Beauty AND Brains

Esther, like Daniel, the three Hebrew Princes, Joseph, and her cousin-uncle Mordecai, found herself in the court of a foreign king.  Her people were brought to the Babylonian kingdom, soon overtaken by the Medes and Persians, and under the rule of Xerxes I a.k.a. Ahasuerus.

Esther’s Dual Captivity

Ahasuerus’ wife, Vashti, embarrassed him in front of his likely drunk princes, government officials, and military men by not appearing and thus bought herself and one-way ticket to former “queendom”.  Beautiful virgins were taken from all over the empire and dragged to the royal citadel to become part of the king’s harem in hopes that one of them would be worthy enough to land the newly vacant role of Queen.  Esther, formally known as “Hadassah”, was among these women.

Now most PG-rated ministers will tell you that the king simply wanted to look at the women, pick who was prettiest, and make her queen.  They would be wrong.  The king spent one night—not sleeping—with each virgin, allowing them to cross over from the virgin’s harem to the experienced women’s harem to remain indefinitely until the king called them by name.

This, as I’m sure you know, is against everything Christians and Jews—especially ancient, traditional Jews—believe in.  Sleeping with a man you were not formally married to or at least not considered married until after the [sexual] intercourse took place; marrying a foreigner, etc.  There were rules against that kind of thing.  And yet God allowed it.  Could it be that the king’s acquisition of Esther was made to mirror the acquisition of the entire people?  The prophet Jeremiah prophesied time and time again that those who gave in to the Babylonian captivity would flourish and be blessed while those who resisted it brought themselves under a curse (Jeremiah 29).  Likewise, had Esther fought the king and his servants or allowed herself to sink into the depths of despair, then she would have missed her blessing and ultimately been destroyed.  But Esther knew her God.

Esther’s Smarts

Another Babylonian “acquisition”, Daniel knew the benefit of knowing his God as well.

“But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits,” (Daniel 11:32).

Like Daniel, Esther understood that her situation was not traditional or even desirable, but she also understood that she could choose to make the most out of it and allow God to do “exploits” through her.

Esther put on a positive attitude and through her amiability, God gave her favour with the eunuch who ran the entire harem.  It was he that instructed her on what she should wear for her encounter with the king.  I don’t know if the king liked a certain kind of jewelry, perfume, Medo-Persian lingerie or what, but whatever the eunuch gave Esther to wear, she apparently wore it very well and I believe that her willingness to adapt and learn coupled with her optimism and favour was what moved the king to select her.  Of course, God’s hand was in all of this from the beginning; however, Esther played her part in the grand scheme of things very well.

Eventually, Esther won favour that had her king-husband overruling himself, countering edicts, and offering her up to half his kingdom on multiple occasions.  Needless to say, Esther had Ahasuerus in the palm of her hand.  I can imagine that they had a very long, happy life together despite his non-Jewish heritage and religion.  God absolutely used Esther “for such a time as this” and through her position and favour, allowed her to save alive her entire captive people and set the stage for Nehemiah and Ezra to lead the people back to Israel.  Today, Esther’s tomb is still guarded and lauded by the Muslim, sworn enemies of Israel and Christianity in Modern day Persia [Iran] despite her Jewish-captive status.  If that isn’t a lasting legacy, I don’t know what is.

Take a Cue from Esther

What I love about Esther was that she was not religious; that would have cost her her life or at least her favour in the royal harems and court.  Esther was discerning with her faith; she knew when to keep it to herself and when to display it.  She also did not employ manipulation, fear, or mere beauty to get what she wanted.  If she had, her favour and position never would have lasted.  Esther chose instead to use her brains.  Yes, her beauty was absolutely a tool and benefit, but it was not all she had.  I dare say there were other, prettier girls in the harem with her, but something about her caused her to stand out.

What do you have in your possession?  As women, especially in the corporate world, we are encouraged to act or dress a certain way that will attract the desired attention and help us up the corporate ladder.  That is not God’s way; it’s manipulation.  Then there is the other extreme who try to equate themselves to men, take no care for their appearance or even hide it, attempting to force the men around them to see only their work and not their face or form.  This doesn’t work too well either.  It is possible to be a successful female entrepreneur and businesswoman whilst being attractive and well-dressed.

Your appearance can be an asset to you just like it was to Esther, but don’t let that be the end; allow it to only be a means to an end.  Think like this “people notice me because of how I look”, (be realistic, not arrogant), “but I will allow it to be a platform for my true gifts and talents”.

Numerous times in the past when I would apply for particular jobs, the hiring managers would verbalize their desire to hire me because of how I looked.  Even back in high school a guest speaker informed me that she would trust me as a [future] wedding planner because of how I looked and presented myself.  And just the other day, a movie executive interested in helping me publish my first book told me that my “great name” was one of the benefits that place me ahead of other aspiring authors.  And guess what?  I have the knowledge and expertise to back up those beauty and name-based remarks.

So again I ask you: what do you have?  Maybe you’re like me and have a good-looking outer shell in your favour.  This also means that many people have probably underestimated you because of your beauty; story of my life.  Most people have no clue of the God-ideas and depth that are within me.

A few weeks ago I participated in a conference call with Marshawn Evans, marketplace mentor and reinvention strategist, who recalled a time when an ex-boyfriend of hers doubted her ability to write a professional column for a magazine saying, “What are you going to write about?  You’re a pretty short book”.  WOW.  I’ve had a lot of things said to me in my day, but never anything so ugly.  Luckily for Marshawn, she’s written that column, SKIRTS in the Boardroom, had a successful law career, and now has a thriving branding and marketing business; all by her early 30s.  Sucks for him whoever he was.

