Christian Devotional – October 21, 2020

Pageant Queen with a Purpose, #4

A plan. The king felt that he had been disgraced and so he went back with his advisers and team to decide what to do. Read Esther 1:16-22.

In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women causing them to look with contempt on their husbands by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she. When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.” This word pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man should be the master in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.
Esther 1:16‭-‬22 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/est.1.16-22.NASB

While the Queen had felt that her personal honor was at stake, the King felt like the entire foundation of his kingdom was at stake. As a result, he gathered his team together to formulate a plan. He felt that he needed to have a response that wouldn’t destabilize his country.

So, they come up with a plan. The Queen is out. He will be able to maintain his kingdom. No harm done. Throughout all of this, not once did he consult God. The king was not a believer, so the actions he took were not based on following what God would want.

For us, as followers of Jesus Christ, the decisions that we make must be based on what God has for us and His plan for our lives. We must be seeking and following up on all that God desires for us to do, not just what those around us desire. Are we discussing our decisions and ideas and actions with Him? Do we allow Him to lead us?