The story of Esther is the story of a woman who saved the world. Esther’s ancient world was even more a man’s world than our modern world. Yet the hero of this story is a woman. She is the figure who partners with God to stand against the strongest empire in the ancient world to save the lives of countless Jews.
Yet the book of Esther is the story of a hero who almost wasn’t. Esther herself almost wasn’t. She almost lost the chance to grow into the hero of her story. When she was young, circumstances in her life nearly robbed her of the chance to stand in the gap for her fellow Jews.
Here’s how we are introduced to Esther:
5 Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. 7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. (Esther 2:5-7 ESV)
Note three things happening during Esther’s youth:
- First, Esther faced cultural impiety. Esther, along with Mordecai, is ripped from a culture in Jerusalem which is centered on God and based on biblical values. She is transplanted to a culture in Babylon (which became Persia) which is secular and pagan. Pagan gods are worshipped. Secular values are pushed from the highest levels of government. The king models immoral behavior and unethical lifestyles. We can tell just how impious this culture is by the names of these two individuals. Esther’s Jewish name Hadassah is traded for a Persian name Esther. And Mordecai wears a Persian name as well.
- Second, Esther faced family instability. Both of Esther’s parents have died. Not just her mother. Not just her father. Both parents have died. Most children endure significant trauma when they lose even one parent. When they lose both, the trauma can be overwhelming. Esther faced family instability.
- Third, Esther faced personal vulnerability. She is described as a young woman with “a beautiful figure” who is “lovely to look at.” This makes her vulnerable in a culture like hers which over-values the external and in which sex is viewed as a right due men. It’s this which later causes her to be swept up in a dragnet by the king as he searches for his next queen.
Because of these three circumstances, Esther faces steep odds. It’s likely she won’t even have the chance to grow into a hero. It’s likely she won’t even make it out of childhood or young adulthood. Or, if she does, she will be so broken, so wounded, so traumatized, she won’t have the internal resources to stand against the Persian Empire and stand for her countless Jewish peers who are about to be slaughtered by Persia.
Esther is the hero who almost wasn’t.
But one person makes the difference in her life. It’s Mordecai. He does two things.
First, we are told that Mordecai “took her.” This word has layers of meaning, some of which mean “to receive,” “to accept,” as in receiving or accepting a gift. When Esther’s parents die, Mordecai takes Esther in as a gift. He receives her, not as a burden, not merely as a duty, but as family. He takes her as his own daughter.
Second, having received her in this way, he proceeds, we are told, to bring her up. Mordecai was “bringing up” Hadassah (7). This word is used 9 times in the Old Testament. In the ESV, it’s three times translated as “nurse,” twice as “guardian,” once translated as “foster” as in “foster parents,” once translated as “carry,” and twice as “bringing up.” Mordecai is not just putting a roof over Esther’s head. He’s playing the full role of an active parent. Mordecai literally “nursed” Esther. He nurtured her. He was her guardian.
Mordecai was the one who helped Esther navigate this secular culture. He was the one who nursed her through the trauma of losing both parents. He was the one who aided her in dealing with the vulnerability that came with her beauty.
Because of the way Mordecai took Esther in and brought her up, she had the chance to grow into the hero whom God needed in the rest of the story.Because of the the way Mordecai invested in a young Esther, Esther was able to grow into a shining star–the true meaning of her name.
Jerrell Hill was initially a preacher in Riverhead, NY. He and his wife Fern opened their home and hearts to dozens of foster children who were homeless and in need of temporary housing. These were young people who faced odds like Esther–cultural impiety, family instability, and personal vulnerability. Inspired by their son Timothy, they went on to found and build Timothy Hill which opened its doors for the first time on November 15, 1980. It has been a safe haven for hundreds of young people during desperate times of abuse, neglect, and crisis. Their ministry has “taken in” many who were just like Esther and allowed them to go on and take on their role in God’s story. They have been the Mordecai in the lives of many Esthers.
We are honored to have Jerrell with us today to share about the ministry and its impact.
Jerrell Hill
Our support of this very important work comes from Highland’s biannual Outreach Contribution. We’ve committed funds specifically to help Timothy Hill take in and bring up challenged youth. Giving to our Outreach Contribution on April 22 will directly assist Timothy Hill.
Our total goal for the two Outreach Contributions in 2017-2018 is $458,485. The first of those two Outreach Contributions was November 19. On that date, and since that date, we’ve given $$295,251. That leaves $163,000 as the goal for our contribution on April 22. We’re asking you to give generously on that date so we can meet the needs not only of Timothy Hill, but also of the approximately 30 outreach ministries we fund through this biannual contribution.
