For Such a Time as This...from Esther 4:14

For such a time as this... the Biblical quote from the heading is a well-known one - that many, I fear, don't even know the origins of.

Here's my summary of the historically true story.....Esther has been selected to be the Queen of Xerxes - King of Persia (Babylon...Iraq) back in 493 B.C. - after his original queen, Vashti, decided not to obey him and show up at one of his many parties (for which she was killed!). This really means that Esther was one of many in his 'court' (harem!). Her story is somewhat the same as Cinderella - search made for the loveliest in the kingdom, and the King selected her. After that, she was fed (fattened up because plup = pretty back then), and given all kinds of beauty treatments (spa, massage, facials, etc., etc.). Well - anyway - she was an orphan (living with her Uncle Mordecai), and a Jew - one of the many who had elected not to return to Israel when King Cyrus decreed that the exiled Israelites could return to Israel (this happened in 539 B.C. - remember, B.C. years work backwards!) after their captivity in Babylon. Sew...she had to been living and somewhat assimilated into that corrupt and pagan culture.



BUT, she knew from where she came, and kept true to her faith in the one, true God.

Well - as a result of her Uncle Mordecai refusing to bow to King Xerxes' right hand man Haman who is like Rahm Emanuel is to Obama, Haman has gotten the King to give a death order to all Jews in the land (yet approximately 9 months out in the future!).


Mordecai figures Esther might well be the way the Jewish people can be saved - and says to her: "Just because you live in the king's palace, don't think that you of all the Jewish people will escape. If you keep quiet at this tie, someone else will help and save the Jewish people, but you and your father's family will all die. And who knows, you may have been chosen queen for just such a time as this." Esther 4:13-14.



Sew...the lessons Beth Moore helped me see through this Biblical historical account ...
1. "Not only am I royalty (in Christ), but I am also placed in my sphere of influence, regardless of the size I perceive it to be, "for such a time as this."
2. God cut out the exact time and perimeters for me to live in - the time and the place. Acts. 17"26. That means I have a duty to not only seek what He wants me to do, but to do it!
3. I can refuse to do what I hear God telling me to do, but even if I do, He will still accomplish His agenda - despite my choices. I still have choices - because God grants us humans free will - that's where we mess up.
4. I want to be so close to God - that I have my will - the choices I make - be close to what He has planned. I realize that even when the hugest, most awful (in my mind) events happen - God will show up - perhaps not in my timing, but in His. (Wow, have my 57 years taught me that the waiting isn't usually fun!) I pray that I am beaten to a conviction that wins out over my self-centeredness.
5. When I face a huge decision - I want to be open to asking, What if this is a critical moment? What if this very thing, this very decision is the most important piece of the puzzle (that God has ordained) comprising my purpose?"

I just pray that during times of great struggle that I make the Godward decision over carnal, convenient earthly comfort.

Anyway - that is the story I've been studying, and some of the lessons learned. I pray it speaks to you too - "for such a time as this" - wherever you find yourself.