The Key to Favor.

When you hear the word favor, what comes to mind? Kindness? Generosity? Something resulting in good? As I mentioned before, Esther’s story is an intriguing adventure of twists and turns…full of favor. She came on the scene after the queen of Persia, Queen Vashti, was dethroned from her royal position (check out the post, “The Move: Was She Right or Was She Wrong” for more details on what led to her removal from the kingdom).

In Esther 2: 5-8, we learn that Esther’s parents were Jewish exiles who had both died. Her cousin, Mordecai, adopted and raised her in an unfamiliar land. Not only was she living in a foreign land, but she was also unwillingly taken to the king’s palace to join other young women in a very lengthy process to become the next queen. These things happened without Esther’s consent, yet she was favored.

Have you ever gone through something and feared the worst, but good came from it? That was favor, also thought of as divine kindness, the ability to do or experience good when it otherwise seemed humanly impossible. So what unlocked this divine kindness in Esther’s life? What made her favored among the other women undergoing the same process to become queen?

Little is said about how she responded to her circumstances. But her obedience is mentioned more than once…she listened to her cousin Mordecai when he instructed her to keep her nationality a secret, and she accepted the advice of the king’s servant by asking the king for what he had suggested. Both of these examples reveal the simplicity of obedience.

Something so simple could have gone another way. Who knows what would have happened if Esther revealed her nationality and family history prematurely..or if she approached the king with personal motives? Thankfully she didn't, her obedience further led to her becoming the chosen queen! Like Esther, we have many choices to make in life. The most important choice of them all is simple…Will we obey God or not? As you choose, let me encourage you.

Obedience to God unlocks favor, it will make your way prosperous and lead to good success (Joshua 1:7-8). Just like it did for Esther!