Chapter 7 - the End
Having been
married to a prosperous landowner and brought up the children that she had born
to her Babylonian husband it was much easier for both she and her brother to
converse in the language of those who were seeking to force them all to use the
language of their captors, but her brother reasoned with her.
Have you forgotten
the words our grandfather gave his life to bring to us? Or the name with which
he named you?'
It was a long time
before his sister answered, and this time it was in their Egyptian language.
You are right, my
Brother. It is the God of the Hebrew people who ordained that we people of
Egypt would be taken to a foreign nation ...'
'And?' He was
waiting for more, but by the time his sister felt she could answer, he had been
called away.
Starlight had much
to think about, and much time to think too, for there were decisions to be
made. Her husband had been a man of wealth and being an educated woman, since
his death she could be sold on now as of considerable worth.
She had taken out
the precious manuscript that her brother had not only taught her to read but
had left in her possession.
Precious
possession indeed. 'Who is this man who had so faithfully copied out this
message and at risk of great daring to his own life, seen that it should have
been faithfully delivered to their beloved Grandfather and the other faithful
scribes there in Egypt, and other lands too.
Where is this
prophet, doubtless an old man now, she asked herself. Had he too suffered for
his faithfulness in writing these messages to other nations?
Not many had been
words of hope and blessing as had been his words to Egypt.
Amid the hubbub of
a heathen household Starlight sat quietly rereading these precious words of
promise, not silently but not intended for any other to here.
However, suddenly
she was aware of the presence of one who was taking an interest.
Embarrassed, she
went to hide her precious manuscript, but the assessor, apologising for
disturbing her, explained that he was seeking out the worth of the items that
might be of value to the estate.
'Please, please.
Do not be disturbed by my intrusion. It is good to find some corner, where
there is not the sound of wailing - although of course this is a token of the
respect we all had for your lord and husband.'
The Assessor did
not seem in a hurry to leave her, but his assistants, by subtle hints were
suggesting that they needed to be moving on.
Respectfully, he
assured the widow that he was not unmindful of her need to find a different
security for her, for she no longer had any authority over the training of her
sons, and indeed very little over her daughters. She was welcomed into the
nursery where her youngest daughters played, but only as a visitor.
It is no wonder
she found refuge in reading the precious manuscripts, not only as consolation
for her last months in her own land, for they had been bleak indeed, but
because these, words which her grandfather had risked his life to send to their
scribes, but because there was hidden in those pages promises of a future and a
hope.
Yes, she had
settled fairly happily in the land of Babylon, for she had been fortunate to
have been bought by a prosperous merchant who had taken her as one of his many
wives and been able to bring up her children as part of his household.
But now, would she
be taken to the market to be sold off as part of her husband's assets?
She was so grateful that she still was permitted the occasional visits of her brother, and indeed she had cause to be even more grateful when she heard of an opportunity that was a possibility that might be opening up for her.
At first she could
not believe that it might be even a possibility for her.
'What'me?' she
asked, 'Little Mouse?' 'Me, keeping house for the new Queen?'
'No, not Little
Mouse,' her brother spoke strongly, 'but Starlight, one of the guardians of the
words from the God of Heaven.
'The Assessor was talking about you' he continued. 'He was so impressed at the way you were able to find comfort in your manuscripts, and then he told me how they had been asked to keep an outlook for women who might be suitable to be women of the Queen's household.
You are past
child-bearing, so would bring very little in the marketplace, and would not be
of much use as a labourer after being pampered as a favoured wife.'
Starlight began to
argue but her brother silenced her.
They do say that
the Queen herself is of an ethnic minority. That she is not likely to deal
cruelly with her servants!
Such a thought as
an employment that would take a little Egyptian slave girl right within the
palace walls seemed an impossibility to Starlight. What a transformation of a
Little Mouse, but this Little Mouse had also been named Starlight and put her
trust in the God of Heaven and Earth, the God of Ezekiel, and the God of her
grandfather.
Chapter 8 within
palace walls
How strange and
yet what a wonder! Wonder of wonders indeed, that her home was now within the
great palace of Nebuchadnezzar, within the walls of Shushan in the land of
Babylon, the greatest kingdom in the then known world.
Starlight had
little reason to leave the safety of those walls. Her children had long been
removed from the family home where they had grown up together.
