For Such a Time as This: The Courage to Act

In today’s society, everything is heightened.  Fears seem bigger.  Information about wars comes right to our phone in real time and it feels more personal and extreme.  The excitement of high highs and low lows are plastered on social media for all to see and feel with our neighbors.  With such a heightened state of living, we feel defining moments in our lives more often.  A moment in time where our decision can change the course of our future, perhaps it can in effect our children or even our community.  The story of Esther in the bible doesn’t just “seem” or “feel” like momentous.  It was.  

While the Jews were living in exile under the rule of a Persian King, their very lives hung in the balance.  Vengeance of a man named Haman who made it his mission to annihilate an entire population had a plan that could only be stopped by the hand of God.  And that hand used a woman named Esther, who had been guided to the status of Queen but was safely insulated inside the walls of the Persian palace.  The story of Esther unfolds the invisible hand of God orchestrating a plan to save his people.  And the climax of this story hinges on a choice of Queen Esther to  step out of her comfort zone, accept personal rise and recognize that her God had placed her in this position to not just benefit her but to save her entire population.

I encourage you to read the entire book of Esther and watch this history unfold but let’s look closely at Esther 4:13-17 today.  After Esther rose to the position of queen by the sovereign hand of God, she was in not just a place of power but a place of safety, luxury and comfort.  She did not even know that there was a decree that threatened the lives of all the Jews that lived in the Persian boundaries.  At this time, King Xerxes conquered land from India all the way to Ethopia.    The decree that Haman had written up and sent out to the entire kingdom is found in 

Esther 3:8-9

“Then Haman approached King Xerxes and said, “There is a certain race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire who keep themselves separate from everyone else. Their laws are different from those of any other people, and they refuse to obey the laws of the king. So it is not in the king’s interest to let them live. 9If it please the king, issue a decree that they be destroyed, and I will give 10,000 large sacks of silver to the government administrators to be deposited in the royal treasury.”

The King agrees and gives his signet ring to have the law enacted and announced.  It is not until Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, sends word to her that she seems even to know that this death sentence has been put into law for her people.    Esther initially responds with fear and self-preservation. Analyze Mordecai’s sharp reality check: status and privilege do not grant immunity from systemic crises. 

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 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? Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “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. So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.” ‍ ‍Esther 3:13-16

Esther has an illusion of safety in the palace.  But only true safety is found in their God and Mordecai has faith that they will be delivered.  He has absolute confidence: "If you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place..."

Even though God’s name is never explicitly mentioned in the Book of Esther, His providence is loudly implied here. The mission will succeed with or without her, but her participation determines her own legacy.  Mordecai knows the promises of God and that since he is a God that does not lie and does not break promises that the people are assured a deliverer.  

God has given each of us a unique set of talents and abilities and he has placed us in the specific place and time in history.  They are not accidental.  Are we using these for the kingdom or God, to further glorify Him with our lives?  Or are we trying to increase our comfort, luxury and safety?   We now see that Esther's royal status wasn't a reward for her beauty, but a strategic placement for a future rescue mission of her people.  What an immense honor it is to be used by God to save her people.  Likewise, what an immense honor it is to be used by God to save people from eternal damnation!

Like a humble leader Esther knows that she is to call upon her God for favor and direction.  She steps forward, taking on the risk and calls for support from not only Mordecai but the people as well.  

"Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me..." (Vs 16)

Many times we are faced with a decision, and we sit in the fear of that next step, but God does not call us to walk this life alone.  We are given a community of believers around us and here we see Esther calling upon her community as she prepares.   We know that the most prominent fear that Esther faces is going before the king.  Breaking with Persian law to go to the king without being first called, she puts herself totally in the hands of God to allow her to once again find favor with the King.  Esther accepts that doing the right thing might cost her everything.

While we get to read how God miraculously not only saves the lives of the Jews while punishing Haman on the same gallows he had built to kill Mordecai, let us focus on what Esther did in the unknown.  She did not know what the outcome would be, and yet she did not remain in the seat of safety.  She stepped out, even risking her own life. 

Taking risks can look big like Esther, but many times they are small.  We are called to give a kind word when someone has been unkind to us.  We are called to turn the other cheek instead of striking back with a harsh word or slandering someone's name.  We are called to love sacrificially even when we feel like there will be no gratitude for our sacrifice.  But still we are called to step out and obey.  

Where have you been placed?  What position are you in that God has given you favor?  What is God calling you to do today to further His Kingdom and bring Him glory? What gifts, talents or resources do you have that could be used for the safety or comfort of others?  Be in prayer today to thank God for the place and time that He has put you and ask Him to give you eyes to see the mission before you.