March 16, 2023
Has it ever come to mind that perhaps God may have placed you in a certain situation or circumstance for a purpose?
Let’s look at the story of Esther where we discover a phrase that says, “For such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). What does this phrase really mean?
Esther was raised by her cousin, Mordecai who adopted her as his daughter (Esther 2:7). Esther was an orphan who later became the queen of Persia saving her people from what seemed a certain demise.
At this time, Xerxes (King of Persia) enjoyed publicly displaying his kingdom’s wealth and power. The previous Queen, Vashti, enraged the prideful king when she refused to come at his command to display her beauty amongst the people and nobles. His advisors urged him to remove the queen, as a result – she was dethroned and a decree went out in search of a beautiful girl to take the throne beside Xerxes (Esther 2:1-4). A historian recorded 400 women that were chosen, of all that were called – Esther, a Jew became the new Queen of Persia.
Much time had passed when among Queen Esther’s people, Mordecai became aware of a genocidal plot against the Jews. Hamon, a trusted adviser to the king, hated them and sought to have them murdered. Esther had grown accustomed to a royal lifestyle, we see in scripture as Mordecai pleaded with her to think above the luxurious distractions saying to her , “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. 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 4:13-14).
What he had asked was not an easy task, she would risk giving up her title, personal ambitions, reputation, and most importantly – her life to speak to a king known to murder indiscriminately. She was called to action, and her bravery and faith in God are a testament to the trust this young woman had in the living God. An entire nation was saved because of her obedience regardless of how it might have taken her life. God saved her and spared the lives of her people.
How many souls can be spared in the culture where we live today if we chose to step up to service, even if it involves sacrifice?
This passage reminds us that God’s kingdom work will move forward with or without us. God assigns our positions, status, intellect, wealth, resources, in order to optimize His kingdom purposes. He didn’t place us where we are so we could enjoy and store up earthly treasures for ourselves. He places us wherever we are for Him and for His purposes.
We can learn an important characteristic of God from Esther’s story: His complete sovereignty over His Creation. God orchestrates and maneuvers every aspect of life in order to position people, government, events and situations for His plan and purpose. Esther was in the harem “for such a time as this.” She was made queen “for such a time as this.” She was strengthened and prepared to intercede for her people “for such a time as this.”
The Lord may position you in the right place, at just the right time, among the right people, in a certain situation, “for such a time as this.”