Vashti, You GO GIRL!

A woman I mentor/disciple called me yesterday as I was watering my fruit trees.

"Jamie! I joined a Bible study like you said...I hate it and I don't want to go..."

"Oh dear! What happened?" I knew there was a story.

"Well, we are studying Esther, and the bible teacher said that Esther represents the Church and that Xerxes represents God..."

She went on and I cringed as I listened. This woman loves Jesus. She's had a relationship with Him for a long time. This woman is also a survivor of sex trafficking. So studying the book of Esther, and encountering ANY mention of a "harem" strikes a deep and traumatic chord in her. As it should. And any one of us who have not had the dehumanizing experience of being sold for sex MUST PAY ATTENTION.

Anytime we read Scripture and come across harems or concubines, we must realize these people were sex slaves. They had no choice. They had no control over their own bodies. In the book of Esther, Xerxes had a harem and eunuchs to manage "his" women. (BTW, "eunuchs" were castrated males who were most likely slaves from defeated countries). Xerxes also had vast wealth and a gorgeous wife he wanted to show off to all his VIP buddies (Es. 1).

Vashti refused to obey Xerxes when he summoned her to "show off her goods" (1:12). Traditional interpretations peg her as a "rebellious wife." Indeed, even in my friend's Bible study the teacher painted Vashti as a vile, ungrateful woman who didn't appreciate the riches, wealth, and honor of her position. The Bible teacher claimed Vashti deserved what she got by disobeying her husband, the King of Persia. She then argued that Xerxes represents God, Esther the church, and Vashti is anyone who disobeys God. Since Esther obeyed Xerxes and respected his authority, clearly she received the blessings of honor, wealth, and riches that Vashti lost. 

There is so much wrong with this interpretation I don't even know where to start. 

First, Xerxes had an appetite for food, wine, and flesh. The book of Esther starts off listing the THINGS of his wealth: extravagant parties, loads of alcohol, costly decorations, gardens, uniquely made golden goblets, exquisite palace furniture and architecture...and a wife who was "lovely to look at."    

How would YOU like to be listed among items, as someone else's possession THEY gloat over? Not known to the world by your virtues or accomplishments, just that you are pleasant to look at?

Second, Vashti had NO CHOICE (like Esther) to become Xerxes' sex slave. Vashti demonstrated EXTREME bravery and courage to walk away from an abusive relationship. We can read that Esther was AFRAID FOR HER LIFE to even approach Xerxes (4:11). This is clear evidence that this was NOT a romantic, foot-pops-up-when-kissed marriage. Vashti, NO DOUBT feared for her life as well. I imagine that she had enough: enough abuse, enough objectification, enough dehumanization...and she preferred death (or an exile worse than death) to remaining Xerxes' esteemed crowned slave. 

   

Third, Esther's "beautification" should not be romanticized as a "beauty pageant" (which is SO often how I hear it described). Esther lived from one traumatic event after another: her family exiled to Babylon, she herself a captive of Persia, death of both parents, and then ripped away from the only safe relationship she had with her cousin Mordecai (2:5-7). She may have been malnourished entering the palace and Xerxes' servants had the job to fatten the virgins up so their king would be satisfied. The eunuchs were slaves too and probably where severely punished for overlooking the harem's "beautification" process.

Lastly, Esther and ALL the beautiful virgins were not given the option to say, "NO." They were brought in, one after another, for Xerxes' pleasure, until he found the body he preferred most. Since these women were "used goods," they were placed to live out their days in the king's harem; summoned whenever Xerxes craved them.

In no way whatsoever does Xerxes exemplify my King of kings and Lord of Lords. Never does God cast us aside, forgotten, exploited and abused. Rather, God, and by extension Jesus, are best represented by Esther. Esther subjected herself to humiliation just as Jesus did for us at Calvary. Jesus saved His people, accepting the fate of death just as Esther resolved herself "if I die I die" (4:16).

Vashti is the unsung heroine in the story of Esther. While it's dangerous to extract details from silence, her bold actions speak volumes. The author of Esther is not only silent about Vashti but also about God. God is never mentioned in the entire book of Esther, yet we witness His actions among the players in the book. God, after all, is in control and His plans always prevail and never fail (Isaiah 14:24). He had a plan to rescue His people through Esther and not Vashti. Vashti willingly stepped out of the way, surrendering her esteemed position and reputation, when she told her abuser, "No." God clearly had a plan to usher Esther into position, using without condoning a corrupt kingdom to save His people, Israel.

Vashti is not the corruption, but rather a victim of corruption who takes a stand. That's why I say, "Vashti, You GO GIRL!"