Would they even
know their mother if they were to see her? And would they even remember any of
what their mother had taught them of her homeland, and most of all, of the
faith she and their uncle had learned from their grandfather, dear old Asim, and the messages that had reached them from the lonely prophet Ezekiel, long ago
now but also in exile by the great river Euphrates, though in another region in
the vast outreaches of Babylon.
Starlight wore the
distinctive uniform of the staff of the new queen, though it had needed to be
specially adapted to her shapeless body, for she had given birth to handsome children, to the satisfaction of her husband and of course others in the
Queen's household were virgins, and nothing of excess flesh to enhance their
beauty. Starlight was certainly one apart, but she soon found she was a
favourite among the maidens, for she no longer was mourning the life she had
left for the husband she had eventually learned to love and to honour, was dead
and her children departed to fresh situations. No, for many of her companions
had left lovers, maybe, as well as loving parents behind and must learn to be
satisfied by the honour given to their mistress. It is no wonder they were
happy to have the older woman to turn to for understanding and consolation - a
mother figure among these poor, frustrated beauties.
Queen Esther,
recently brought to favour, out of all the beautiful virgins, many of whom
perhaps willing hopefuls of being chosen as his new queen, but others maybe
like Esther herself, dragged unwillingly from those who loved and cherished her
to meet the king's demands to find the fairest of them all. She was at liberty
to wander at liberty through the beautiful gardens within the palace, but she
knew she was wise not to stray too far from the protection of Hagai. whose
responsibility was to keep their new Queen and her staff well cared for and
protected in every way.
It was a wonderful starlit night when the lonely Queen Esther, came across this motherly but nevertheless lonely figure, for yes, their's was still a lonely life for all Hegai's care of them all. It must have been a night such as the one on which our Little Mouse had been born and prophetically named by her beloved grandfather, Starlight.
The older woman
stood, hoping to slip discretely out of sight, for she feared she had intruded
on the privacy of her queen, but by a gesture from this gracious lady, she found
she was invited to stay.
Queen Esther was
standing, gazing up into the miracle of the star-studded heavens. This was not a
time for words, but eventually the footsteps of a passing guard faded away and
the older woman was startled when she realised she was being addressed.
'Forgive me, dear
lady, I believe you are on my staff, but I do not even know your name,' she
began.
'Oh my Lady,
indeed you should have no reason to know my name, for I have been graciously
included to live here among all your maidens, perhaps as a motherly figure to
help them to live in harmony and always for your pleasure.'
Here Queen Esther
interrupted. 'You have been doing well, for truly I have been amazed at the
ministry of love that I always feel once I am safe here within these walls of
my own domain here within this vast palace.
'But, but...' and
here she hesitated. 'Do you not have some influence in the kitchen, as to what
food should be prepared for me?'
Starlight was
anxious. 'Oh, I trust I have not intruded beyond my .....
But the queen
stretched out to reassure her.
'Do not fear, gracious lady. Here, in my own apartment, I have no complaints. All is to my pleasing. I only ask that I may know your name that I may address you as a friend.'
Then Starlight,
set at ease, went on to tell of her roots in the land of Egypt, of the
implications of 'little Mouse' but of the very special name which had been
given her by her grandfather - Starlight.
The Queen was
visibly moved, but just then her dear Hegai appeared.
She rose
obediently when he expressed his concern about her absence from her chambers, but
she did not go without first reassuring her new friend that she wished to spend
more time in conversing with her.
She too followed
at a distance until she also was within the special place of safety designed
for the Queen and her maidens.
A place of safety?
But was there any place that could be safe enough to keep this beautiful young
woman secure from the evil powers that were plotting against her?
Chapter 9 A
GARDEN OF PEACE
The Lady
Starlight, as the Queen had chosen to call her, became a mother figure now to
the beautiful Esther, and Hegai, the undoubted authority when it came to the
care of her majesty, had arranged that she be relieved from every other duty
when the queen was reclining in her gardens.
If it is not too
painful for you, I would love to hear something of the circumstances that have
brought us together at this time.'
Esther, or
Hadassah, was the crowned Queen, but that did not mean that she could wave away
those who came now to intrude on her privacy. Her beauty treatment was all
important.
