Portraits of Redemption: Esther

While soaking in the sunshine on the beach recently, my husband Tim created a custom built sand chair just for me.  I sank down into the coolness of the more-wide-than-I-care-to-admit hole, while Tim built up the back of the “chair” to just the precise height for ultimate comfort for my head.  He dug a “cup holder” at the perfect distance off to my right; there was a small hill under my knees and two hollows for my feet.  I couldn’t have been more relaxed!  Yet as I sat there, inevitably some area became uncomfortable over time.  I would arrange it to perfection, and sit back once again – only to repeat the cycle within several minutes.

Discomfort is not a bad thing.  When we get too comfortable, we become unwilling to move.  And the truth is we were born to move.  Move or die.  There is a world of hurting people needing to be rescued.  It’s tempting to get tired, to make excuses.  To claim we deserve our present comfort, yet the truth is, the longer we sit, the more useless and stagnant we become.

As I lay on the beach that day, the story of Esther kept coming to my mind.  Esther’s life is not just a Biblical version of Cinderella.  I see in her a woman who had a choice to make.  A choice to focus on herself – her needs, her wants, or take the option to step out of her newly acquired comfort zone – quite likely putting not only her plush surroundings, but also her very life, in danger.

When the news reached Esther that her people, the Jews, were going to be destroyed, it was decision time.  I see her looking around her beautiful room - the silk gowns, smiling servants, sparkling jewels, golden crowns, delectable food – a far cry from where she had come as a small orphan girl living in a foreign land.

Esther could never forget those days after the death of her parents.  Though she had been taken in by her cousin, there must have been a hole deep within Esther’s heart that begged to belong.  As a woman, her deepest desires most certainly were for love and security, and now she had it.

I shudder to think how different Esther’s story would be, had she lived in our day and age.  A world of humanity looking out for number one!  We desperately pursue comfort and happiness, and who more than Esther deserved happiness?  Yet, she saw beyond her present comfort, she saw deeper than the security she now had.  She longed for something with more substance than momentary pleasure.  She had been redeemed from a life with little meaning, but for what reason?

Esther is a story of redemption not only for the Jewish people, but also for the little orphan girl still living deep within Esther’s heart.  She could have clung to the lies that she was nothing.  She could have claimed her “right” to look out for herself – especially after all she had been through.  She could have believed the voice inside that told her she was useless. 

But Esther was more than that in God’s eyes.  In the lifetime of feeling like a nobody, Esther didn’t know that God was actually bringing her to the precise moment in time where her value would become obvious to the world!

Esther was loved.  She was needed… and wanted!  She couldn’t see the end result from her easy chair, but by keeping her eyes on God, Esther found redemption.

Portraits of Redemption: Rahab

There’s something about Rahab that captures my heart.  It’s the daring, the determination – even her boldness, yet what saddens me is the truth that had I lived in her town, I would have probably disliked her with a righteous indignation befitting that of any decent woman.

Rahab lived in Jericho.  Her house was simply a hole in the wall.  Known as the town prostitute, she had little to live for and nothing to lose when the Israelites stood outside the city walls – ready to destroy them. 

Waves of panic swept through Rahab’s town as the news of the Israelites closing in on Jericho reached them.  War was imminent.  Death was probable. 

I see her sitting at her window.  The room behind her is dark, cramped and cold – much like her heart.  Deep inside, behind the carefully constructed façade, lay a wound that shot pain through her soul with every beat of her heart.  Day after day men wanted her – but only for a moment.  Time after time, they came knocking, used her, then cast her away without so much as a second glance. 

And for that women hated her.

Her world had become a prison in its own right but on this day, Rahab had reached a crossroad.  From anyone’s perspective, safety, security and a chance for life stood outside her door – deep in the heart of the city.  Death was just a stone’s throw outside the window, yet it is here that Rahab makes a decision that intrigues me. 

Most people make choices that will cause others to accept them – to love them.  But Rahab does the opposite.  She helps the Israelites – the enemies!  Now, not only is she a harlot – she is traitor!

Rahab’s life makes me think.  I wonder how often I make decisions based on what seems wise-in-my-own-eyes.  I choose the path that appears safe, secure… and expected of me.  If Rahab had chosen to walk out her door into the “security” of the city, her life would have ended, yet she knew to truly live, she must place her life in the hands of this God of the Israelites!  

