Esther 5 – Strategize wisely

Esther fasted for three days, as she had told Mordecai she would. She also asked him to gather the Jews in Susa to do the same. After three days, Esther acted. Dressed in her royal robe, she stood conspicuously near the inner royal court, where King Xerxes was seated on the throne.

When the king noticed his young wife, he was pleasantly surprised. Without hesitation, he extended the golden scepter to her, a gesture of forgiveness for the breach of etiquette. The king then asked, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? What is your request?” Before hearing Esther’s response, he promised to grant her anything, even if it meant giving her half his kingdom.

Wisely, Esther chose not to act hastily. She wanted to ensure the king’s complete affection before making the critical appeal. In response to the king’s kind gesture, she extended an invitation to a banquet for him and Haman.

The king quickly summoned Haman, and they attended a banquet where wine was served. At the banquet, the king again promised to grant her anything. Esther did not give her game away. She invited the king and Haman to another banquet the following day, promising to make her request known then. She did all of this to disarm Haman.

Meanwhile, when Haman was leaving the banquet, he saw Mordecai and was irritated by the sight of him. Although he could brag about his family, wealth, and success, he couldn’t gain the respect of Mordecai, which he craved. And that bothered him. At the urging of his wife Zeresh, he constructed a gallows, hoping to exploit his perceived favor with the king and Esther to have Mordecai hanged on it.

Esther 5 teaches us to value patience and strategic thinking. Esther chose not to act hastily but instead carefully planned her approach to ensure the best possible outcome for herself and her people. We must learn to analyze situations, consider the implications of our actions, and be patient in the pursuit of our goals. Strategic thinking and patience can often lead to more successful and positive outcomes, even in challenging circumstances.