Week 37d--Esther

The book of Esther is God’s fairy tale. It has all the proper story elements: a setting of long ago in a far away land, a princess who undergoes a transformation, a monstrous villain, a wise older figure, and even a ball. There is jealousy, fighting, power struggles, evil plots to kill the king, and revenge. In fact, there is everything except Rodents of Unusual Size (and if you consider Haman a big rat, then that is covered as well). We love this story! Why? Because it reminds us that God can use anyone, in any situation, to quite possibly save the world.

All kidding aside, though, why is this such a wonderful story? Hadassah (Esther’s Jewish name) is living in exile, hundreds of miles from her people’s homeland. The Persian empire is headquartered in the city of Susa (which is about 900 miles from Jerusalem, as well as I can guess using Google maps). When there is a need for a new queen, she is chosen. More than once she is required to put her own life on the line to save her people. She must go before the king uninvited--a small thing to us, maybe, but this was an offense punishable by death. She must also do something even more dangerous--rat out the king’s right hand man. For Haman wants to exterminate all the Jews, simply because Mordecai, Esther’s uncle and adoptive father, won’t bow down to Haman. She does both of these things because her uncle encourages her. “Who knows?” Mordecai tells her. “You could have been placed here for such a time as this.”

“For such a time as this.” Esther’s story can be boiled down to these six words. God placed that young woman in that time, in that place, for that reason. Her reason ended up saving her people. Your reason is probably not as dramatic. But know this: God has placed you where you are, when you are, in your situation, for a reason. What this reason is, well, I can’t tell you. But God can. He knows all your days--they were all written before you were even born (Psalm 139:16). Trust in Him, follow God, and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

And you might, in some small way, end up changing the world.