The Unsung Hero

For a while now I have always loved Ester.  I admired her courage and passion for her faith.  I admired her determination to save her people, even though she was going up against her husband.  I also respected her for hiding God in her heart, to the point that her husband (a non-believer), was intrigued with her God and wanted to find out more about Him.

But tonight, though I have read this book many times, thanks to a friend, I have learned something new, something I NEVER even saw.  I have a new found respect for Queen Vashti . 

For those who do not know Vashti’s story, she was the Queen of Xerxes, king of Persia.  One night he held a great banquet where only the finest food and wine was served.  As the night went on, so did the drinking, to the point that the King himself became intoxicated.  The King to summoned her and asked her to make her display herself in front of everyone (all men).  When the servants came to get Vashti, Vashti refused to go to the King.  

She refused to go to the king!?  That took some guts, I mean; a Persian King is revered and feared! His word was final; he could honor someone one moment and in one breath condemn that same man to death for one “step out of line”.  Vashti had guts; she refused to be paraded around so men could look at her in ways only her husband should look at her.   

Though the outcome was not “happily ever after”, she stood up for herself.  Now the situation I find myself in right now, I hope I’m not forgotten and NOT missed (and that he keeps me), but I consider Vashti’s courage to stand up for herself.  She knew what she was worth and to have hundreds of men look at her in a manner that was inappropriate while her husband encouraged it…she was not ok with it, and would not stand for it….

So Vashti, Cheers to you!! You have one chapter (not even that)  devoted to you in the whole book of Ester and the Bible……..your courage is noted and remembered…at least by this women.