The King begins his search for a new bride today. I jokingly say that this feels a lot like our modern concept of The Batchelor. All we need are the cameras and TVs. But each woman is lavished so much, perfumes, oils, so many things. When it comes to meeting the king, they can do or take whatever they would like. Esther doesn’t do any such thing; she simply goes with what they suggest and trusts in who she is and what God has graced her with. In life, we can choose to rely upon the things of the world, or we can choose to rely upon God. Esther chose to rely upon who she is and what God has given her. Will we rely upon Jesus or rely upon the world?

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Good morning! It’s so good to be with you today on this Thursday as we continue diving into the book of Esther. I hope your week is going well so far. Today, we’re moving into Esther chapter 2, where we’ll see how Esther enters the story and becomes queen. Let’s read together from Esther 2:1-18.

After King Xerxes calmed down from his fury over Queen Vashti’s refusal, his attendants suggested a search for the most beautiful women across the empire to find a new queen. These women would undergo beauty treatments and be brought to the king, and the one who pleased him most would be crowned queen. The king liked this idea, so he set it into motion.

Now, in the citadel of Susa, there was a Jewish man named Mordecai. He had a young cousin, Hadassah, also known as Esther, whom he had raised as his own daughter after her parents died. Esther was taken to the king’s palace along with many other women. She quickly gained favor with Haggai, the eunuch in charge of the harem. He provided her with special treatments, attendants, and the best place in the harem.

Mordecai had told Esther not to reveal her Jewish identity, so she kept her background quiet. Each woman had a turn to meet the king, but before this, they spent a full year undergoing beauty treatments—six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics. When Esther’s turn came, she didn’t ask for anything extra and relied on the advice of Haggai. She won the favor of everyone who saw her and ultimately found favor with the king. He placed the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti. To celebrate, the king threw a banquet, proclaimed a holiday, and distributed gifts.

Now, this story might remind us of something like “The Bachelor,” with women competing for the king’s attention. But Esther stands out because she wasn’t chasing after luxury or indulgence. She relied on what God had given her—her integrity, wisdom, and natural beauty. While others may have leaned on external displays or material things, Esther trusted in God’s provision and timing.

This reminds me of the story of Daniel, where he chose simplicity over indulgence, eating only vegetables and water, yet he thrived. Esther, too, shows us the power of relying on God rather than the excesses of the world. She didn’t chase after the superficial but focused on faithfulness, and God used that for a greater purpose.

In our lives, it’s so easy to get caught up in the trappings of the world—whether it’s material success, recognition, or outward appearances. But as scripture reminds us, it’s “not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6). Esther trusted in God’s Spirit and the gifts he had already given her. And through her, God would accomplish something amazing.

As we reflect on Esther’s story, let’s think about where we’re placing our hope. Are we relying on the things of this world or trusting in what God has given us? True strength, hope, and purpose come from him. As the hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

So today, let’s be content with what God has given us, trusting that he is working in and through us, just as he did with Esther. Thanks for spending this time together in God’s Word. I hope you have a wonderful day, and we’ll pick back up tomorrow with more from this incredible story. Take care!