “What do you desire, Esther? What is your request? Ask even to the half of my kingdom, and it shall be yours.” 4Esther said, “Today is a special day. So if it seems good to the king, let both him and Haman come to the feast which I will prepare this day.” 5The king said, “Hurry and bring Haman here, that we may do as Esther said.” So they both came to the feast about which Esther had spoken. 6At the banquet, the king said to Esther, “What is your request, queen Esther? You shall have all that you require.”

Esther has fasted and prayed for three days, and now she must do the dangerous thing: approach the king unbidden, an act that could cost her life. She dresses in her royal robes and stands in the inner court, her heart, the text says, filled with fear. The king looks up in anger, and for a moment everything hangs in the balance. But then, the passage says, God changed the spirit of the king to gentleness; he springs from his throne, takes her in his arms, and offers her whatever she asks. The dreaded moment turns to favor.

Notice the two things held together here: Esther's courage and God's hidden hand. Esther did the hard, frightening thing, stepping forward at real risk after seeking God in prayer. And behind the scenes, unseen, God was at work, turning the king's heart from anger to gentleness. Her courage and God's providence met: she acted, and God moved the king's heart in the very moment she needed it.

That is often how God works when we must do something hard and frightening. He does not always remove the fear or the risk; but as we go forward in courage, having sought him, he works unseen, moving hearts and circumstances in ways we cannot engineer. The king's heart, as a proverb says, is in the LORD's hand. When you face a daunting, frightening step, do as Esther did: seek God first, then go forward in courage, and trust that God is at work behind the scenes, able to turn hearts toward you in the moment you need it. Your part is the courageous step; his part is the hidden work. Do the hard thing, and trust him with the outcome.

Lord, Esther, after prayer, did the frightening thing and approached the king at the risk of her life, and you were at work unseen, changing the king's heart from anger to gentleness. When I face a daunting, frightening step, help me do as she did: to seek you first, then to go forward in courage. Remind me that as I act, you are at work behind the scenes, able to turn hearts and circumstances in ways I cannot engineer. The king's heart is in your hand. Give me courage for the hard step, and let me trust you with what I cannot control.