Shalom, shalom to you, my dear readers!

Last weekend, March 15th and 16th we celebrated celebrated Purim, the Feast of Esther. My husband taught 8th grade Sunday school class and brought up some really neat points from this true story.

Megillat Esther, the Scroll of Esther unfolds during the reign of King Xerxes, who conquered Greece. We all know the story---how Queen Vashti refuses to obey the Kings order, she is then stripped of her status as queen, and the search for a new one begins. Every maiden in the kingdom is eligible. Hadassah, also known as Esther, becomes one such candidate. The Bible says she wins favor in the eyes of the King. He chooses her as his new queen.
By the end of the story, we see that Esther was chosen for "such a time as this" to save her people from annihilation.

There are three key truths I'd like to point out:

1)  "hidden face"
      the word "hidden" has the same root word in Hebrew as "Esther." Actually, Megillat Esther, the Scroll of Esther can also be translated as the "Scroll of Hiddenness." You see, Esther's name is Babylonian from the fertility goddess "Ishtar." But Esther is also a Hebrew name meaning "hidden." This is significant because we see that GOD is working in Esther's life behind the scenes. Though His Name is not "seen" in this book, He is definitely in every "scene!" The Rabbi's have a term "the hidden face" and "the revealed face," referring to YHVH either working through circumstances and people and events (behind the scenes) or working right out in the open (such as a dream or miracle.)
How is YHVH working in your life right now?

2) human responsibility
Esther was in the position she was for a reason, but it she still had to DO something. She couldn't sit passively by and do nothing. She had to trust Yah, pray and fast, and then dun, dun, dun....go to the king, her husband, even if though she might be killed for going against protocol!!! What if she'd done nothing? Yes, YHVH would've found someone else who was willing to be used, but she would have perished (Esther 4:14). Remember that belief without actions is dead. Destiny is in the story of every person, but we must rise to meet it.

3) favor/ grace
When the word "favor" is used in Esther, it is actually the Hebrew word for "grace." There are in fact five meanings for grace. I would like to "grace" you with the revelation of these definitions . . .
The root word is "chen" (pretend like you're clearing your throat when you say the "ch"). It means 1) "to sparkle" or "gleam," like a precious metal or gem. Or a sparkle in the eyes invoked by strong emotion. Like when you see a sparkle in your husband's eye :) Your Heavenly Father looks upon you with a sparkle in His eyes expressing His love and compassion for you.  2) It means "favor," also connected to the meaning to sparkle and gleam. 3) It means "to give a gift." I don't know about you, but this reminds me of the blessings of our Father and especially the gift of His Son. 4) It means "free gift," to do something for free, without charge or payment. It's doing something out of love and compassion; not obligation. Hmmm, what was the ultimate free gift? Yeshua Messiah's sacrifice and gift of salvation! Hip hip horray! Halelujah! 6) Last, it means "mercy, compassion." It is closely related to "chen," but actually has a root meaning "womb." Isn't that where mercy and compassion starts? Deep inside. Our Father's womb churns with waters of compassion and gives birth to mercy towards us.



So....with these things in mind, I encourage to engage a little more. Ask the Holy Spirit what more He would have to learn about grace, his hidden face/ revealed face, and responsibility.

Makala Nordick (Hadassah)