The story of Esther and the Jewish people in this book is also more relatable in many ways for people of faith today than some of the stories in books such as Exodus or 1 Samuel. In the book of Esther, God acts, but it's by changing the hearts and minds of men rather than appearing in pillars of fire, moving whole seas of water or sending sustenance from above.
Seniors of faith who haven't revisited this book of the Bible in a while may want to add it to their Bible study list. It makes a great group Bible study option for those in assisted living communities, and you can enjoy individual study of this book. Plus, you can end the study during an autumn or winter night by curling up with blankets, popcorn and the movie One Night With the King.
Not sure what the book of Esther has for you? Here are a few takeaways for older adults from Esther.
The book begins with some backstory on how Esther comes to be a favorite of the king of Persia. As you read the first two chapters, it becomes obvious that Esther doesn't politic her way into this position on purpose. Numerous things happen outside of her control to put her in this place. While she's beautiful and, it might seem, kind or gracious — and these traits may all charm the king — it is clearly God's provision that puts Esther in a place to save her people.
Later in the book, Mordecai (Esther's uncle) asks her to intercede with the king for the Jewish people. When she hesitates, he points out that God will do something whether she takes action or not. Again, the power of this story never points to Esther and always points to God.
This is a great takeaway for believers of all ages. It can be easy to get caught up in our story — and in our own powers or weaknesses. When people age and face all the factors that come with that natural process, they can begin to feel powerless or unable to face what's next. The truth, however, is that God has the power, not the person, and his power is not diminished by age or anything else.
Esther shows restraint and wisdom in the way she approaches the problem in this story. She doesn't rush in to save the day or be the hero. Instead, she first considers the consequences.
Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:2 that he "had boldness" in God to declare the gospel to others. But the apostle also makes it clear that there were earthly consequences for his actions, and he chose the path he believed God put before him in spite of those consequences.
Esther ends up doing the same thing. While she takes action to try to mitigate the potential negative earthly consequences, she knows that acting with faith in God is more important than trying to protect her own life.
The environment of the world in the 21st century is often one of fear. Turn to any media — social media and the internet, television or movies — and you'll note that fear is abundant in the themes conveyed. Older believers mustn't give up on doing good and must continue to turn to their faith despite these fears.
Esther acted with courage in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds. There was a good chance she might have been killed for entering the king's presence uninvited. Several other times throughout the story, she could have been outed by Haman or fallen out of the king's favor for some reason.
Knowing what she was up against and that she was not the hero of this story, Esther called on her people to act too. She called for a nationwide fast, putting all attention on God in the days leading up to her plan.
No one today has to act alone either. As an older adult in retirement, you may sometimes feel isolated or lonely. However, chances are you have more of a support system than you realize. When you're facing a challenge or simply want to worship God with others, consider reaching out to friends and family, people at church or like-minded residents in your independent or assisted living community.
