Jump Start # 630

Esther 4:14 “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?”

This is a great verse! It is loaded with all kinds of principles and thoughts. Esther is a late book in our Bibles. It was written after the Babylonian captivity. It fits in with the books of Ezra and Malachi. The book of Esther unfolds much like a play. There are three key persons in this book. They are all connected to one another and they all need one another. Ahasuerus, is the king of Persia. Mordecai and Esther are Jews living in Persia. Mordecai is the uncle of Esther.

Earlier in the book, the king removes the queen and Esther is chosen to be the new queen.

Mordecai discovers a plot to assassinate the king, and tells that to Esther who tells the king. The king is saved. Haman, is promoted to number two position in the kingdom. He is proud, aggressive, careless and self seeking. As he parades through the streets, he expects and even demands that the citizens bow before him. Mordecai refuses. He is a follower of God and will bow to no one but God. Haman blows a gasket over this and deceives the king into signing a decree that will exterminate all the Jews. This is where our verse comes in. Mordecai understands the seriousness of this decree. Many Jews may die. Esther, being the queen, is in position to do something. She could possibly stop this tragedy from happening.

Our verse reveals three central principles.

First, God’s will cannot be stopped. If Esther did not step up, God would bring someone else. There were prophecies, especially about the coming Christ, that were still to be fulfilled. The Jews could not be completely eliminated. Nothing can stop God. No armies, no walls, no oceans can do it. The will of God will be fulfilled. That’s certain.

Second, Mordecai impressed upon Esther that possibly God arranged for her to be where she is. She now plays an important role in the will of God. That thought ought to impress us. Have you seen yourself in the same way? Could it be that you are where you are, at work, in that neighborhood, in that school, because God wants you there. Esther never saw here self as having that important role. Young David, when he was a shepherd, never realized that he would some day lead the nation. What you are doing today may well be getting you ready for what God has planned down the road. Many of us are in the position of influence. God may have us there to show others what is right. A selfish Esther would have never seen that. She may have thought it was her beauty or her talent or her ability that got her the job. It may be nothing more than God opening doors, so that He could have a person in position to fulfill His will. Makes you wonder doesn’t it? Makes you think that possibly God needs me where I am to accomplish something He has in mind.

Thirdly, we are connected to one another and we need one another. This is so true in this story. Mordecai needed an Esther to tell the King. The King needed an Esther and a Mordecai to save his life. Esther needed the king and Mordecai to change the law about killing Jews. The  king wasn’t a Jew. Still, he played an important role in God’s plan of things. God can use people who do not walk with him. You and I need others. We need each other. Ther are many connections and many things that are necessary to reach a person who is looking for Jesus, to encourage one who is quitting, to strengthen one who is new at all this. By himself, Mordecai couldn’t get anywhere. With others, great things were done

Build relationships. Use them as bridges to reach others and to fulfill God’s will. The Jews were saved. Was it Esther or the King or Mordecai that saved them? Actually, it was God using all three of those lives to fulfill that purpose.

Christians need non-Christians. Don’t have the monastery spirit that shuns all but fellow Christians. You need others. You need non-Christians to help you do the work God has planned. Mordecai sure did. Esther sure did. I expect if we thought about it, we’d come to the same conclusion.

For years, Christians have broadcast the gospel over the radio. That couldn’t happen without a radio station, owners, producers and a host of people, most who were not Christians to get the message on the air. The same goes with printing, publishing, internet, facebook and other forms of media. Christians need others to accomplish the will of God.

Who knows whether you have attained your position for such a time as this? School teachers. Principals. Police officers. Managers. CEO’s. Owners. Suppliers. Who knows whether you are in that position for the very reason that God needs you there to fulfill His will.

Sure makes a person look at their role differently. It makes a person realize that God opens doors that I may have never realized. It means that God may be counting on me to do more than just my job. Sure makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

Roger