The Lady Starlight
had heard her other attendants, all younger and maybe of far greater beauty
than the queen, gossiping among themselves, but of course such news could not
be hidden for long.
'Every night we
bathe and dress the queen so that there is none so beautiful or alluring, but
the king has not sent for her. Such treatment! It is shameful! '
'She tries to hide
her disappointment and to make excuses for the king, but she struggles to hide
her tears.'
Starlight knew that
she must hide her knowledge of anything of this and somehow seek to make these
times in the garden to be special times of comfort to her majesty.
They had begun to
share something of their childhood, and somehow the quech had delighted in
hearing of Starlight's godly grandfather, and the manuscripts which had come
from the Hebrew captives, there by the great river of Babylon.
It was after Starlight had been sold to be a lesser wife in this Babylonian household that she had been named Mendip, and this was the name she had carried with her how that she was acknowledged as a member of the Queen's household, but there had grown a special bond between them since she had told the beautiful Queen Esther of the name her grandfather had given her.
Starlight, she
repeated the name softly. Starlight." She sat quietly, then quietly began
again to speak.
"I too have a
special name. I had almost forgotten. I so rarely think of my parents and the
terrible tragedy that brought me eventually to the home of my uncle Mordecai to
be cared for, but yes, I'm remembering now.
Hadassah! That
is what she would call me. She had a little song. She would take me in her
arms and sing to me about Hadassah, her little Star, shining through the
darkness."
Starlight so
longed to reach out to the beautiful young woman, losing her parents so
tragically when she had been so desperately in need of their love.
It was realising the
bond there was between them, even in this coincidence of their names which lifted their thoughts and hopes to the miracle of their star-studded heavens,
that evidently brought great comfort to them both.
All of the Queen's household had become aware that it was Mordecai, who was the uncle who had become as a parent to their beautiful Queen, and was permitted to come and enquire of his adopted daughter for was he not holding a position of some importance? Importance indeed, for yes, did he not have a place where he sat at the palace gate as one of the High King's counsellors?
It was not always
a blessing to hold a position of prominence. She was sure it had not been by
his desire that his beautiful, adopted daughter, Esther, had been among those
who were taken to the palace to be placed among those for possible inclusion as
a hopeful to take the disgraced Queen Vashti's place.
But he had not
been admitted for some days and rumours were going around that there had been
some trouble involving the godly old man. Apart from the pain to her majesty of
being deprived of this link with family and home, it must have been of great
concern to his loving daughter, however high her position in the land.
CHAPTER 10 -
GATHERING DARKNESS
Queen Esther had
her maidens gathered around her. Starlight was there, of course, though
standing behind the lithe beauties draped over the floor at the feet of their
ever more beautiful mistress.
She was still in
awe of that special moment she had shared with her majesty, so recently, as
together they had been drinking in the glory of the star-studded night. How
overwhelmed she had been to learn from their lovely queen, that each one had
its own name. Such an awesome revelation it had been to her, as queen Esther
had explained to her that each one had been a special creation of an almighty
Creator, and even as each of his creatures too, are known by him and special.
But she could not
but be aware of the fast they had been asked to share with their beautiful
queen. She had been handed a warming drink, but the demands of an empty stomach
were not pleasant. However, she was well aware that Queen Esther would not have
asked it of them, indeed, would not be undergoing its rigours herself if she did
not think it necessary. They all knew that her very life would be at risk if
she should go, uninvited into the presence of yes, her husband, but the mighty
monarch of the ever-spreading kingdom of Babylon, Babylon the Great. But now
she had gathered her household around her to explain to them the necessity she
felt to take this terrible risk.
'I am so grateful to you, each one, who is willing to support me now in this time of trouble,' she had begun to speak, hesitantly at first, until Starlight it was who had stepped forward to kneel at her feet and taking her hand assured her of their mutual love and willingness to live or even to die for her. There was a murmur of assent, and in the tide of their support Esther had continued more boldly.
'You all know my
beloved Uncle, Mordecai, how he comes diligently each morning to enquire of me,
for since the tragic death of my parents, he has cared for me as if I were his
own.
He had no desire
for me to be brought among those selected to appear before the king, but when,
against all possibility I was chosen, Mordecai counselled me not to acquaint
anyone with my origins. But now, because he has dared to refuse to bow to the
wicked Haman - yes, I too dare to say it. He is wicked, wicked indeed, and once
he knew the reason why Mordecai would not bow down to him he has made this a
pretext that all of his - our people should be killed.'
