When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter. (Est. 5:2)
Expanded Passage: Esther 5:1-5
The conference room table was huge and the titles of those seated around it were just as large: Plant Manager, Director of Quality, Production Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and on and on. And then there was me, the summer intern. I felt insignificant in that room, like I did not belong at the table. And yet I had been invited in.
Esther entered the king’s court uninvited. An act that could have led to her death. But at the moment of truth, the king extended his gold scepter, a demonstration of acceptance and welcome, and spared her life. Though she had no legal right to be in the inner court without a summons, the king was pleased to see her, and he used his power to welcome her in.
The book of Esther does not explicitly mention God, but this section of the story is a gospel parallel on full display. You and I have no right to be in the presence of the true King. There is nothing we can do to earn his favor. Yet he extended the gold scepter—through Jesus on the cross—and made a way where there was no way for us. And just as Esther only needed to approach and accept the gesture of Xerxes, we need only to accept God’s gift of grace. What a blessed gift is the love of God!
Thank God for the love and grace he has extended to you!
Samantha Freds is an ordained pastor in The Wesleyan Church. She enjoys being active outside and spending time with her husband and two little girls.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
