Esther Overview – Mess

The second of our three themes can also be summed up in one word: mess. Esther is a messy book with messy characters who find themselves in a messy situation. This shouldn’t surprise us, because God isn’t telling us a fairy tale; he’s describing real life.

Esther’s story involves kidnap (2:8), sexual exploitation (2:14), and neglect (4:11). Meanwhile her fellow Jews plumbed the very depths of despair (4:3). What a mess!

Then there’s the characters themselves. Esther and Mordecai were undoubtedly heroes, yet they are painted with fine brush strokes. We don’t want to be uncharitable, but there are awkward questions that we could ask.

Esther kept her Jewishness a secret (2:10), so much so that her true identity took her husband by surprise (7:4). How did she manage this? Would this have been possible without compromising on her faith? The book doesn’t tell us for sure.

Other awkward questions raise their heads through no fault of these characters. Why were they in Susa in the first place? Why not Jerusalem? Had their ancestors compromised on their principles? Had they valued the bright lights of the capital more than the fellowship of God’s people? Were Esther and Mordecai caught up in this mess because of their forefathers’ sin?

Let’s not lose sight of Esther and Mordecai’s heroism, but let’s not turn them into superheroes either. They were ordinary, possibly messy people, in a messy situation. We shouldn’t be afraid to admit that, because God is the true hero of this book.

Is your life a messy one? Are there skeletons in your closet? Perhaps your family is fractured. Perhaps your past is painful. Perhaps your dreams are dead. Maybe you have wronged others or maybe you have been horribly wronged. Esther teaches us: mess doesn’t have to mean the end.

This book reminds us that God works in messy places through messy people. God can glorify himself by cultivating fruit in your life. He worked through Esther. Pray that he would work through you.

Questions
1. In what ways could you describe your life as a mess?
2. How should you feel when you see God working through messy people?

Prayer Points
1. Give thanks for how God works in messy situations through messy people. Pray that he would glorify himself by working through you.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.