Esther Was the Light

Today I asked my dad to take me to Borders or Barnes & Noble to get an ESV Study Bible. When we were at Borders, I was walking in the Religion section and I saw the title of a book that made me look again. The book is called Chosen:The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther by Ginger Garrett. I had to have it. I thought it would be an awesome book to read while reading the actual book of Esther in the Old Testament.

So I was in the car starting to read it, I read a footnote telling me to go to the back of the book to the appendix. What I read there really stuck with me. Here it is:

'What was it that set Esther apart? Although we do not know how Mordecai allowed Esther to groom herself, we know her peers used cosmetics to increase their allure. Fats from animals... were used as the base for cosmetics and perfumes, and it was believed that the strength and beauty of the animals would be passed along to the wearers. These fats... were applied based on the premise that light always creates highlights and shadows. ...One must draw the eye to a good feature, and away from a lesser one.

The Jews say God created Esther with a different approach. Esther's peers used cosmetics to manipulate the light around them. Yet, fashioned by God, in this story Esther would be the light. It is taught that women are illuminated internally by His power and strength. He shaped them to His satisfaction.' (pg 273)

This tells us that by being being the light, we are set apart. That we are 'illuminated internally by His power' and making a difference in that way.

In John 8:12, Jesus says, '"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”'

As followers of Christ, we do not 'walk in darkness'. We have Jesus within us, seeing through our eyes, speaking through our mouths, and shining out of us with the light of life.

I've been reading this book for about 30 minutes now, and already its made me think quite a lot. I recommend it to all of you! I miss you and love you all!

-Ally