For Such a Time

by

Esther 4:14 – …who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?


In the book of Esther the word “God” never appears, yet the hand of God is seen on every page. Through a series of events Esther, a Jewish maiden raised by her cousin Mordecai, became the queen of the Persian Empire. Concealing her Jewish identity didn’t seem to be a problem until Haman, one of the king’s princes vowed to annihilate all the Jews.

There was a reason Esther was queen. God had a purpose and a plan for her life. She couldn’t see it but Mordecai could. He sent word to her to make a request of the king to put an end to Haman’s madness (Esther 4:8).

Esther had a responsibility to do what she knew was right. She learned the truth that after illumination comes obligation.

This responsibility was not without a risk however. You see the King was in “the inner court” which meant if anyone entered without his consent or his approval they would be executed. The temptation would be to shrink from duty. She could remain silent about her identity and try to conceal her heritage but how could she live with herself? She, like John Bunyan, who when offered a release from prison if he would cease preaching said, “I will let the moss grow off my eyebrows before I will make a slaughterhouse of my conscience or a butchery of my principles.” She decided and said, “If I perish, I perish” (4:16).

The reward Esther enjoyed was twofold. She had the satisfaction of knowing she did the right thing, and she saw the salvation of her people.

Like Esther, God has a purpose and plan for our lives. He made us to serve Him. If you miss that you have missed it all. Where does God have you “for such a time as this?”