“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 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? “
Esther 4:13-14
We all have struggles and challenges in our lives. We have opportunities to speak up or be quiet when our enemies attack us. Often we feel alone and abandoned. What enemy is coming in on you? Will you stand and fight? What tools are you using in that battle? Are you fighting alone in your own strength and getting beat up? Or are you depending on God to fight your battle for you and trusting Him with the victory?
Esther and the Jews were looking at the long awaited battle initiated by Haman many months prior to this day. The 13th of Adar on the ancient calendar (roughly March 13th on our calendar) is the day that the Jews battled their enemies in the Persian Empire and won. In the beginning of Esther, this was the day so feared by the Jews that Mordecai wept in sackcloth at the King’s gate. Instead this day became a day when Jews throughout the kingdom stood against their enemies in the strength of the Lord and wiped them out. This day became a day “when their sorrow was turned to joy and their mourning to celebration” (Esther 9:22).
In Esther, the major themes are God’s provision in crisis and her willingness to take a stand against her enemies. As Mordecai told Esther early in the story “for such a time as this we have been raised up and we must now stand” (Esther 4:14, paraphrased) So, how about you?
Esther left a legacy of faith and willingness to be a woman God could use. What will be your legacy?
I pray you consider the faith of Esther to trust God to make of you what He needs today. Let the words of that beautiful old hymn voice your prayer to God:
Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee.
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice and let me sing always only for my king.
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages for thee.
Take my silver and my gold, not a might would I withhold.
Take my love, my God I pour at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be ever only all for thee.
May the next generation say of us that we stood for righteousness and we were salt and light to a dying world!
