Synopsis of the situation: Mordecai, a Jew, is an important man, known to the leadership of the Medes and Persians. His cousin, Esther, whom he raised, is now queen of the Medes and Persians. Haman is a very high official who hates Mordecai and has set up a law so that Mordecai and his entire community will be exterminated.
Whether by revelation or just giving him wisdom, God shows Mordecai that Esther must save her people. Mordecai tells Esther this. Esther knows she can be executed for approaching the king without an invitation, queen or not. She’s afraid, but she submits to Mordecai as being a messenger from God. So far, so hierarchical: God tells man, man tells woman, woman obeys.
But…
Whether by revelation or just giving her wisdom, God shows Esther what she and the Jewish people need to do. She tells Mordecai. Mordecai tells the Jewish people. All of them, Esther, Mordecai and the Jewish people, all obeyed. They obeyed the woman/queen as God’s messenger. And God worked it all out.
That’s how Christian leadership should work: God chooses to whom He wants to reveal a part of His plan. That person becomes the “leader,” the messenger of God. Who the leader is can change according to whom God gives His information. Each Christian’s job is to either lead or follow according to God’s decisions. Yes, it’s mutual submission, but ultimately all of the submission is to God, not to a human. It’s God who leads. Even Christian leaders are ultimately followers.
So, what does it matter if God chooses a woman or a man, a world leader or one of the rank-and-file? God shows this clearly in the Book of Esther.
