The Bible shows heroes of faith, in whom we can see the prototype of our Savior Messiah. Through a Jewish woman named Hadassah (Queen Esther) He brought salvation to the Jewish people. All things are possible for God.
For me, the story told in the book of Esther is a call to every believer who trusts in God and His Son Yeshua. God brings each of us to this world and He raises us to the heights, so that we may say “yes” to Him, and seek His will, not our own. Then He will be able to bring great things to pass though us – small and weak though we are. It is His challenge to us – to hear Him calling and to obey Him.
The image of Queen Esther, embodied in this sculpture, is dear to me because she is shown here at the most critical moment of her life. She had attained royalty and then her uncle Mordechai requested that she make use of that high position. His request could ultimately endanger her very life. Yet by putting her life on the line Esther could save her people.
You can see how Esther is at that very moment choosing to say to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
Editor’s note: “Queen Esther Making a Hard Choice” is part of a series of biblical sculptures created by Israeli Messianic artist Ephraim Kalish. www.torah-art.net [email protected]
This article originally appeared in Return to Zion’s Newsletter, March 23, 2016.