Positioned Strong
Devotional Contributor: Al Schierbaum
Scripture:
Esther 4:13—16 "Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish."
Observation:
The Jews were under the rule of the Persian King, Xerxes. Xerxes had taken over for his father Cyrus. Esther and Mordecai enter the King’s life three years into his reign. That is where the book of Esther begins. King Xerxes and his father reigned over the world’s most vast and powerful empire, but had suffered recent embarrassing set-backs against the Athenians who had rebelled. With that in mind, Xerxes was re-energizing his military and would eliminate any threats quickly. One of his top officials, Haman, had it in for Mordecai and the Jews, and convinced the King that they were a threat and needed to be eliminated. Xerxes did not know that Esther, his new wife, was a Jew. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, broke the news to her of the edict to eliminate all the Jews and that Haman was the main instigator that made this happen. Mordecai, then challenged Esther that she was the only person that could reveal the deception of Haman to Xerxes and save the Jews. He told Esther that God had positioned her to be the King’s wife for such a time as this. Esther fasted for three days in order to work up the courage to approach the King. She exposed Haman and the Jews across the entire Kingdom were spared.
Application:
As God had positioned Esther for a very important assignment, so He positions us. Esther might have wondered how a common Jewish girl in a Persian empire could become Queen. Not until the circumstances unfolded did she realize why she was strategically positioned to be Queen. Mordecai, said that God would raise someone else up if needed, but she was the one positioned for such a time as this. We too may not be able to discern why we are being led in certain ways. You may, right now, be a place you never thought you would be. Wherever you are, it is likely that God has positioned you to be in the lives of people that He wants to deliver. Will you let Him use you? Take courage, step up and trust that you are in a position to make a difference for the Kingdom of Christ.
Request:
Dear Lord Jesus, I realize that you have positioned me in the lives of people to be a witness of your love and salvation. May you bless me with the courage needed to do and say what is needed. I desire the take advantage of “such as time as this”, in my life. Amen