The scarlet cord she hung from her window was her redemption.  How she must have clung to it while everything around her was crumbling!  When the shouts had died and the dust had settled, Rahab was liberated!   Her faith in a God she knew little about had saved her.  Rahab saw beyond the surface issues.  She chose the road with more danger, more twists and turns, and less visibility for what lay ahead and for that she found life!

Promises, Promises

I’ve been thinking about promises lately.  Remember the excitement of a promise given?  Perhaps as a child it’s a trip to the zoo.  A few years down the road, it’s the hope of a new car and later, with tears of joy and warm fuzzies inside, those words we all long to hear – “I do”. 

Ahh… the promise fulfilled!  Or is it?

Unfortunately, sometimes it rains at the zoo and the lion you came to see is “sitting just over that hill” – completely out of sight.  The “new” car was actually new the same year you were, and more often than not the “I do’s” become “I don’ts”.

Promises, promises.

Moments of sheer excitement and expectation, followed by utter disappointment and despair.  How can standing on the cusp of what is sure to be the fulfillment of your dreams so quickly find you crushed – face down in the dirt – hopeless. 

Let down.

Again.

Joshua had one of those days.  The excitement had to have been contagious.  After years and years… and years of waiting for the promise to be fulfilled, they had arrived!  God had promised the Israelites this land and here they stood – ready to claim what was theirs – The Promised Land! 

Were the Israelites dreaming of ‘home sweet home’?  Were they making plans for birthday parties, spa days and golf tournaments?  After forty years in the wilderness, I can only imagine the joy of claiming the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey!  Dreams of hammocks, new furniture, soft music and cool breezes all around! 

But the dust had hardly settled from the walls of Jericho, when another much smaller battle had to be fought.  After such a huge accomplishment of claiming their promise, the Israelites had no concerns for removing this pesky little town just down the road.  But to their amazement, they lost the battle.

That’s when Joshua crumbled.  “Why God?  Why did you bring us here?  To make us victims?  To wipe us out?” All dreams of what might have been vanished as Joshua rolled in the dirt and ripped his clothes. 

That’s feeling pretty low!

I find myself looking back over my life and wonder how many times I gave up too quickly.  How many times have I received a promise, but turned and walked away - leaving the promise for someone else to claim – simply because it didn’t meet my expectations?  But I’m learning from watching Joshua’s life. 

God told Joshua to get back up.  It was time to be strong.  To find courage!  The promise was still theirs – problem was, there were enemies who weren’t interested in walking away without a fight.  Joshua kept his eyes on God and set out to remove the threats.   He listened to God and soon the greatest powers around him were under his feet – literally (Joshua 10:24).

There are enemies all around us – and they want what is ours.  They want our spouses… our children… our health… our peace… our joy…  the list goes on and on. 

If you find yourself sniffing dirt today because you think God has forgotten you - stand up!  Take courage!  Be strong!  The enemy may have stolen something from you, but the God who broke down the walls of Jericho is the same God who gave you those good gifts. 

If your marriage is crumbling right now– fight for it!  If your children have wandered away from all you’ve taught them– take courage and rest in God alone!  If peace eludes you both day and night – claim the peace that only He can give! 

Joshua had the courage to stand up, dust himself off and get back into the battle.  Will you?

Set Free!

Physically she was crippled from arthritis.  So twisted and bent she couldn’t even look up.  Spiritually, she illustrates the broken.  So wounded and hurting she is unable to raise her eyes towards her Savior.  Then those two beautiful words from Jesus, “You’re free”.  And in the midst of her rising up and giving glory to God, religion stepped in.

How could Jesus have the audacity to heal on the Sabbath day?  Religion – it didn’t care about who SHE was!  It didn’t care about her pain – her brokenness! Yes, it was too bad that she was hurting.  Too bad that she couldn’t be set free from her pain, but rules were rules and religion dictated that she remain bound. 

I love how Jesus responded: “Each Sabbath every one of you regularly unties your cow or donkey from its stall, leads it out for water, and thinks nothing of it.”  Now, don’t miss this part – here is where it gets good!  Jesus continued, “So why isn't it all right for me to untie this daughter of Abraham and lead her from the stall where Satan has had her tied these eighteen years?"

That day, religion walked away embarrassed and ashamed, and today we can celebrate that freedom Jesus offers us!  It’s been almost six years since He untied me and led me out of a smelly, filthy stall of hatred, despair and depression, and I continue to stand and give Him all glory for setting me free!