For Such A Time As This

I read the Book of Esther yesterday. I love being retired and having all the time I want to read. Yesterday though one particular verse grabbed my attention. "How perfect for today," I thought, as I closed my Bible and my eyes.

In the Bible story, God's people were in trouble. Esther found herself in a unique position. She was a Jew yet only a few people knew of it. When she stood up in front of the king she risked her life for her people who had been scheduled for annihilation at the hands of Haman. The get to her position, Esther had to replace a deposed Queen Vashti who had been disobedient to the king.

Does that sound like any other story you have read in The Bible? Jesus and His sacrifice for God's people perhaps? And Satan. He will be deposed from this world when Jesus returns.

Watching the nightly news can easily show us how Christians are being prosecuted around the world, It is easy to see the comparison between Satan and Queen Vashti and especially Haman. Esther's relative Mordecai said this to the young Queen Esther before she went into the King's court and risked her life.

"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?” - Esther 4:12-14

You and I have a royal position. Through our faith in Jesus, our faith in God, we have become heirs, sons and daughters of The Most High God. Look at the world we live in. Chaos, persecution, unrest . . . ask yourself the same question Mordecai asked Esther.

"Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

For Such A Time As This
The Book of Esther