Esther 2:17 (NKJV): The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
In Hebrew, the word 'grace' here is pronounced 'khane', while the word 'favor' here is pronounced 'khehsed', which can also mean 'beauty, grace (unearned favor), goodness'.
Let's now cross-refer the words 'khane' (grace) and 'khehsed' (favor) in the Bible:
Proverbs 22:1 says, 'A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving 'khane' rather than silver and gold'.
Psalm 63:3 says, 'Because Your 'khehsed' is better than life, my lips shall praise You.'
In NKJV, the word 'khane' here in Proverbs 22:1 was translated 'favor', i.e. 'loving favor rather than silver and gold', while the word 'khehsed' in Psalm 63:3 was translated 'lovingkindness', i.e. Your lovingkindness is better than life (Note: 'life' here is pronounced 'khah-ee' in Hebrew, which means 'earthly life')...'
The Bible says God's 'khane' and 'khehsed' (i.e. grace and favor) is even better than the best the earthly life can offer! Yes, even better than a 7-star stay in the best of hotels, or being surrounded by gold and silver all the time! Now, having written these, it doesn't mean you cannot enjoy a good life or have gold and silver. When God put Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (literally means 'pleasure, delight'), He wants them to enjoy it too! In fact, as a believer, you are supposed to be so blessed, enjoying all His goodness and blessings! Now that's what the Bible calls 'the blessing of Abraham'! (see Galatians 3:13-14) Some people put their 'faith' on money. But as a believer, you put your 'faith' (trust) on God and His goodness! When you have His grace and favor, you'll have all the good things in life! Every good thing will follow suit! Yes, money included. God loves to give to you. Never think He is stingy. In fact, astronomers have just discovered a planet that's made of diamonds! Imagine walking on diamonds everywhere, like you walk on rocks and stones on earth! And the streets in heaven are made of gold! That's how rich He is, the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth (see Genesis 14:19), and He is the God (YHWH) you worship!
Be conscious of God's 'khane' and 'khehsed' in your life always. 'Flowers' attract butterflies. 'Rubbish' attract flies. Good things happen ('outside' of you) when your 'inside' is filled with the revelation of God's goodness and lovingkindness. Just as what happens in the spiritual realm is reflected in the physical realm, what is in your 'inside' will also be reflected in your 'outside'. Say, if you have 'fear' in the 'inside', it will then manifest in the 'outside'. But if you have the revelation of God's goodness and lovingkindness in your 'inside', you'll also see it happening in your 'outside' (i.e. you can see and experience it in the physical realm).
Let's look at Esther now. She had this revelation of 'khane' and 'khehsed'. She also knew she was born and raised 'for such a time as this' (to save her people from being annihilated by the enemy), and she even said "If I die, I die!" (see Esther 4:14-16). With this revelation 'inside' of her, she was willing to 'take the risk'! You see, there's every 'risk' of her incurring the king's wrath and ended up like Vashti (the previous queen who became 'out of favor'), and in turn, losing everything! (Read the book of Esther in the Bible for the details)
But for Esther, she chose to walk in the fullness of God's destiny in her life, and to her, God's lovingkindness (to Israel) is better than her own life as a queen itself, i.e. with the arrays of gold and silver, the best earthly food, the best earthly clothes (that wears out anyway), etc.
Some people say: 'Get what you can, can what you get, and then sit on the can'. Most other 'queen' would have done this (i.e. to protect their own interests & position at all costs, but in earthly and carnal ways), but not Esther. Instead, she chose to walk in God's destiny.
So, did she (Esther) suffer in the end? No! Because of God's 'khane' and 'khehsed' in her life, she eventually became an even more powerful queen! The king even gave her the right to write her own law as she pleased! (see Esther 8:8)
A lot of people in the world now are struggling and striving in life, only to find themselves losing their 'soul' (& destiny). Imagine whales struggling and getting stranded at the beach (when they are supposed to be enjoying themselves in the ocean).
Esther was originally named 'Hadassah' in Hebrew, which comes from the word 'hadas' meaning 'myrtle tree' ( a tree with good-smelling leaves and white flowers - a 'picture' of sweet-smelling aroma and purity). Isaiah 55:13 says, 'instead of briers (a kind of thorny shrub), shall come up myrtle tree. So, myrtle is a choice plant in Israel, a 'picture' of God's promised blessing. So, instead of 'curse' (represented by 'thorns'), God has promised Esther 'blessings'!
God wants you to be the 'Esthers' of today. And just as Esther was, when you have God's 'khane' and 'khehsed', 'fear not, for what can man do to you?' (see Hebrews 13:6). The Bible also says, "whoever desires to save his 'life' will lose it, but whoever loses his 'life' for My sake (by walking in His destiny) will find it!" (see Matthew 16:25). God loves to give good things to you, and God will open a way for you, as He did to Esther. Receive.
What are you conscious of in your 'inside' (i.e. in your heart and mind) now? Is it God's lovingkindness for you, or is it the earthly, selfish cares and worries of life? 'Flowers' (like 'Esther', the myrtle flower) attract butterflies. 'Rubbish' attract flies. So, what are you 'attracting' today? Focus on His 'khane' and 'khehsed', and you'll have every good thing in 'life'. Focus on the earthly, selfish (self-conscious) life, and you'll be drowned in the cares, concerns, and struggles of life.
Therefore, look to God, and trust Him for His 'khane' and 'khehsed' in your life, and you'll have 'life', and 'life' even more abundantly! Amen.
