I started a new Bible Study last week on the book of Esther. Her story has always intrigued me and, so far, digging deeper into it has only whet my appetite for more! One fact that I seemed to have missed in past readings of the story is that Esther was an orphan. Both of her parents died, seemingly when Esther was quite young. Her cousin, Mordecai, brought her up. She is a young girl, in a foreign land, in bondage, being brought up by her (male) cousin. No mom to show her what it means to be a young lady. No dad to love and protect her, showing her what it looks like to be cherished by a man.
And yet…
God looks down on His people, living in a strange land with strange cultures and traditions, and He sees her! Not only does He see her, but He chooses her to play a pivotal role in the history of the Jewish people. This lovely girl who probably wondered if God had forgotten her forever was swept up into a drama and adventure that even the most clever modern day storyteller would have a hard time topping! It struck me today that Esther was chosen by God maybe not in spite of her tragic beginnings, but perhaps because of them. Esther’s name in Hebrew comes from the verbal root that means “to conceal”. (another tidbit I’ve learned in my study!) Wouldn’t that be just like Him? This God of making all things new, this Master of restoration and Creator of creative twists in a life using a young Jewish girl to change history! He saw what was hidden in her.
As I reflected further on this idea, I couldn’t help but think of the children of Swaziland: so many of them orphaned, so many of them vulnerable, so many of them living in bondage…of sorts. Is not poverty also bondage? Is not physical, emotional or sexual abuse also bondage? Is not living in the shadow of a parent’s addiction also bondage? Is not being born HIV positive also bondage? Is not living in a crumbling, broken down society also bondage?
And yet…
The beauty of it all is God sees what is hidden underneath all of it! He isn’t threatened or consumed by the weight of that bondage; even on the days when the heaviness of this place makes me want to curl up on my bed with my head under my pillow. He created each one of these little ones and breathed His life breath into them. He has a particular plan and design on each one of their lives. He knows every one of their names…even when I can’t pronounce it! He looks as these kids who are so often covered in the red dirt that surrounds this place and He sees little ones washed clean in the blood of Jesus. He sees beauty, possibility, promise and potential. He sees bearers of His light and carriers of His amazing love. He sees reflections of His image. He sees His kids.
It gives me such great comfort to know this. Not only for the children of Swaziland, but also for myself. When I find myself in bondage again to my own selfishness, old habits or unholy attitudes, I can be assured that God still sees the beauty underneath! He still sees one of His kids.
What an awesome God.
