“…And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?â€
Esther 4:14
Just like the Esther we have come to know in the Bible, A Tale of Two Esthers portrays the challenges two Singaporean women face in their lives. Through God’s amazing touch comes together a beautifully-woven testimony of triumph over challenges, and purpose through tragedy.
Ms Esther Mok is one of the two Esthers featured in this DVD collection. Many may remember her as the individual who inadvertently brought SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) into Singapore over a decade ago. Her account is conveyed first-hand in this film, giving viewers a rare opportunity to witness how the episode unfolded – how Esther Mok caught the virus, and how it spread to her family and friends, and then to the nation. The emotion portrayed is raw, real and moving.
As put by a doctor featured in the film, SARS is a virus that transcends social class, age and race. Esther Mok’s account reminds me that while many at the time were labelling Esther as the ‘superspreader’ of SARS, this could have happened to any one of us while we were travelling overseas.
God chose to use Esther in a mighty and powerful way to overcome this tragedy and change lives for the better. Esther Mok’s tale shows how the crucial decision between giving in to anger and bitterness or drawing close to God can make a difference in how one overcomes tragedy.
A very different journey was taken by Ms Esther Tan, one of the members of Singapore’s all-woman Mount Everest climbing team. Though physically unfit and regarded by those she knew as a “girly†girl, Esther Tan surprised them all by signing up to climb Mount Everest. Her story is a testimony of how one can be stretched by God beyond their apparent human capabilities to overcome a seemingly unsurmountable challenge, demonstrating God’s strength in a way that words cannot express.
Her journey spanned five years, from intensive training which included scaling 30 levels of HDB stairs daily after work, to training six times a week. Not only was this physically demanding, it also meant sacrifice – socially, mentally and financially.
Esther Tan’s faith grew through the journey, with God as her constant help and refuge. One of the verses which encouraged her on this path is Psalm 121:1-2 – “I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.†Aptly chosen, when Esther Tan finally overcame the ‘death zone’ and scaled Mount Everest, God’s fulfilment of His promise was conveyed through the awe and wonder of His creation and His faithfulness to her throughout the whole process.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of A Tale of Two Esthers, suitable for viewing with your family and friends. If you want to take a break from your small group curriculum, this DVD is a great option as it comes with a conversation booklet suitable for small group discussions. Another plus point is that the stories are of Singaporeans and are very relatable to a local audience.
Indeed the accounts of two Esthers show that our God is both a powerful and yet personal God. In Him, there is no dream too big, no tragedy too great that can prevent His glory from being magnified!
DVD cover graphic courtesy of Cru Singapore’s Media Ministry
Andrea Low works in communications and loves writing, watercolour painting and road trips