For Such a Time as This: A Star is Born

One Year Bible (Aug. 18)

Esther 1:1-3:15

For Such a Time as This… A “Star” is Born

“Who knows if perhaps you were born for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14)

“A dream is a wish your heart makes when you’re fast asleep. In dreams, you will lose your heartaches. Whatever you wish for, you keep.” (A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella)

Oh, the dreams of an innocent little girl… most of them are surrounded by being safe with their own family. It is there that they grow wings to fly… But, that would not be the case for Queen Esther. We know her by this title, but do you know her real name?

Her name is Hadassah, and she is a young Jewish girl being raised by her cousin, Mordecai. Hadassah is an ordinary girl called to an extraordinary life…The only problem is that she doesn’t know this yet! In fact, her name will be changed to Esther which means "STAR".

She will have to face losing her familiar home for the second time. She and her family were part of the Jewish people remaining in Babylon during the Rebuilding of Jerusalem. Only part of the exiled people went back to be part of this endeavor. Her parents have died and that left her with her cousin Mordecai who adopted and raised her. Listing her parents was strike one!

Next, comes strike two! She is now being taken out of her safe little home and is thrown into a “Harem”. Soon, she will be “groomed” for twelve months for “One Night With The King”.

Just in case, you have the Cinderella view of “One Night with the Prince” floating through your head and visions of pumpkins that turn into carriages, it is NOT that! It is far from that!

I have come to view the story of Hadassah through new eyes as a mama and nana. I have written the story of Queen Esther including fun plays for children, lessons, and other things, but I had never stopped to see this story through the eyes of Hadassah. That was her name, her lineage, her innocence…All of this was taken from her, and she had to keep it a “secret”, a heavy load to bear.

“In your dreams, you will lose your heartaches. Whatever you wish for, you keep.”

Yet, these lyrics from the movie Cinderella don’t begin to describe the reality of Hadassah’s life.

Let me tell you the very brief story of Hadassah’s life in one phrase, “From Harem to Heroine”.

“As a result of the king’s decree, Esther, along with many other young women, was brought to the King’s harem and placed in Hegai’s care. Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly…” (2:8)

By the way, the definition of “harem” is a separate headquarters for concubines or multiple wives. They were kept behind a big wall.

What is a nice Jewish girl doing in a place like this?

King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes, (rhymes with Jerk-u-see) held a celebration for 180 days! Yes, it was a doozy with a lot of Boozy! Part of the entire process involved him making political allies and “raising his portfolio” in the world’s eyes.

When the king was “feelin’ fine and full of wine”, he summoned his Queen but “she got kind of mean”! Well, that is his view as “she refused to come, and he was furious and burned with anger.” (1:12)

The king consulted his “Brewery Buddies” who were also Infuriated and Inebriated and together they decided that “all men should rule in their household”. They signed it into law and Vashti was “forever banished” from the presence of King Xerxes.

What does this mean exactly? Did he mourn her loss or death some years later when they set out for a command “beauty pageant” to fill her Queenly shoes?

I decided to check out some Jewish history articles to see what their “take” was on this situation as I was feeling pretty bad for Queen VI and here is what I found…

Shabbat was the last day of their last seven-day feast in the King’s palace. King Vi was also having a feast. While Jews everywhere ceased their working and spent the day in prayer and study of the Torah, the wild vulgarity, debauchery, and revels filled the palace.

Queen Vashti’s grandfather was Nebuchadnezzar (as in fiery furnace) and her heart burned with vicious hate for the Jews. They say that she delighted in tormenting Jewish children. The Jewish teachings say that her response was like this, “Am I to be sent for like a common slave, a mere servant girl?”.

Jewish teachers say that she was executed for her rebelliousness and believe it was the penalty that she paid for the suffering that she inflicted upon the Jewish children on the holy day of Shabbat. It is very interesting to read about her from a Jewish perspective. However, the scripture passage in Esther does not tell us what happened to her except that she is banished.

How interesting that the first Queen hated the Jewish people, and that God has allowed a young Jewish woman to be taken to the Harem. It sure doesn’t seem that she belongs with a man like this, but God is bigger than the vilest person and his people need help.

Well, for Haddesah, it is now Strike Three as Queen Vi is OUT and King A is on the prowl for a new OWL... Who? Who? Who? would want to be with THIS GUY?

It certainly must seem like Strike three for her, but it is really time for the Almighty to take the plate...Yes, for Hadassah this time of degradation may have seemed like the darkest of times...

Yet, we will see how God takes a young Jewish girl who is renamed Esther, meaning "STAR" from "HAREM TO HEROINE".

For Such a Time as This… A “STAR” IS BORN!