I have been sharing about God’s specific training methods in the lives of His people which led them into fulfilling God’s purpose in their lives. Today I will be sharing about Queen Esther.
Esther through remaining teachable
Esther grew up with her relative Mordecai who loved her as his own daughter. She was instructed and trained by this man from an early age.
So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women. Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women. Esther 2:8-9
There were many women who were at the king’s palace ready to be seen by the King, but the Bible mentions only Esther who pleased Hegai. Hegai was serving the king by following the guidelines to prepare these women for coming before the king. The other women didn’t feel the need to honor him or look up to him, but Esther did. She had the humility to treat Hegai with respect and be teachable. She even went out of her way to please him. She could have easily become proud of being at the king’s quarters and thought of herself as someone too high and mighty. However, Esther remained humble and teachable. That right attitude gained Hegai’s favor, which in turn gave her many more privileges than the other women at the palace.
Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. Esther 2:15
Esther had understood that Hegai wasn’t just the king’s servant to follow through with his assigned tasks. He was a man who knew the King well, so she listened to his advice before she went to the king. The Bible doesn’t tell us that the other women even developed any form of a relationship with Hegai.
God has blessings in store for us that come through unexpected people. Generally, these people will not be the ones that others would deem important or impressive, but they are God’s assigned person to bless us with something we couldn’t do otherwise. It’s important to view and value all people significant and be teachable before anyone.
Humility causes us to stay open and teachable. It doesn’t mean we are gullible with what is taught; it does mean that we are not too proud to receive insight and wisdom from anyone whether that’s a grocery store clerk, our housekeeper, or the Starbuck’s barista.
I will continue sharing about Esther in the next devotional.
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