Strength, help and creative thinking

Lily Cathcart March 09, 2024 4 5

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Esther 8: 1-8 (NRSVA)

1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews; and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 Then the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. So Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king; she fell at his feet, weeping and pleading with him to avert the evil design of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 4 The king held out the golden sceptre to Esther, 5 and Esther rose and stood before the king. She said, ‘If it pleases the king, and if I have won his favour, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I have his approval, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote giving orders to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming on my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?’ 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to the Jew Mordecai, ‘See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he plotted to lay hands on the Jews. 8 You may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring; for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.’

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, not everything works out as you hoped.

In the book of Esther we see that although she has revealed Haman’s plot to kill the Jewish people in their city, she cannot just reverse it, and once again Esther and her friends and relations must use their minds and the tools they have left to persevere.

When I am under pressure I have a bad habit of turning inwards and trying to do everything myself. Perhaps I should try to take note of Esther in those times. Yes she was strong, clever, brave and capable but she was also willing to make herself humble and to ask for help and accept it. Where in your community, in your life, could you do with sitting down at a table with others and trying to find a solution together? I hope that in the weeks to come God gives you the strength for the things you must do alone and the openness to find help for the things you cannot do by yourself.

Prayer:

Dear God of life?

We know that things cannot be perfect in our world

Please help us to be strong and do what we can

Please help us to ask for help when we need it

Be with us as we strive for love and harmony in our communities and our world

Amen