Starlight felt she
could not breathe, and it was as if all of her listeners were the same until at
last Esther continued.
'Yes, my uncle had
told me that I must not mention my ethnic origin when I was brought to the
palace, but now, because of Mordecai being in such trouble there is no
possibility of it being hid.'
But why? Starlight
had wanted to shout her complaint. He must have known that his refusal to bow
to this trumped up dictator as he had become, would have spelt trouble for
his adopted daughter, now Queen of the realm. But she continued.
'1 know this is
very hard for you to understand. Surely he could have bowed down to this nasty
little man for the sake of all his people. But you see, the Hebrew people, Jews
as they call us now, are a people who worship the God who created the heavens
and earth. He it is who set the stars in the heavens and who knows the name of
each one...'
She pondered a
moment to remember when, with their ever growing family there had been disputes
over the naming of their children and even now she struggled to remember the
names of their so many grandchildren. How could there be a god so great, not
only to create but to know and care for each of his creation.
But her queen was
continuing with her story; telling them how God, preparing a very special
garden had created animals and then, last of all, the very first man who became
the father of all this teeming family that now swarmed over the many lands and
nations.
But why was she
telling them all this? And why now?
At last, it was as though there was a glimmer of understanding for dear Starlight as she went on to tell them how, of all the many languages and tribes and nations God had called the Hebrews to be his special people, to love and worship him so that they in turn would be able to make him known to all the other nations in the world.
Starlight had a
flashback in her memory to the prophet Ezekiel, in exile, a hostage in the
land of Babylon, yet writing special words to her own people, the Egyptians.
But back to the present, for now it seemed, she was beginning to understand. Mordecai, troublemaker as it seemed, putting the life of their Queen herself, as well as all the Jewish people at risk, was one of these very special people called to not only worship this great God, Creator of the heavens as well as earth, but to teach others of him. Then how could he, how dare he prostrate himself before this wicked Haman, who represented everything that was evil?
He must worship
his god, whatever the cost.
But now she was
about to explain how they must all be involved in the cost, yes, even within
these palace walls. What could it be?
CHAPTER 11 THE
FAST
Starlight had been
so well aware that it had not been an easy thing for Queen Esther to respond to
her uncle's demand that all the Jewish people should unite in three days of
prayer and fasting. Oh dear! And yet now, at last it
But all the same, to demand that her household should join
with her in these three days of fasting. Surely this was too much to ask? Only
three days, but three days can seem a very long time to go without solid food,-
perhaps not so much for us who have so many other distractions to help to pass
the time, - though may we not be put to the test, - but for these young women?
Why, how could they endure their lives of imprisonment? Yes,
even though their lives were ones of the greatest indulgence, it was, all the
same, imprisonment. And yes, they did so look forward to meals specially
prepared for her Majesty as well as her staff.
But now, the long three days, and nights of fasting were
coming to a conclusion. Starlight had to admit that she was looking forward to
something more than the warming drinks they had been allowed, but her Queen
definitely had other matters on her mind than that of appeasing her hunger.
It seemed she had already sent for some of the king's own
chefs, and Starlight was also invited to the consultation while the maidens had
been called to bathe and dress her majesty. Gradually it dawned on her that
their beautiful Queen, and yes, to her, a dearest friend, was preparing with
confidence to approach her husband, yes, but also the great emperor over many
lands, who, held the power of life or death by a glance of approval or
disapproval.
It was the beloved Mordecai who had demanded this of his
adopted daughter; indeed this was the reason of their communal fast, knowing
that it was only by intervention from the great God of heaven and earth that
she could receive favour from the emperor. Husband he might be and she his
chosen wife, but there were no laws that held him accountable for the
predictability or otherwise of his behaviour. No one might approach his majesty
without first being called.
No, she had not
donned her most magnificent apparel, Starlight noted, but with Hegai alone to
escort her, she was walking through these corridors of power to stand as a
suppliant before the great King, knowing that his pleasure or disapproval held
life or death for her.
