Esther – For Such a Time as This

Esther 4:10 – 16 (NIV): 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

    Esther is a great story in the history section of the Old Testament. It took place about 473 BC in Persia. I don’t have room to tell the whole story, but it is a wonderful example of God orchestrating his will in what seemed like a terrible and hopeless circumstance.

    Esther was a Jewish orphan girl living in a foreign land. Her people were conquered and she lived with her uncle, Mordecai. But God had given her a special gift: unusual beauty. The king, Xerxes, had banished his queen, Vashti, and searched the kingdom for her replacement. When he laid eyes on Esther, he was smitten. She became his queen.

    In the meantime, a man named Haman rose to power under Xerxes. He hated Mordecai because Mordecai wouldn’t bow to him. He not only wanted to kill Mordecai, but all the Jewish people. He talked Xerxes into allowing the Persian people to murder them all and plunder their belongings.

    I want you to read the book for yourself to see what happens, but in Esther 4:14 we find, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Mordecai told this to Esther to convince her to approach the king and ask for mercy on the Jewish people. He realized that God had placed Esther where she was so that she was in position to help.

    God places us where we are for a reason. He has a purpose for each of us. Our jobs, our families, our friends, our schools, our health situations. He has placed us where we are so we can minister to others and glorify God. Be brave, like Esther, and trust in God to keep his word and be faithful to us. God has placed you right where you are for such a time as this.