Read Esther 8:15-17

“Thoughts lead on to purpose, purpose leads on to actions, actions form habits, habits decide character, and character fixes our destiny.”

      Tryon Edwards

 This passage shares with us the joy and gladness that the Jewish nation felt because of a king’s decree. Notice, however, that this passage takes place toward the end of Esther’s book. We have to look at how the joy and gladness was produced. Once upon a time, there was a man that had nobility in his blood. The King above all other officials elevated this man. He was the King’s right hand man, and all others were inferior to him. Not only was the nobleman honored, he believed he was worthy of honor. He felt so strongly that he was above all others, that when one man refused to bow before him; the nobleman became enraged. Consumed with hatred, the nobleman devised a plan to destroy the one that refused to bow, and not only that one man, but also that man’s entire race. The scheme would have succeeded were it not for the courage of one orphan. Her parents named her after a small bush that had black berries and pink or white flowers. The delicate petals, when crushed and refined, yield a fragrant perfume. The crushing began early. Kneeling beside the silent graves of her mother and father, the orphan took the hand of her cousin who raised her as his own. Broken within but beautiful without, one day she won the favor of a King. God’s purposes, however, were greater than royalty; it was not enough for the orphan to be Queen. Position was simply the doorway to the true destiny God offered her. It is at this point in time that the lives of the nobleman and the orphan intersected to change the course of history. The nobleman described the man that would not bow a traitor and an enemy. The orphan called the unbending one, cousin and father. The nobleman craved honor for himself. The orphan laid down all she had for the love of her people. The nobleman we remember as evil Haman who was executed for his deception. The orphan we remember as Hadassah, Queen Esther, who—crushed and refined—spread the life-giving fragrance of joy to her entire nation. Such costly perfume is the product of sacrifice, not privilege; the work, not of fragile human honor but of God’s unbending favor. What has been crushed in your life recently? What unexpected promotions have fallen into your lap? Could it be that God is allowing life to crush you into a sweet aroma of joy and gladness? Could it be that there is a greater destiny that God has designed for you and your family? Do not be quick to dismiss the twist and the turns in your life because around every bend you may find the true purpose of life.