Esther
The Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai who became queen of Persia and stood between her people and genocide — approached the king unsummoned and risked her life on the hope that YHWH had placed her here for such a time as this.
For Such a Time as This
Scripture: Esther 1-10
The Biblical Record
Esther's name means 'star' in Persian; her Hebrew name was Hadassah, meaning 'myrtle.' She was an orphan, raised by Mordecai after the deaths of both her parents. When the king's decree went out searching for a new queen, she was among the women brought to the citadel. She kept her Jewish identity hidden on Mordecai's instruction. When Haman's genocidal decree went out, Mordecai brought her the news and said the words that have echoed through history: 'Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?'
Esther in the Sanctum
Esther is the figure of hidden identity revealed in crisis — the one whose purpose was concealed until the moment it was needed. Her courage in approaching the king unsummoned, her three days of fasting before she went, and her reversal of Haman's decree are central to the Sanctum's treatment of courage rooted in faith.
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