What role does obedience play in Esther's favor in Esther 2:9? Setting the Scene in Susa • Esther has been gathered into the royal harem under the oversight of Hegai, the king’s official. • Esther 2:9: “The young woman pleased him and won his favor. He quickly provided her with beauty treatments and special food, assigned to her seven chosen young women from the king’s palace, and transferred her and her attendants to the best quarters in the harem.” Tracing Esther’s Obedience • She accepts the authority structure without resistance. • Verse 10 adds that she “had not revealed her people or her lineage, because Mordecai had instructed her not to”; she obeys Mordecai’s counsel. • Her demeanor is cooperative—“pleased him”—suggesting readiness to follow directions, observe palace protocol, and honor Hegai’s leadership. Obedience as the Pathway to Favor • A submissive spirit enables relationships to flourish. Hegai responds by accelerating her preparation and elevating her status. • Obedience signals trustworthiness; authority figures gladly invest in one who can be trusted. • Proverbs 3:3-4: “Do not let loving devotion and faithfulness leave you… Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.” Esther embodies this principle. Echoes Throughout Scripture • Joseph: “The LORD was with Joseph… he found favor in [Potiphar’s] sight” (Genesis 39:2-4). His obedient service mirrored Esther’s attitude. • Ruth: “Where you go I will go… May I continue to find favor in your eyes” (Ruth 1:16; 2:13). Loyal obedience brought Boaz’s favor. • Jesus: As a youth He was “subject to” His parents and “grew in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:51-52). Perfect obedience always attracts divine and human favor. Practical Takeaways for Believers • Respecting legitimate authority invites God’s hidden orchestration of events. • Humble compliance positions a believer for opportunities God has prepared. • Favor is not manipulation; it is the natural fruit God grants to an obedient heart (Psalm 84:11). • Like Esther, cultivate a spirit that listens, submits, and serves—trusting God to open doors no one can shut (Revelation 3:8). Summing It Up In Esther 2:9, obedience functions as the quiet but powerful key that unlocks favor. Esther’s willing alignment with human authority reflects her trust in God’s higher authority, and the Lord uses that obedience to advance His redemptive plan for His people. |
    |