Lessons from the Hesitant Courage of Esther
If you've grown up going to church like I have, then you may have heard the story of Esther and Mordecai. It was easy for me as a girl to think of Esther as this great and courageous heroine, saving her people from genocide. And Esther was brave, but her courage did not come right away. A close reading of the text reveals Esther was at first afraid. Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” (Esth 4:10-11) Her initial response to Mordecai's instruction to go to the king and beg for mercy was, "but if I do that I will die." Undoubtedly most of us, if put in her position, would say the same thing. My own life is often w...
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