But there had been
no shaking or trembling in fear for the beautiful Esther, though it was until
much later that she had been able to share these moments with her dear
Starlight, now her closest confidante. 'Had I not knelt in the presence of the
high King of Heaven, aware that he had created every star in the canopy of
heaven? Had he not given me the assurance that I too was a star in his purposes
and that it was he who had ordained that I should have access to the great King
........for such a time as this......and yet.....and yet, oh my dear Starlight,
I did fear, but I knew even there that my fear and love of our wonderful God
was greater, and my fear of Him would make me stronger than any fear of man.
Chapter 12-
the feasting
As Starlight heard
the story, of how she, Esther, adopted daughter of Mordecai, a Jew, had stood
in the antechamber of the throne room, not with fear and dread. She knew that
the whole nation of her Hebrew people had been praying and fasting, not to some
lesser god, but to the High King of heaven, the creator of the vast universe,
he who had set the stars each on its own course and the Father of their great
Father Abraham and each of their forefathers.
She knew she had
this access, not because of the favour of her husband, the high king of
Babylon, though she was trusting for this. No, she stood, erect and confident
that she had been brought to this position through the favour of the great
Creator God who had placed her here for such a time as this.
Yes, and though
she had no idea of this at the time, but it was this same God of the Hebrew
people who had also brought one 'Little Mouse' to learn through her of the
great Creator God who not only knows each of us by name and purposes and who
for even the benighted people of Egypt that his prophet Ezekiel had written to
all those years ago.
'Your Majesty!'
Esther had stood
in the anti-room, trusting to be given access to her husband, yes, but knowing
that in his hand was the possibility for her of life or death.
She had approached
with confidence, yes, for had not the whole Hebrew nation been in prayer for
her, but even so, when she saw the royal sceptre stretched out towards her it
seemed a wonder as glorious and beautiful as the star studded heavens that she
had been enjoying so recently.
'Esther, my
beautiful Queen.' She understood that his heart was filled with longing to open
his arms and embrace her, but his look of adoration was enough.
'What is your
request, my Beloved?'
Her heart was
trembling, but nevertheless her words came out strong and firm.
'Your Majesty, I
have come to invite you, My Lord, to come to dine with me in my apartment. Even
now we are making preparations for this honour - you and the honourable ........' She almost choked as she mentioned his name, for she had had a glimpse of that
hated face, as always not far from the royal presence.
A team was already
at work, adorning the royal apartments with wonderful drapes of gauze, adorned
with symbols of the heavens while in the kitchens the chefs had been preparing
the favourite foods of his majesty.
Yes, there was
time for them to sustain the whole of the Queen's household with special soups
and sweetmeats so that there should be no rumbling of stomachs to betray the
secret of her Majesty's triumph when the oh so special guests arrived.
Their hunger was
satisfied, the most delectable wines served.
The high king of Babylon extended his arm, preparing to embrace his beloved Esther. But as a suppliant she knelt at a distance. Why did she hesitate? Surely he could refuse her nothing?
But she felt a
whisper as from heaven. It was the words of her beloved guardian, 'for such a
time as this.' Is this the time?
Now with
confidence, she knew the answer still was, 'Wait! Wait! My daughter.'
'My husband,' she
approached nearer, so that he was able to reach out and draw her close.
'What is your
wish, my Beloved. You shall have it, be it to t he half of my kingdom.'
She withdrew a
little, as if to tease him. 'Anything, your Majesty?' she asked.
'Anything!
Anything!'
'Then please, come
again. Let us have a feast together tomorrow.' Oh why, why was she still
delaying? But then Starlight heard her add, as if an afterthought, 'Oh yes, and
our friend too.'
Chapter thirteen -
the man the king delights to honour
They were all
gathered round as a special messenger had entered and was now knelt before
Queen Esther. Gradually they all began to understand the significance of his
message. This was something they must not miss.
Calling a guard to protect her majesty, she, with her ladies around her, was taken to a special promontory outside where she could see, yes, her own beloved guardian, Mordecai, robed in the most splendid of garments. (splendid indeed, for they had been previously worn by the great King Ahasuerus himself) and seated on the charger which was reserved for his majesty himself, while it was the wicked Haman who, desiring above all else that he should be promoted, was there, leading the procession and making a proclamation.
It must be confessed that he did not seem to be enjoying this duty, nor could every word be heard. It was as if his mouth had been filled with grit and ashes, but there were other heralds accompanying them and repeated the proclamation, clearly pronouncing every word.
