Esther is one of only two books in the Bible named after a woman! It relates the exciting account of how Esther saved the Jews from destruction during their time under Persian rule. Jews remember this wonderful deliverance annually at their feast of Purim.
Esther is chosen by King Xerxes of Persia out of all the young women of the land, to be his wife and Queen. Esther’s Uncle Mordecai, who raised her, warns her not to tell anyone that she is Jewish. Some time after she is made Queen, Haman, an official of the King who dislikes the Jews, has the King sign a decree that on a certain day all the Jews are to be destroyed. Mordecai hears about this decree and sends a message to Esther asking her to plead with the King for the lives of the Jews. She replies that anyone who goes into the King’s presence without being summoned is risking their life. Mordecai then answers “”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 royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:9-10)
Esther decides to risk her life and speak to the King. She goes to see him after she and all the other Jews have fasted for three days (the Jews fasted when they were praying very intently for God to intervene on their behalf). The King is pleased to see her and spares her life although she goes to see him uninvited. And when he hears about the plight of her people he makes a further decree that all Jews can defend themselves on the appointed day for their destruction (since he could not reverse his earlier decree). I’d recommend reading the whole story for yourselves; it has exciting plot twists and turns that I’m sure you’d enjoy!
From a human perspective, Esther’s life is largely controlled by the desires and dictates of King Xerxes. But Mordecai steps back and considers God’s perspective. Mordecai knows that God will save His people, the Jews, and believes that God has chosen Esther to do it, by arranging for her to be Queen. I often think about what God might have prepared me to do, or be calling me to, in view of my own circumstances. What I learned from my illness a couple of years ago, (which I would not have chosen to have, of course), has given me opportunities to comfort and encourage people who have emotional problems. This summer I volunteered to teach the preschool class at my church’s Vacation Bible School, because I believed that I was available for “such a time as this”, despite my lack of teaching experience. And, remembering that Esther and the Jews prayed hard that God would use her to accomplish His plans, I pray this too, about whatever I’m involved in. Let’s look for the specific opportunities that God’s prepared us for and pray for the courage to accept them, believing that He will enable us to complete anything He’s called us to do.