Our Favorite Things #17 – Bible Characters

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Summer 1884

It’s been a very long spring and summer. Taffy lost her life this year, I refused to forgive my family for their part (especially my brothers), and I harbored a pretty good share of hate in my heart toward our wretched cousin, Daniel. After it was all over, and Riley had helped me come to my senses (along with the quiet promptings of the God’s Spirit), Melinda and I were riding along together for a summer’s pleasant evening. She asked me an interesting question. “So, Andi, do you have a favorite Bible character?”

Up until that moment, I had never thought about it. Everyone knows the answer should be “Jesus,” and if I were still ten years old, I might have answered, “Jesus, of course!” But I know Melinda was digging deeper because we all love Jesus best. But after Him, then who? It was a hard question, so I asked Melinda to go first.

MELINDA’S FAVORITE BIBLE CHARACTER – ESTHER

Melinda was eager to oblige me. She couldn’t wait to tell me her favorite Bible characters. “I absolutely adore Esther,” she gushed. I didn’t have to ask why. Melinda kept on talking . . . and talking. Our horses walked slower and slower.

“Esther has all the charm and grace of a young lady totally devoted to doing what is right,” Melinda said. “She live humbly and obeyed her much-older cousin, Mordecai. And although she must have been frightened about what awaited her at the palace, she didn’t run away. Something inside Esther must have pressed on her to ‘see it through’ and let God take care of the big things.”

All right . . . I could see that. I nodded. “What else?”

Melinda giggled. “Once Esther was chosen to be the new queen, can you imagine her royal wardrobe?”

I rolled my eyes. I should have known dresses and finery would come into this story.

“Esther probably had the most beautiful clothes in the entire realm, but I think she stayed humble. The Bible says she still listened to her cousin, even though she was now queen. And the reason I like her the most and look up to her as a heroine is that she was not afraid to do what was right, even though she had a huge suspicion that she might be killed for her presumption of going to the king without his express permission.”

I shivered. Yes, Esther took a big risk.

“The words Mordecai spoke to Esther before she went into the king are some of my favorite,” Melinda finished. “…And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

“For such a time as this. Esther must have pondered those words. Her life purpose would be to save her people. She thought it through and decided that she would do it, and let God save her (or not). ‘When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’ She was ready to die. That’s how confident I would like to be to do the right thing.” Melinda smiled. “And having all those pretty clothes sure didn’t hurt.”

Melinda’s story gave me chills. I smiled. Esther was a heroic woman. Now it was my turn.

ANDI’S FAVORITE BIBLE CHARACTER – JOSEPH

I always liked Jonah, how he survived the great fish. And Noah’s story was always scary yet exciting. Building a boat for all those years? But since Taffy’s death and my problem with not being able to forgive, I landed on my favorite character of all. Joseph.

Joseph’s brothers did to Joseph way worst than even my cousin could have thought up. Daniel only hurt Taffy. I don’t think he intended that she and I even fell over the cliff. I think he figured Taffy would rear, I would fall off, and he would get a good laugh.

But Joseph’s brothers were very envious of all the ways God was blessing that boy. They did horrible things to him, but as I pondered the story of Joseph, I realized there is not even one instant when Joseph thinks about any kind of revenge or mean thoughts toward his family.

Which is more than I can say about myself. It took weeks to work through my hurt, my pain, and my unforgiveness when Mitch had to shoot Taffy (and the boys and Melinda were in agreement while I lay unconscious). True, it was a terrible thing to wake up to no Taffy! But Joseph woke up to something even worse. A slave in Egypt for over 13 years! But he accepted that God knew the big plan. I sure wish I’d read that Bible account during my illness. What was I thinking?

Anyway, when it was time to face my brothers, I said hurtful, unforgiving things. When Joseph faced his brothers, he forgave them . . . no questions asked . . . nothing required on his brothers’ parts.

Melinda gave her favorite quote. Here is mine from the mouth of Joseph. “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good…” I hope from here on out, whenever something doesn’t go well, or–God forbid–I should lose someone I love more than I loved Taffy, that I can remember Joseph who forgave.

**************

When Melinda and I finished sharing our favorite Bible characters, the sun was halfway to the western horizon. “We’ll have to scoot to make it home for supper,” she told me. Then she grinned. “We can race if you want.”

If I want? Was she kidding? “Of course! Panda will never beat Shasta. Not in a million years.”

“That’s all right.” Then Melinda surprised me. “Let’s do this again next Saturday, shall we? Only the next time, let’s come up with our least favorite Bible characters.”

Oh yes!