Esther: the Humble Queen (Part Three)
Esther is now the queen of Persia and in our last blog entry we established this beautiful woman, with a Hebrew name meaning “myrtle tree,” was a humble and righteous person who developed a pattern of humility throughout her reign. Even though her Jewish parents died, Esther never forgot her Jewish roots. She always remembered she was an orphan, raised by her cousin Mordecai. She knew only God could provide this position of power and influence.
No matter what our level of impact is in this world, it’s always important to remember our roots.
I interviewed many NBA basketball players during my sportscasting days. One of those I occasionally talked to was a gifted player named Dikembe Mutombo.
During Dikembe’s 18 years in the NBA, Mutombo was known as one of the best shot blockers and defensive players in league history. Selected 4th overall by the Denver Nuggets in 1991, Mutombo won four Defensive Player of the Year Awards and made eight All-Star Game appearances.
And Dikembe never forgot his roots.
His humanitarian work around the league and for his native Congo has been well documented and applauded throughout his career and post-retirement.
In 1997, the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation was created to assist and improve the level of health and education within the Democratic Republic of the Congo while increasing civilian living conditions and well-being.
In September of 2001, Dikembe opened the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in Kinshasa; his hometown and the Congolese capital. The hospital was named after his late mother, the 300-bed facility provides unique and proper health care for some of the areas poorest residents; a luxury most poor Congolese people don’t have the opportunity to receive.
Mutombo also serves as the official spokesperson for the international relief agency CARE and is the first Youth Emissary for the United Nations Development Program. He has been instrumental in the fight against polio by strengthening vaccination efforts and providing victims of the disease with proper treatment and care.
In 2007, then United States President George W. Bush, invited Dikembe Mutombo to his State of the Union address in honor of his humanitarian efforts and referred to the eight-time All-Star as a “son of the Congo.” For his humanitarian efforts, the NBA has honored Mutombo on two separate occasions.
Dikembe Mutombo improved the lives of many Congolese and is vocal about his faith in Jesus Christ.
His roots are connected to the root that never dies, the Lord God Almighty himself.
What a great example of someone who has never forgotten his roots, similar to Esther.
The new Queen of Persia wore a crown on her head but didn’t let it go to her head.
Esther considered others better than herself.
Before she became queen, Esther was placed under the care of Hegai, the Eunich in charge of the King’s harem. She won his favor. Esther 2:9 says Hegai provided her with her beauty treatments and special food right away. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved Esther and her attendants into the best place in the harem. Why did she get special treatment? I think she treated Hegai with honor and followed all his instructions. When it was time to go into the presence of King Xerxes, Esther only said what Hegai suggested.
How many times do we humble ourselves and listen to godly counsel? Have you ever got an idea in your head and moved forward, even though other people warned against it?
Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
Have you ever thought you were better or more important than someone else? Richer, prettier, wiser, or smarter?
In Romans 3:23, God’s word says, “All have fallen short of the glory of God.” There is no one righteous, no, not one. And that includes me. It includes you. It includes your neighbor. It includes anyone in a position of great prominence.
This attitude of humility, placing others above herself and never forgetting her roots, was the key to Esther’s success. In our next series entry, we will look at Esther’s calling “for such a time as this.”