Why did Esther not immediately ask the king for her real request, the deliverance of the Jews? Why did she instead invite him to a banquet, and then to yet another banquet?
Perhaps Esther was stalling out of fear. However, she was also demonstrating a wise understanding of the human heart. In a word, she was practicing good salesmanship. By delaying her request, she built curiosity in the king, so that by the time she made her request, he was eager to grant it.
We can learn from Esther’s example. Whether you need to make a new proposal at work, teach a principle to your children, or share the gospel with a neighbor, use the power of curiosity. Rather than come right out and tell others what you want them to know or do, get them to ask you. For example, rather than telling someone they ought to come to church with you, say something like, “I have discovered that there is one thing I can do that takes only an hour each week but that has transformed my family relationships and sustained me in my most difficult struggles. If you’d like to know what it is sometime, I’d be glad to share.” Then walk away, and wait for them to ask you. Like Esther, we can put the power of curiosity to work for good!
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