While The Women Tried To Outdo One Another  By Relying On Their Own Efforts, Esther Wisely Submitted To The One Person Who Would know The King’s Preferences Best

Gospel Corner

05/02/25

JOEL OSTE ,N MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.
Genesis 39:20–22, NIV

Pass the Test
Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt, then falsely accused of a crime and put in prison. At some point you would think that Joseph would be so discouraged that he would give up on the dream God gave him, but he kept doing the right thing. He so excelled in prison that he was put in charge. God was testing Joseph to make sure that he had the character, the integrity, and the humility to lead the nation. Joseph interpreted a dream for a fellow prisoner when he could have said, “Go away. I have bigger problems than you.” Being unselfish led to his interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, which led to becoming the prime minister of Egypt. The dream came to pass through years of testing.

The challenges you face aren’t random. That’s God giving you an opportunity to grow through it, to develop your character and integrity, to prove to Him that you can handle the future He wants for you. How you go through these difficulties will determine whether you get stuck there or whether you come out better.

SECTION TWO

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are the Most High God and that You have a way of making all the detours and dark twists in my life to finally work to my advantage. Thank You that every test of my faith is preparing me to go higher and to increase me. Help me to be faithful and grow through it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

When you know that you are greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved, you don’t have to depend on your self-efforts. Look at the story of Esther, for example.

When King Ahasuerus was looking for a new queen, the most beautiful women in the land were all brought into the palace. All the women were given the opportunity to adorn themselves with whatever they desired from the women’s quarters before they were brought for an audience with the king.

But when it was Esther’s turn, she “requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised.” And look at the results: “Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her,” and the king “loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen” (Est. 2:17).

While the other women grabbed the best garments, perfumes, and accessories to beautify themselves, Esther did not rely on her own abilities but submitted herself to Hegai, the official who had been appointed by the king to oversee the women. There was so much wisdom and humility in her decision.

Can you see the beauty of Esther? She did not trust in her own efforts. While the women tried to outdo one another by relying on their own efforts, Esther wisely submitted to the one person who would know the king’s preferences best, and the results speak for themselves.

This incident also demonstrates to us that Esther depended entirely upon the Lord’s unmerited favor. (When you depend entirely upon the Lord’s unmerited favor, you are trusting Him and in a position of rest.)

Esther did not have to struggle. When she rested in the Lord and humbled herself, the Lord promoted her and exalted her above all the other beautiful women.

God resists the proud and gives unmerited favor to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5). When you humble yourself and cease from your efforts to promote yourself, and depend on Jesus alone, the Lord Himself will be your promotion and increase. Like Esther, you will stand out in a crowd and obtain grace and favor with God and man.

Do you know why the story of Esther is so important? Read the details in the book of Esther. Because Esther was promoted to become the queen, she was in a favored position to protect all the Jewish people in the kingdom from being killed.

When the Lord promotes you, He gives you the influence to be a blessing to the people around you. There are no coincidences, only God-incidents. The Lord will bless you to be a blessing!

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