Has God Called You For Such A Time As This?

November 4th, 2024

So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king's presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."
When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: "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 your royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:6-14

Haman was determined to destroy the Jews. He came from a long lineage of "Jew haters" which could be traced back to the days when his ancestors attacked Israel as they escaped from Egyptian slavery. With his position as the most honored official in the royal palace, Haman saw a golden opportunity to deal a final death blow to his long-standing enemies, the Jews. Killing Mordecai who had offended him personally was just not enough; every one of God's children had to die in order to satisfy him. He was even prepared to pay a huge sum of money to accomplish his demonic goal. But God is always a strong tower of refuge for His children.

So, God touched Mordecai to fight for the plight of the Jews by reminding Esther that God had placed her there not just to enjoy the privileges of being Queen; but for a much larger purpose than that. Listen carefully to Mordecai's appeal: "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 will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

Mordecai's admonition to Esther is full of gems. There are two notable things that must not escape us:
First: Whatever position or place in life we find ourselves in is meant to fulfill a divine purpose much bigger than ourselves. Mordecai reminded his own daughter, Esther, not to forget that God had given her the privilege of being queen to serve a divine purpose. The position was not meant for her personal comfort and self-aggrandizement but to bring relief and deliverance to God's people. Her beauty, her adoption by Mordecai, her upbringing, the favor she had before the king were all meant to serve a higher divine purpose.

Question: What if we each realized that all the blessings, gifts and talents God has endowed us with are not meant just for our own enjoyment but for a bigger purpose beyond ourselves?

Second: God's plan can never be thwarted. Mordecai also makes us see that if we fail to live up to our calling in God's kingdom, God will raise up another person to fulfill that need: "If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise from another place."

So question: Are you remaining silent when God is clearly asking you to arise and fulfill a responsibility? Is God asking you to use your time, talents, treasures and position to make a difference? Have you turned your back on Him? Please listen: God can raise someone else to do what you are refusing to do for Him, but remember that you will be the loser if you fail the test. So, has God called you for such a time as this? Don't let this opportunity pass you by!

Prayer: Father, you have a purpose for me to serve. Please help me to recognize that purpose and fulfill it by your grace. Amen