Marshawn Evans

So for the last time, I ask you: what do you have?  Beauty is a God-given gift from the Father of Lights who desires that you use it for His glory (James 1:17).  That beauty will serve as a “foot in the door” which will lead to a platform to display the full set of gifts and talents God has given you as well.  Don’t be a Vashti and hide behind your religious convictions, false humility, and futile desire for the world to judge you based on your talents and not your beauty.  The world will see your outer shell before they ever give you the time to display what you are gifted to do.  Don’t fight it.  Go with the flow, put your trust in God, and allow Him to make you and Esther in your realm of influence!

For the entire story of Esther, see the Book of Esther.

Previous Post: “Wisdom in the Workplace”

 

If you would like to use this post, feel free!  Just be sure to include this blurb with today’s blog:

Desiree M. Mondesir is the CEO and Founder of Desired Assistance or “DA” virtual writing and editing company which also encompasses DA Inspires, DA Weddings, DA Luxury and her self-titled authoress blog.  As a dedicated writer and entrepreneur, Desiree seeks to inspire the imagination, educate her readers, and challenge the toxic mindsets of individuals all over the world.  Sign up for a FREE subscription at www.dainspires.wordpress.com! 

Wisdom in the Workplace

Since we’ve been on a “captivity kick” lately, first with the four Hebrew boys and refusing the king’s negative influence, next with the young princes keeping the God-Factor, then with Joseph’s integrity, we’re going to continue the theme with Mordecai’s wisdom.  When most people think of the Book of Esther, they think of the woman’s fortitude or Haman’s anti-Semitism, but they don’t really think of Mordecai.  Yet he was truly a remarkable man.

Mordecai the Guardian

From the scriptures, we know that Mordecai was Esther’s elder cousin who raised her after the demise of her parents.  Some commentaries even think that he might have possibly been even raising her to be his wife.  Whatever the situation, Mordecai set his face to raise this young girl with godly morals, a level head, and a true sense of family.  He had no idea his little “Hadassah” would one day become the queen of the Medo-Persian Empire.  But Mordecai was not just a good Jew and family man; he was employed by the royal court of Ahasuerus.

Mordecai the Scribe

Mordecai sat in the king’s gate or court which meant that he was a man of intelligence and knowledge; very likely a scribe.  His wisdom of the Medo-Persian culture and palace life gave him the wisdom to counsel Hadassah into taking a Babylonian name, and not disclosing her lineage or religion.  It was also this wisdom—coupled with his palace access—that allowed him to save the king’s life.

“In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.  So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.  And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king,” (2:21-23).

Mordecai reported an assassination attempt on Ahasuerus, the culprits were captured, and executed.  This was an excellent example of Mordecai’s wisdom.  And although it took him a while to be rewarded for it, he was when the timing was right.  And my, was it an honour!

“‘What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?’….And Haman answered the king, ‘For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head.  Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor.  Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”’  Then the king said to Haman, ‘Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate!  Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.’  So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’” (Esther 6:6-11).

This honour foreshadows the honour God would give him in the form ascension in government.

Mordecai’s wisdom is also shown in his unwavering faith to God—he refused to bow before the enemy of God’s people: Haman.

Haman, a descendant of the Amalekites and sworn enemies of the Jewish people, was the second highest man in all of the empire.  It ate him up that Mordecai refused to bow to him so he sought to take him out.  But God honoured Mordecai and in the end, Haman and his sons were hung on the very gallows he built for Mordecai.

Mordecai the Governor

Mordecai was made governor, a.k.a. “prime minister” over all the empire in place of Haman.  All that Haman had: his position, his authority, and his property was given to the man of God.  His position combined with the wisdom he instilled in Esther to conceal her ethnicity and religion until the right time was what preserved the entire Jewish population of the Medo-Persian Empire from destruction and brought about the Jewish celebration of Purim.  God justly and greatly compensated his son Mordecai for properly employing divine wisdom.

The Principal Thing

King Solomon, like Mordecai, knew the importance of wisdom.

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.  And in all your getting, get understanding,” (Proverbs 4:7).

This means that whoever you are, whatever you do, wherever you work, you must get wisdom and understanding.  It could be the difference between a new client and a miss; a new business venture and a business failure; a promotion or a demotion.

Wisdom can steer you from bad investments, bad partners, bad employees, as well as bad people to share your dreams and aspirations with.  Wisdom gives you the discretion to temper your faith with your career and professional associates.  Proverbs is full of the promises that can be given due to the hearkening to and application of wisdom.  And just like Mordecai, God can and will prosper you in a “strange land” and you will flourish in your sphere of influence.  But you must exercise wisdom!

Previous Post: “Living a Life of Integrity”

 

If you would like to use this post, feel free!  Just be sure to include this blurb with today’s blog:

Desiree M. Mondesir is the CEO and Founder of Desired Assistance or “DA” virtual writing and editing company which also encompasses DA Inspires, DA Weddings, DA Luxury and her self-titled authoress blog.  As a dedicated writer and entrepreneur, Desiree seeks to inspire the imagination, educate her readers, and challenge the toxic mindsets of individuals all over the world.  Sign up for a FREE subscription at www.dainspires.wordpress.com!