Mordecai's words to Esther
the queen was to consider that she may have been put into the
position of queen for “such a time as this”. In other words, God
may have placed her in a convenient and powerful situation just
because He knew there would need to be salvation for the Jews. In
chapter four and verse fifteen we see the beginning of the reaction
that Queen Esther had to her older cousin. We read:
We note
in these very few words, “Then Esther bade them return...” The
word “them” is italicized in the King James version of the
Bible which denotes that it was added by the interpreters. However,
we saw earlier in verse twelve of this chapter a reference to “they”
which was not italicized. The only difference between whether it was
a they or a “him” was that Esther's chamberlain Hatach seems to
not be working alone to deliver these messages back and forth at this
time. Whichever the case, Esther asked them to return.
The
verse continues, “...return Mordecai this answer,” It
almost seems cruel to end at this part of the story, nonetheless we
shall take advantage of this stall. Let's put ourselves in Esther's
place for a moment. Imagine her fears, her wonder of the future, her
thoughts about her own fate and the purpose she may have obtained
unwittingly. She now probably thought that it was quite the advantage
to be the queen, and the royal treatment she enjoyed both before and
after she became queen had to be very pleasant. Perhaps she just
thought being the queen was her destiny and after losing her parents
at such a young age and being torn away from her native land, it was
a blessing to now be in such an advantaged position. Regardless of
her thoughts about where she was in life, she was now having to
consider that the reason she was in this position was to be an
intervening figure for the Jewish people.
What
position or positions do we hold that have put us in an advantaged
place? Do we have a voice because we have been set up in a situation
of influence? Are we somehow in charge of others in small and large
venues that would allow us to save them should it become our place to
do so? Would we be willing as Esther to be used by God in
intercessory ways that might affect both temporary and eternal
destinies? As we ponder this verse, and pause in the middle of the
thought to consider it, perhaps we should push the pause button in
our lives and consider what answer we would give for “such a time
as this.”
Next
time we will see Esther request prayer and fasting, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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