'THIS IS WHAT IS
DONE TO THE MAN WHOM THE KING DELIGHTS TO HONOUR!
Starlight saw
straight away that her lovely Queen Esther was prostrate with tears, but tears
of joy, not of grief. Quickly she arranged for her to be escorted to her own
chamber where the tears continued to flow.
'Oh Starlight!'
she gasped at last. 'How has this happened? Surely the great God who created
the stars too, is fighting on our behalf. I know now that I will be able to go
with confidence into the presence of the King tonight, to plead for my people.
Oh! Oh! My dear
Starlight, whatever can have happened to make such a sudden reversal for my
dear uncle?'
Yes, this story is surely deserving of a fresh chapter, for it is one which has been faithfully transcribed in the records of the Jewish race as well as in the Babylonian language, while in years to come Starlight and her brother made sure that Esther and her maidens had been fasting and praying. But not just this little enclave in the palace, for throughout the great city of Susa, and beyond to every Jewish community throughout the vast empire of Babylon the people of God were praying. Haman had made sure that every Jewish community were aware of the terrible edict of doom and annihilation that had been proclaimed by the king -though all through his terrible scheming- were now praying and fasting.
Yes, that night
God's people were praying, but it can be read in the ancient records, 'that
night could not the king sleep.'
And so there was
unfolded the present drama which was causing Queen Esther's heart and eyes to
overflow - a story that was repeated over and over so that even as an old woman
Starlight would tell the story to her family and people over and over again. 'That
night could not the King sleep.'
The king,
sleepless, must be entertained. But instead of soft music as his attendants
might have expected, he asks for them to bring the diaries that are written up
each day, recording any special events or happenings. And so it was he 'just
happened' to hear a story in which his beautiful Queen, her relative and
guardian, Mordecai and yes, he, the great Sovereign himself were all involved,
which of course is why it was recorded.
He hears how his
own life had been saved because Esther's dear Mordecai had overheard some
rogues plotting to assassinate the king. Through his link with Esther the plot
had been uncovered and the life of the king saved.
'And how was this
man rewarded?' asks the now wide-awake monarch.
Hearing that there
was no record of any acknowledgement he must put it right straight away. He has
a wonderful idea.
'Who is in the
antechamber?' he asks.
'Why, your friend
Haman,' he is told. So why is he not in his bed, fast asleep, as all good
citizens should have been, we may ask?
Haman's whole
being is being eaten up by hatred, hatred of one man so all-consuming that he
is intent on annihilating an entire nation. Yes, he has allowed this hatred to
so possess him that he has almost forgotten his previous mission, to make
himself indispensable to his sovereign.
Unable to sleep,
he had made his way to the palace determined to be first to have access to the
king. How delighted then he was to be called earlier than he had dared to hope.
We can imagine him fawning upon this great emperor, convinced that he is his favourite,
his chosen companion.
Now the King asked
him, ‘Tell me, Haman, what do you think should be a suitable reward for a man
whom the king wishes to honour?‘
Someone the King
wished to honour? Who could that be but himself? Why, it was obvious that he
was a special friend of the high king himself. Not content with all the honours
he had been allowed, - everyone already having to bow down to him - all except
that wretched Mordecai that is, such a fly in his ointment, a wretched black
spot in his vision - but never mind him now, for has he not become an excuse
for him to exterminate a nation?
Haman has no
trouble in planning the highest of honours, so confident that it was all to be
for himself, only to be told to go and carry out these instructions, all to
honour the, to him, hated Mordecai.
And so now a
message has arrived in the palace. 'Come and see! Come and see.'
Were they
dreaming? Could it be true? Was it really their beloved Mordecai, seated on the
king's own horse and in his robes, while his avowed enemy, Haman, is the one
proclaiming the honours?
But had anyone
noticed the great scaffolding that had been erected in front of Haman's
mansion?
But the household
was busy, oh such a joyful busyness as Queen Esther herself was supervising all
the arrangements for this further banquet for the King himself, and yes, of
course his right hand man, Haman.
Oh, he had been so
delighted to find that yet again he was included in Queen Esther's invitation,
but when the evening came and he again passed through the palace gate, no
matter how many people prostrated themselves before him, there was Mordecai
refusing to bow.
