Esther on being a true leader
We are looking at Esther 5.
What has happened before:
1) Vashti stood down
2) Esther takes her place based on character and grace
3) Haman purchases the right to kill the jews
4) Esther and the jews fast and then approach the king
3 characters
1) the king - a week character who has all the power - someone to be manipulated
2) Haman who wants to be someone and is failing
3) Esther who is someone and succeeding
Haman - leader wannabe
1) top leader under the king
2) grand vizier an ultimate position of power
3) Still wanting, searching for success
4) A hollow man trying to prove that there was something inside himself
5) Power is never enough
6) Riches and success is never enough
7) Leadership that grasps and struggles and pushes never achieves its purpose
Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees north to avoid a collision
Canadians: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees south to avoid collision
Americans: This is the captain of a US Naval ship. I say again, divert your course.
Canadians: No… I say again, you divert your course.
Americans: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS, AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, THAT'S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.
Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
Who do you think won?
This is the example or style of leadership of Haman. Full of self importance, Full of what he is doing and going to do. And yet when it comes to the test, it disappears in the wind.
Haman, the carrier under full steam, met his lighthouse and that was Esther.
Esther - true leader
Have you noticed Esther never seems to do anything?
1) put in the harem by Mordecai
2) Advised by the keeper of the harem
Even here waits patiently, and simply requests that Haman and the king come to a banquet.
Haman prepared himself by scheming, puffing himself up, building hangman's scaffolds.
Esther prepared herself by prayer and fasting.
Haman operates out of his need to be recognized and feel important
Esther operates out of who she is.
Key part of something God has been talking to me about for a couple of years:
1) I can do leadership/ministry
2) I know the steps
However if I be then I see greater things happen. God has created me, gifted me, molded my character, equipped me to be his instrument. So why wouldn't I rest in what God is doing and just be.
I can take Haman's approach and strive, do or I can take Esther's approach and be.
The thing that Haman wanted above all things was the key place in the palace. The lofty position of all power.
Yet it is Esther that gained it. Despite not seeing the King for a month, by being in the center of God's purpose, by simply being instead of doing, the King recognized her and held out the scepter to her.
I think we miss what that meant. The scepter symbolized the power and authority of the King. The king extending the scepter and Esther taking hold of it meant that Esther now had equal power with the king.
Esther gained everything that Haman desired just by being.
Conclusion:
About this time you are thinking - "Paul is preaching to the elders and ministry team again"
Everyone is a leader. I shared that definition of a leader a few months ago:
A leader is someone who is actively altering their environment to achieve God's purpose
That sums up what every christian is called to do and be.
Every christian is called, anointed, gifted. Every christian is a project of the master. He has built and he is refining. And he has done it for a purpose.
We can strive and do and be someone or something different.
We can approach issues and problems using our intelligence, our worldly understanding. Or we can operate out of the things that God has placed in us. We can be the people he is making us to be.
We can be Haman, striving, convincing ourselves, being the hollow man.
We can be Esther the lighthouse, assured in God of achieving God's purpose.