This post is Day 7 in a series of studies about “Esther”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

Esther – Day 7

We see the hand of God at work. We can begin to understand why Esther was orphaned and consequently brought up by a male family member. Her education with Mordecai would mean that she was not afraid to speak to men. It would mean that she knew about many things.

Esther 2:8-9

When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had care of the harem. She pleased him and won his favour. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.

The Thought

Now we see the hand of God at work. We can begin to understand why Esther was orphaned and consequently brought up by a male family member. Her education with Mordecai would mean that she was not afraid to speak to men. It would mean that she knew about many things, and could talk of current affairs as well as religious matters. Many of the other girls would never have had that wide experience of male company. Esther’s intelligence and education would have singled her out from amongst hundreds of beautiful young girls.

She was destined to be one that Hegai recommended to go forward to meet the king.

Mordecai’s sacrifice in taking in this orphaned young relative was about to pay off, but I wonder what he thought really about his charge being taken to the royal palace. He must have prayed often for Esther’s protection. The palace could be a scary place for single young women.

The world today, too, can be a scary place for single young women, especially those who have not yet met Jesus.

Action

Pray today for the single women in your family or living in your area. Pray for them to resist the temptations of the world, and ask Jesus to reveal Himself to them.

Praise God that He has a plan for each one of them.

Thank God for His longterm plans for this generation.