Esther 4:14 NIV
[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?”
The story of Esther, or Hadassar, as she was known by her Jewish name, is an interesting one. Here was a girl who was an orphan, and brought up by her uncle in Jewish ways and customs, but whose identity had to stay a secret, because they were in exile. Here were God's own chosen people now in exile, simply because of sin and rebellion against God's express commands. There is a price to pay for sin. God has no favourites when it comes to sin, and He will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. Even His Son Jesus got a bit of God's view of sin when His Father turned away from Him as he hung on the cross, paying the full price for our sin. As it was then, so is it still now. God has not lowered the standard for anyone, and He continues to demand faithfulness from all who will follow Him. Am I still living in sin? Know that God hates sin, and take steps to reconcile with God. Your eternity will be glad you did. We find this exiled girl rising to become the queen in a foreign land. Just like Joseph, she was someone who knew and held on to God, through all the experiences she had.
Like Joseph, she did not abandon God when things got difficult. Like Joseph, she remained true to the principles of faith, and was greatly rewarded for it. It was not always comfortable and convenient; the verse above lays out one of the fundamental events that shaped the course of Jewish history at the time. The Jews found themselves at the risk of utter annihilation. Human was not just interested in killing Mordecai, the uncle of Esther, but wiping out the whole race. A decree of the king ordeing the destruction of the Jews, and whose word could not be changed, had gone out. The last line of defence was this young queen, whose identity was not known at the time, but would impact the world at her time. Who says you are insignificant? In the hands of the Most High God, you are a change agent. However, some things must be in place and be priority, if I am to fulfil the purpose of God for such a time as this. This is the message of the verse above. God does not make mistakes.
There are no accidents with Him. He plants men in places of authority, and sometimes He starts them off at the very bottom, because He wants to prepare them for the times when the lessons of their lives will be relevant to the times they are in. Mordecai started from the King's gate, until he ended up as one of the king's trusted advisers. Wherever you are now, as a faithful child of God, is where God wants to be seen. Do not jump ahead of Him, but trust Him to announce you at His own time. There is also a time to keep quiet and a time to speak. Esther was taught this lesson, and it saved Jewish generations from being wiped out. Do not be quiet when God wants you to speak, and there is no value in just speaking, unless God has given you a word for the season. Position is purpose. Do your best wherever you are, and see God move in your behalf to change lives and circumstances. Whether it is in the Pit, in Prison, in Pain or in the Palace, let the Presence of God be real in you. He is all you need for life and Godliness. Do you have Him? Before you dare face up to the world, make sure you are submitted to God. God's time of favour is here.
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