Who was Esther in the Bible? is one of the questions baby Christians tend to ask in their quest to unravel how a poor orphan emerged as a Queen to a powerful king in a strange land.
Esther was an orphan, her parents died and she was brought up by her father’s uncle, Mordecai. Her Bible story is such that emboldens young ladies to aspire and aim high irrespective of biological background, tribe and nation.
She exemplified a humble lady who subjects herself to mentorship by her father’s uncle as a pathway to climbing to her destination as the Queen.
Who was Esther in the Bible?
The name of Esther’s father was Abihail. Mordecai was a Jew, the son of Jair, the son of Shemei, the son of Kish, and a Benjaminite. Esther was instructed by her father’s uncle not to disclose her identity as a Jew and she heeded his advice and acted accordingly.
She found favor in the eyes of King Ahasuerus and became his Queen in Pershia.
12 Remarkable Characteristics of Esther in the Bible
Permit me to remind us that character is an attribute of an individual that can aid in easily identifying a well-mannered individual through their manner of engagement with others.
Esther among other women in the Bible exhibited characteristics that serves as a yardstick for other Christians to emulate and follow after.
She possessed remarkable characteristics that broke glass ceilings for her and she became the Queen of King. Her journey to royalty was predefined by God and her Uncle, Mordecai was the catalyst to the realisation of that destiny.
She was open-minded, obedient and contented. She had the spirit of discernment, she had proferred solution to her nation, and was imbued with wisdom to handle difficult situations, among other characteristics of hers I am about to discuss as follows:
1. Esther was Discrete
Esther 2:10
“Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known.”
Esther 2:10 (ESV)
Esther could have been disqualified if her identity was known by the people of Susa. Her uncle, Mordecai advised in the aforementioned scripture about the need for her to keep her identity secrete and remain undercover and never to discuss with anyone about her true identity.
Esther adhered to her uncle’s instruction and clinched the position of Queen in the long run.
2. Esther was Obedient
Esther 2:20
“Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.”
Esther 2:20 (ESV)
Unlike some of the ladies in our today’s society, Esther remained obedient to her uncle right from the time she stayed with him and she was nominated to be among the maidens that were to be chosen by the king as a Queen.
3. She was Contented
Esther 2:15
“Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.”
Esther 2:15 (ESV)
Esther entered inside to see the king, she asked for nothing except what had been charged with the women. Her eyes were fixed on her mission and her contented spirit scaled her through to stardom.
4. She knew her Position and Worth
Esther 2:22-23
“And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.”
Esther 2:22-23 (ESV)
Haman knew that his plot to erase the Jews was exposed and thwarted when the king requested that Mordecai should be honoured in a kingly way. It was a big part of surprise to.
This could have been the reverse if at all Esther had told the king in her name but she told the king in the name of Mordecai and it acted as a means through which Mordecai’s glory and promotion started.
5. Esther was a Nation Builder
Esther 4:4-5
“When Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.”
“Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was.”
Esther 4:4-5 (ESV)
Esther was not selfish, she loved, and cared for her people and was more concerned about the safety and security of her people. She was interested in every detail of what was coming upon her people and acted in ways to avert the pending danger
6. Esther was Blessed with Wisdom
Esther 4:11
“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law — to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden sceptre so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come into the king these thirty days.”
Esther 4:11 (ESV)
Esther was knowledgeable of the laws that governed her kingdom and this was to her greater advantage. It helped her to know the direction in which she was headed and it made everything easier for her and her kinsmen.
The knowledge of these laws made her involve God and God acted perfectly to her advantage. She knew that it takes the king 30 days before she could appear before him in the court.
7. She was Detailed
Esther 4:16
“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, if I perish, I perish.”
Esther 4:16 (ESV)
Esther was straightforward, detailed and instructive in her dealings with her people. Esther used a language that was easily understood by her people.
She stated in clear terms what her people needed to do in other to be safe in the hands of the wicked Haman, which was fasting and prayers.
8. Esther had a Discerning Spirit
Esther 4:16
“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther 4:16 (ESV)
This particular verse of the Bible spotlights Esther as a prophetess in the kind of solution she proffered to the challenge that was ahead of the nation.
Esther understood the power of prayers and urged her people to join her in fasting and prayers seeking God’s intervention for her people
9. Esther had faith in God
Esther 5:2 (ESV)
“And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.”
Esther 5:2 (ESV)
Esther was fearless. She appeared before King her husband with so much courage and boldness. Even when they could have been uncertainties about the fate of her prayers being unanswered, she pushed ahead to the king’s palace and come out victorious in her request before the king for her people.
10. Esther was Affable
Esther 5:4
“And Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.”
Esther 5:4 (ESV)
Although Esther did not make her intent of inviting the King and Haman to the banquet known to them, she invited the king for a royal banquet with her very enemy and she was patient enough not to make her request known before the day of the decisive decision.
Esther 7:3-4
“Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.”
Esther 7:3-4 (ESV)
Esther requested the mercy of her life and the life of her people. This did not just come to her, she felt the plight of her people and she made the decision that was for the betterment of herself and her entire kingdom.
11. Esther took Haman Brave
Esther 5:12
“Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but I come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.”
Esther 5:12 (ESV)
Esther made Haman feel great and referred. Haman did not know that he was close to his death. They made him feel comfortable, she cleared every doubt from his heart.
He felt good in his ignorance until when the final day when Esther disclosed everything to the hearing king which made the king to be furious for the sake of the wife, the queen.
Esther maintained an unsuspected demeanour and Haman had no clue as to what misfortune was awaiting him at the end of the feast with the King.
12. Esther was Persuasive
Esther 5:4, 8
“And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
Esther 5:4 and 8 (ESV)
Esther 7:2
“And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”
Esther 7:2 (ESV)
Esther was persuasive in her approach to the king and her enemy Haman. She organised a royal banquet for the king and her enemy, Haman.
She organized the banquet two times. Esther organized the banquet until when she noticed that the king’s heart was settled before she chose to disclose her intent and purpose.
Conclusion
Esther is a character in the Bible that is worth emulating. She displayed courage, boldness and perseverance even in the face of extreme difficulties and dangers.
She was an orphan adopted by her uncle Mordecai. Her father died and she was brought up by her uncle, who in turn became her mentor, cheerleader and guidance. She demonstrated wisdom, strength and faith in God to save her people from mass destruction.
Her father’s real name was Abihail. Esther was favored by God and she was also favoured by King Ahasuerus.
