Hadassah: The beautiful cousin of Mordecai

In a previous post, we considered how queen Vashti lost her position as a queen because she disobeyed the king’s request. In just a day, Vashti moved from grace to grass because of a single act of disobedience. She lost her positional advantage and she was deposed as queen of Persia. Esther 2:1-4 states this: “Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.” Thus, to replace Vashti, a real beauty pageant was organized. This pageant is not like the ones we see today. The ladies did not apply to take part (you can imagine the numbers if that was the case!) but the king’s envoys searched for Persia’s most beautiful young virgins. 

Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. (Esther 2:7)

The search for “Persia’s Most Beautiful Young Virgins” began in full force. Living in Susa, the Capital city of Xerxes’ Kingdom, was an exiled Jew of the tribe of Benjamin. His name was Mordecai and he had an orphaned cousin named Hadassah (Hebrew name meaning myrtle tree and associated with righteousness). Young Hadassah was brought up by Mordecai because both parents were dead. Hadassah was also known as Esther (Persian origin meaning star) the Bible describes her as a young woman who “had a lovely figure and was beautiful” (Esther 2:7). So, Esther met the criteria for the pageant; she was a young virgin, beautiful and had a lovely figure. With these preliminary credentials met, Hadassah-Esther stood a great chance of getting selected by the king’s envoys. In Esther 2:8, we are told that “When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem.” Thus, the Jewish orphan finds her way to the king’s palace to be groomed for the final stages of the competition. 

The story of Hadassah-Esther teaches us that when one positions themselves properly, they stand a great chance of selection. Esther’s background did not limit her from being selected. Her beauty wasn’t enough for consideration but her beauty, lovely figure together with her purity made her outstanding. She was trained by an uncle who would have instilled godly virtues in her. Mordecai did not train Esther haphazardly. Esther might have been trained to obey the principles of the Jewish laws. In case Esther had foolishly ran away from her uncle’s house, she would have missed the opportunity to be selected. If Esther had refused to be trained and equipped for the future, she would have probably lived a loose life and with all her beauty and lovely figure, she would have still missed the initial selection. Esther’s story teaches us the patience of waiting, the grace in purity and the honor in living right. The truth is all the young virgins who were selected met the initial criteria but something would surely make the difference in the final selection. 

Maybe, you are like Esther, you have lost all hope because those who care for you are no more or you have lost important persons in your life. All is not over yet for you. The doors of breakthrough are opening and you need that positional advantage to walk through those doors. You need to be ready for the initial selection. Be equipped, be trained, be prepared and be ready to sit under a Mordecai and be trained. Don’t abandon the people who spend time and money to invest in you. They are preparing you for your initial selection and your ultimate appointment. Be ready and willing to subject yourself to mentorship and discipleship. Be an Esther not a Vashti!