Topkapi Palace in Istanbul was the palace of the Ottoman sultans for 400 years. Sure, the complex wasn’t static during those centuries, as each sultan added his own touch.
Exploring what happened in that palace, I realized it wasn’t so different from the Biblical world. A palace is filled with luxury. The royal family is waited on hand and foot. The sultan always had a harem. Beautiful, virgin women were taken away at his command to live in the harem for his pleasure.
Imagine Esther being pulled into that life. She likely had no choice in the matter, but how would she react? It seems she went with the flow. She hid that she was Jewish, which probably meant forgoing kosher food laws and more. She did what it took to survive, compromising where needed. She had her night with the king and was deemed better than all the other women in his harem. By God’s grace she became the queen. Through all this she successfully concealed her identity.
On the other hand, there’s the prophet Daniel. Taken away from the land of Israel to Babylon, he was forced to learn in the king’s school. However, he didn’t compromise. When told to eat a certain way, he was even stricter than God’s commands. By God’s grace, he became the head of the wise men, openly giving God the credit for the mysteries he discerned.
Despite these very different strategies, one thing remains the same: God used them both. No matter your past, God can use you right where you are. You simply need to follow when he calls.
