TO CHEW ON: "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 house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this." Esther 4:14
Esther eyes opened wide as the servant delivered Mordecai’s message. Was he telling her to go to the king without an invitation? Didn’t he know that could get her killed?
It had all started when Esther’s servants had seen Mordecai dressed in sackcloth, covered in ashes and wailing as if someone had died. She had sent fresh clothes for him and asked what the problem was. Now the servant had returned with a copy of Haman’s new law and Mordecai’s request. He was asking her to go to the king and beg for the life of the Jews. And she would have to tell him no. Because what he was asking was impossible.
But her servant returned with Mordecai's reply: “Esther, you too are a Jew. Don’t think you’ll escape Haman’s law just because you’re in the palace. Who knows, it may be that you are queen now just so that you can help your people.”
Esther knew Mordecai was right. But the thought of going to the king without an invitation was still very scary. She would need help.
“Tell this to Mordecai,” she told her servant. “Gather all the Jews in the city and have them fast and pray for me for three days. I will do the same with my servants. Then I will go to the king – and if I die, I die.”
When Esther became queen, she may have thought it was all about her – her talents, beauty and charm. Now, though, she was beginning to see that being chosen queen might not be about her at all, but part of God’s plan to save the Jews.
Have you ever had a time of special favor and success like Esther did? Perhaps you were chosen to be yearbook editor, voted class president, or picked for the all star team. Maybe, like Esther, you thought that this was all about you. Has it ever occurred to you that God may have a special reason for your being in an important position, just like He had a special reason for Esther to be queen?
Ask God to help you understand why you are where you are. Make up your mind to be like Esther and fulfill God’s destiny for you in that place – no matter what it costs.
PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to be part of Your plan in the place you have me now. Amen.
MORE: The Plot Thickens
After three days Esther took action. Did the king accept her? Read about it in Esther 5:1-14. Then number the mixed up events, below, in the order that they happened.
___ The king asked Esther what she wanted.
___ On his way home, Haman became furious when he again saw Mordecai refuse to bow to him.
___ Esther got dressed in her royal clothes and approached the king’s throne room.
___ Esther invited the king and Haman to a special banquet.
___ The king held out his gold scepter to Esther, giving her permission to enter the throne room.
___ Haman built a gallows on which to hang Mordecai in his yard.
ANSWERS
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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