Esther 4:14-16 - 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 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 maids 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 lived in the sheltered world of the
Palace….no clue that a letter had been sent out demanding the destruction of
all her relatives. She got word that
Mordecai was distressed….and tried to send him new clothes....to end his
mourning…but he refused. He sent her messenger back instead with the grim news
that awaited her people….and begged her to intercede to the king for their
lives.
At first…Esther was as numb as
Mordecai. She was stuck between the
rules of the Palace that stated she could be killed for even asking for time to
speak with the king….and the sure death that awaited her if the king knew she
was a Jew as well. Memories of what had
happened to queen Vashti must have flooded her heart…but as Mordecai reminded
her that she was a Jew…and might be found out anyway…she began to summon
strength from the believers around her that realized before she did that God
had a plan…and had placed her in the Palace for….”such a time as this.”
Esther’s fear and worry was replaced with
resolve to do what she could to help her people as she realized that life was
not just about her. When Esther began to step outside of the …I need to protect
me mode….she gathered the courage she needed from God…..in fasting and prayer…to
do what had to be done. She resolved in that moment to allow God to control her
destiny…instead of the world’s edicts…and faith took over where human reasoning
had stopped.
Just as it is written in 1 Corinthians 2:5…
“So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but
in the power of God.” ….we must all begin to seek out what time we were born
for. God created all of us …for a
specific purpose…and has placed us in just the right spot to do a mighty work
for him. I am not sure my priorities are
in the right order to be able to accept my calling…and say with complete
confidence….”if I perish…I perish…”
Father…thank you for the reminder this
morning once again that the world does not revolve around me. It revolves around your wonderful love…and
the huge plan you set in place to save the world through the sacrifice your son
made on that cross. Help me Lord to stop being so selfish…and begin to fast and
pray for you to reveal my purpose…so I can begin to realize what time you
created me for. Give me the confidence…the
courage…the faith….that powered Esther’s choice to allow you to be in complete
control of her destiny. Amen.
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