The Subtle Stand

Hegai studied the young maiden walking towards him. There was something different about her-always had been. She certainly wasn't the youngest of the lot, and while she was beautiful that wasn't what set her apart from everyone else. The more Hegai thought about it, the more he was convinced. It was her spirit. Her pure and beautiful spirit. Something magnificent hovered there.

Esther stopped in front of him, and dipped her head in respect. She took a deep breath and calmly stated, "I'm to see the King."

Hegai smiled at her nerves. "Indeed you are. You can pick any of the jewels and finery here for your night with the King. Anything you want, Esther, and I will see that you have it."

She nodded slowly, brow furrowed. "I wouldn't know what to pick. What would you recommend? I trust your advice. I will do whatever you advise." 

His heart squeezed. She wanted his help? He'd guided her and shown her favor since the beginning, but this was entirely different. None of the other maidens had asked for his help. They had greedily grabbed jewels and fine linens, already imagining themselves as the one and only queen. Esther had treated him with respect, never assuming she would be queen. 

This precious woman would make a wonderful queen. Hegai, determined to do everything in his power to help her, swept his hand towards the right. "I have just the thing for you, Esther. Something fit only for the future queen."

Based on Esther 2:5-15

I've always viewed Esther as a woman with a pure spirit. She treated people with respect and dignity. She asked Hegai because she trusted him. He had shown her favor, and she was showing him respect. If Esther had been walking around, looking down her nose at every servant and person around her, do you thing she would have won favor in the eyes of all who saw her? Goodness, no! She could have been mad that she was ripped away from her family, her life, and her chance at finding love with a normal man. Did she go around acting like an angry teenager? Thank Heavens, no!

"The second is this; 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Esther chose to love those around her. She chose to let God's pure love shine through her. And because she chose to stand in love for others, Hegai chose to stand for Esther. 

Our choices and attitudes towards others are groundwork. If Hegai had hated Esther because she was a snob, do you really think she would have still had his favor? Hegai made a stand for Esther because she had earned his respect. She was swept closer to her destiny because she chose to walk in love. It's a subtle stand, but it's a stand that makes a difference.