The Story that Wasn't About Her
Queen Vashti the Forgotten
Photo by Pro Church Media on Unsplash
Recently my family was celebrating Purim and as I looked for the story of Esther in the children’s bible, I realized two disappointing things. First, one of our children’s bibles didn’t have the story of Esther anywhere in it; not one mention of the brave queen who saved the Jewish people. Second, in the children’s bible that did include Esther’s story, Vashti, the first queen, was omitted all together. I understand the need for simplification, but I believe that the strength of Vashti and her ensuing demotion emphasizes Esther’s bravery in both confronting the king and holding the position of queen in the first place.
Queen Vashti will forever hold a place in my heart because she prompted my first experience of being royally humbled in ministry. I was teaching a bible study on Esther to a group of adult women who had various intellectual disabilities. I had designed this study for a graduate class and loosely based it on Beth Moore’s study of Esther. The redesign process to adapt the study for the women with whom I worked had been thorough. I was proud of my work, had received a glowing grade from my professor, and felt that I was more than prepared for my first lesson. How very naïve I was. By verse nine, someone had called out, “Alli, do you have a picture of Vashti?” I responded, “Um, no? That was a long time ago. We know she was beautiful, but the story isn’t about her,” in an attempt to move things along. When we reached the end of chapter one, another women asked, “but what happened to Queen Vashti?”
I had prepared for Esther, for Mordecai, for Haman and Xerxes; I had even rehearsed how I would reply when asked about what a eunuch was. None of this helped with the Vashti questions. Beth Moore wrote some on theories about why Vashti refused the king’s command to appear at his banquet (self-preservation from a group of rowdy, drunk, nobles being a likely one); but even Beth stops short at any real historical data about Vashti after her dismissal. Which makes sense because, as I was so quick to point out, the story isn’t about her.
I spent my hour-long drive home from bible study in near silence, after a quick call to my Mom to laugh about my first bible study fumble. She giggled along with me and said, “this population will continue to amaze you with what they notice.” That thought stuck with me, niggling some area of my brain that had yet to firmly decide that I knew this story and how to teach it best. My friends in bible study hadn’t latched onto the Cinderella story of Esther, the beauty who won the crown. Instead, they worried over Vashti, the overlooked, the marginalized, the footnote in another’s story. How often had they felt like that footnote? In fact, haven’t we all experienced the pain that comes from this specifically lonely heartache of feeling forgotten, unimportant, or overlooked?
My heart ached as I considered how I nearly missed a lesson much deeper than what I had planned simply because it wasn’t the story intended. The following week was spent researching ancient Persian texts and biblical theories on what could have been Vashti’s fate, scanning paintings of queens at that time in hopes we could piece together what she may have looked like, and praying that God would guide my words rather than my own agenda.
It was an amazing study. So much so, that the men insisted on joining for our final lesson where we did a dramatic reenactment of Esther. Can you guess whose role was in high demand? Vashti was remembered well and our paper crowns gleamed on heads of Esthers and Vashtis alike that evening. My well laid plans had certainly changed, but what replaced them brought to light a theme much needed in our world today: the power of taking notice of those on the margins.
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Recommendations
The experience of searching our children’s bibles for stories about women makes me that much more excited for The Book of Belonging. An incredible labor of love by Mariko Clark, this children’s bible focuses on diversity, imagination, and representation. I’ve been a proud supporter from day 1 and can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to seeing it in print!
This week I am recording with Julia Strukely for her wonderful podcast Seven Mile Chats. I’ll be speaking about Genesis 16:13 and am equal parts elated and nervous. Julia is on season four and I’m honored to be among her guests because past episodes are so chocked full of wisdom and truth! I highly recommend you give her a listen.
Finally, this is the release week for Feminist Prayers for my Daughter by Shannon K Evans. If you follow me on any social media then you have probably seen me posting about this book; friends, its a laugh, cry, praise hands kind of read. As a member of her launch team, I was given an early release to read and have already ordered multiple copies to gift to friends and family. May we all pray over our girls with the heart and fervor of Shannon!
Coming Up Soon: That ever elusive piece on Mary and Martha with which I continue to fiddle and have yet to be happy.
Blessings to each and prayers for your Lent!
With Love, Alli