12 When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, 13 Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” (Esther 4:12-14)
Her brain spun. Her heart raced as she reflected on the decision that lay waiting. How did she get here?
She was a young woman. An orphan. A jew. A niece. But, most importantly, God’s daughter; consecrated and ordained for divine purposes.
God thrust her into an unexpected place.
She knew of the fate of her predecessor: Queen Vashti: Disposable due to her voice. Resistance results in death.
How did she get here?
God thrust her into an unexpected place.
The implications of her choices were not lost on Esther. Courage didn’t end well for Queen Vashti. It might not end well for her. Either way.
What does she have to lose? Her life-either way.
But bigger than that-being used to carry out God’s purposes. That’s big.
“I’ll go to the king, even though it’s forbidden. If I die, I die.” Esther 4:16.
Courage thrust from inside. Liberation resulted outside.
Because Esther knew how she got there. And that determined her choice.
Ann Vos Kamp writes, “We could all be the ones outside the gate….The reason you are inside the gate for such a time as this-is to risk your life for those outside the gate.” (The Broken Way)
Where is God calling you to “such a time as this?”
This post was written for the Five Minute Friday Writing Community. Come join us! http://fiveminutefriday.com/
Great essay, Stephanie. For me, I guess a time such as thi is right now; I can choose to be upbeat and optimistic in the face of terminal cancer, or to count my woes.
I’ll just keep the music in my head set to stuff like Van Halen’s “Jump”, and rock on.
#1 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2018/10/your-dying-spouse-530-please-god-i-dont.html
You are choosing to point to God which is what Esther did. Good song choices!
Good morning, Stephanie. Thank you for revisiting Esther. She is on my heart, swirling around in there. My favorite line “Courage thrust from the inside. Liberation resulted outside”.
Have a blessed Sunday, Julie
Thanks Julie!
Unexpected places and unexpected people. God was really good at that!