It could be seen
clearly, even from the courts of the Queen, the scaffolding that he had
erected. Steaming with rage, it was his family who had suggested it, trying to
calm him a little and concentrate on the great honour facing him of yet again
dining with the lovely Queen Esther.
Oh, Starlight would never forget every detail of the story, for had it not been repeated in the furthest towns and villages of the whole known empire, wherever the Jewish people were living. But to be able to tell it first hand as it were?
It had been a
different Haman who had accompanied the high King to his Queen's apartment.
Everything was of the same, or, even greater opulence than the previous day.
The Queen's apparel was as dazzling, her hair falling in jewelled tresses, and
the chef's had exceeded themselves in tempting morsels to delight their guests.
But these were not
the details Starlight loved to relate. Her fr
iends had heard it all before, but
even so, they hung on her every word.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN -
CAN THE EVIL BE REVERSED?
Yes, the King had
taken in every delight prepared for him, but he was not without wisdom. He had
been made well aware that he had neglected his beautiful Esther and was more
than ready to make it up to her, but what could be her request?
She had been given
the opportunity the previous day, but surely she must be ready now to make it
known.
How the king,
horrified that he had been so led astray by Haman, this one who, making out
himself to be one of his most loyal advisors had been plotting all to his own
ends. Going out into the garden in order to calm himself to know how to deal
with this terrible situation, King Ahasuerus had returned to find Haman
throwing himself at Queen Esther's feet, hoping that somehow his life might be
spared, but for the King this was the last straw.
It wasn't long before the whole of the population were aware of the awful end of one who hald held such hight hopes. The scaffolding he had erected for Mordecai, this honest Jew, whose only sin was to worship his God, had now been used to hang the villainous Haman on high as an example of those who would plot in evil against the righteous.
That wasn't the
end of the story, of course, for Haman's evil plans had been spread far and
wide, but now the Queen, and her uncle Mordecai were able to plead with the
King so that much of the evil he had planned could be reversed.
Now to say that
you were a Jew was something to be regarded as an honour, and Starlight was
long welcomed as a teller of this wonderful story, until there was a special
feast day set aside and the story told over and over again.
So, is this the
end of the story?
Chapter fifteen -
endings or beginnings
The next time her
beloved brother came to visit he became aware that his sister's position in the
Queen's househeld was changing, and that she too needed to face up to the
situation, for Esther was not only requested to attend his majesty for rare
moments of delight, but alse she, and Mordecai too would often be seated in his
council chamber to bring wisdom from a higher realm.
'It has
undoubtedly been for your good that you have lived these many years here in Babylon and especially to have been in the confidence of our beautiful Queen, but
dearest Starlight, open your heart, for there is a road opening up for us and
we need to be prepared.'
Starlight, aghast,
rose and walked away from her brother. She had become so settled, an honoured
companion to their beautiful queen. She didn't want to know what her brother
might be suggesting.
When he had left her she returned to make sure that the maidens were all usefully employed in their various tasks and no squabbling among them, for she so often found an important role in which she functioned as a peace-maker. Not an easy task, for they had all been snatched from their natural environment where they would have been married and home makers by now.
She had been
expressing her concern for them with Queen Esther who so well understood the
frustration of these young women, but now, finding all at peace was able to
escape to a favourite nook in one of the gardens and try to grasp the
implications of all her brother had been suggesting.
Surely he could
not wish her to be uprooted from her safe environment here in Babylon? Yes, she
was Egyptian by birth, but what a broken cradle it had been to her. No security
for her, 'Little Mouse,' just a life of drudgery and as it were slave labour, though
in her own home.
But here in
Babylon, instead of the oppression of slavery and abuse she had found herself
valued and respected as a slave yes, but one of worth. And now, was she not
respected as one of her Majesty's companions and even advisors:'
The Queen,
realising that her beloved Starlight seemed troubled, suggested that it might
help if she shared with this gracious lady her concerns. The tears welled up in
her eyes but though she longed to share her burden somehow she could not find a
beginning or an end to that which pressed so heavily on her heart.
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This is not the end, but it is enough of the story l believe God is
prompting me to share with you. Thank you for sharing with me and encouraging me to enjoy the privilege of old age, as I share in supporting God's church in Egypt today.
