meaningful

Esther 2:1-18
Esther 4
Psalm 91

“…For such a time as this…”

These are the words that have echoed through my life in every twist and every turn. These are the words that have stood true.

“For who knows that you have been brought to Parowan high school, for such a time as this?”
“For who knows that you have endured heartache, for such a time as this?”
“For who knows that you are attending Samford University, for such a time as this?”
“For who knows that you have been called to Kenya, for such a time as this?”
“For who knows that you became a wife and a mama, for such a time as this?”

I have found comfort in these words, attained peace, and been reminded of my purpose to serve my King with these words.

Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her Uncle Mordecai, is described as beautiful in figure and lovely to look at. She easily won favor with those she met. And ultimately she saved an entire… Well, we will get there in a minute.

Esther lived in Susa, ruled by King Ahasuerus, whose reign extended from modern day India to Ethiopia. He was a mighty king, but also full of himself, who could beckon for anything and it would magically appear.
Except one night.
Drunkenly, the king summoned for his queen in the middle of a celebration that he was hosting for all of Susa.
She refused to be paraded in front of more drunk men as his objectified trophy.
In his anger, and after some interesting council, he tore away her crown and decided it was time to find a new queen. (told you he was self-focused!)

Women from all over his province were gathered, including our beautiful Esther. These woman would spend six months in an intense “beautification process” in preparation for one night with the king. One night to win his heart and, if successful, would also win the crown. Eventually, much to her own dismay, Esther was found to be the most lovely, the most beautiful, and the King chose her to be Queen.

And this is where the story gets good.

Enter the wicked adversary, Haman, who loathed Jews, but had the full trust of our puppet King. So when Haman proposed that there be a mass execution of the Jews, King Ahasuerus willingly agreed, not knowing that his own wife was a Jew.

Uncle Mordecai urged Esther, who faced near certain death to approach the king without being summoned, “If you stay silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come for the Jews from another place, but you will perish. For who knows that you were made queen for such a time as this?”

Esther, her dark eyes downcast as she let the words fall over her soul, looked the servant in the eye and told him to deliver these words to her uncle: “Gather all of the Jews in Susa and fast for me, while I fast here with my servants. And on the third day, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

Gripped with fear, but held by the Lord’s hands.
Esther held on to a safety that wasn’t determined by status, or a death sentence, but by the Living God.

That moment of decision washed up on Esther and she felt neither prepared nor pleased with the process, but her faithful God sustained her heart to choose Him, even if death reigned. She didn’t know the outcome, but she knew her God.

“If I perish, I perish”, are words that point to a power greater than herself and she was determined to honor him, whether in life or death….“for such a time as this”.

In the end, Esther told the King of Haman’s wicked plans, having been granted life instead of death in the King’s throne room. Haman was killed and the Jews were given permission to protect themselves if anyone tried to hurt them.
An entire nation was saved by Esther’s brave faith to trust the Lord’s safety instead of her own.

May we all be women who are daily reminded
that we are exactly where we are “for such a time as this.”

“For who knows that you have been….
called to this city
given this job
have this income
are enduring this illness
a mother to these children
walking this lonely trial
….for such a time as this

Who knows the powerful things we will accomplish,
the people we’ll be able to influence,
the nations we’ll be able to save when we trust the Lord to keep us safe, offering Him our
“For such a time as this”.

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