Today’s Reading: Esther 2:21-10:3
After the death of her parents, Esther was adopted and raised by her cousin Mordecai. When she was chosen to go to the palace, this father-figure advised her to keep her family background and nationality a secret (2:20). This would protect her from the prejudice many in Persia felt towards the Jews. As a palace official, Mordecai kept an eye on her by daily walking near the courtyard of the harem so that he could see how she was doing. When the king placed a crown on her head and declared Esther queen, she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions.
One day Mordecai overheard a plot among the guards to assassinate the king. He told Esther about it and she was able to tell the king, saving his life. If Esther’s story ended here, we could already see the evidence of God strategically placing her in a position to make a difference.
GOD’S BLESSINGS WERE EVIDENT IN ESTHER’S LIFE, DESPITE HER LOCATION; HIS PROVISION WAS EVIDENT, DESPITE HER CIRCUMSTANCES.
Some time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire. All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect…
When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes. — Esther 3:1-6
Haman began to conspire not only to destroy Mordecai, but to rid Persia of all of the Jews. Haman managed to convince the king that it was not in the king’s best interest to let this race of people live. Lots were cast to determine the day on which the Jews could be annihilated. These lots were called “purim” and were similar to what we think of as dice. This is where the Festival of Purim received its name – a time to remember the day intended for destruction but instead marked by God’s rescue of His people once again.
Consider with me the similarities between Esther and Nehemiah. Nehemiah was an exiled Jew living as a servant or slave to the king. His role as cupbearer became a blessing as Nehemiah was strategically positioned to be near the King to request a favor for his people. In the same way, the misfortune of Esther to be taken from her home and placed in the palace had become a blessing as she became queen and was strategically positioned to be near the King, giving her the opportunity to request protection for her people.
God intervened on Nehemiah’s behalf and the king noticed that he was distraught. God intervened on Esther’s behalf and the king noticed her standing in the inner court. He welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her so that she could approach his throne.
Nehemiah saw a need, prayed for the need, and then allowed himself to be part of the answer to that prayer. He allowed himself to be used by God. Esther saw a need, feared for her life and yet boldly stepped into the equation, allowing herself to become part of the solution.
Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made the queen for just such a time as this?”
Then Esther set this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in and see the king. If I must die, I must die.” – Esther 4:13-16
When faced with opposition while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah appointed half of the men to work on the wall while half stood armed with swords against the attack. In the same way, God’s people lifted prayers on behalf of Esther while she worked on protecting or rescuing them. She put herself in harm’s way but not until she knew that her family was covering her in prayer, calling on God to bless her efforts and use this royal position as an opportunity to reverse the decree, allowing the Jewish people to live.
There are days and opportunities when God strategically positions us to be used by Him. There are also times in which God gives us the responsibility to pray for someone else. There may be times in which we feel sorry for ourselves, wishing that we were not in a situation or place. Then what once seemed like an unfortunate coincidence becomes a God-placed miracle, and we find ourselves strategically positioned to be used by Him.
WILL WE ACCEPT OUR CALLING FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?
Will we see our situation today as Esther did? Will we boldly step into the equation and allow ourselves to be part of the solution? Perhaps our role today is to enter into the presence of our King, as Esther did. Perhaps it is our role today to stand “with sword in hand” and pray for God’s protection. Maybe God is calling us to take an unfortunate situation and make it an opportunity for His power to be displayed. Let’s be ready to respond today in obedience the moment God calls us into action — for such a time as this.