For Such a Time as This
Life is not always easily explained. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations and circumstances that make perfect sense to us, while other times, it feels like we are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sometimes the reason we find ourselves in a certain place or situation becomes evident right away while other times that answer eludes us, and we scratch our heads wondering, “Why?” And isn’t it true that often the reason is made evident when that situation is in our rear view mirror, and at that time the light bulb comes on and we say, “Oh yes, now I understand.”
It is also true that God has us in certain situations that from our limited perspective just makes no sense. While we can only see to the horizon, God sees past the horizon. He sees all the way around the planet. God knows the whole story; His plans and timing are always perfect.
In the Bible we see the story of Esther and Mordecai. In the Old Testament book of Esther we read that King Xerxes had a falling out with Queen Vashti and he then handpicks Esther to become the new queen of Persia (2:17). Mordecai, who is Esther’s cousin, refuses to bow down to Haman, who is a high official of the king. Haman becomes angry and plots to destroy all the Jews (Esther and Mordecai are both Jews) in the kingdom. Mordecai hears of this plot and reports it to Esther, but she does not want to tell the king of Haman’s plan because nobody, not even the queen, was allowed to approach the king without his invitation to do so.
Mordecai persuades Esther to help, and we read these words in 4:14 – “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
Esther agrees to talk to the king (4:15-17). She begs for protection of her Jewish people from Haman’s wicked plan. The king believes her story (7:1-6) and he eventually impales Haman on a pole that was intended to kill Mordecai (7:7-10). Fast forward to the end of the story and we see that Esther’s faith and courage saves her people.
So, today I ask – Are you trusting that whatever position of life situation that you find yourself in, it is because God has allowed it “for such a time as this?”
Now I encourage you to read the entire book of Esther. It is a short book, only ten chapters. And did you know that Esther is one of only two books in the Bible that do not specifically mention God by name? However, the second, Song of Solomon, has one verse (8:6) that can be interpreted different ways, thus leading to some translations to insert LORD into the text while others do not.
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