WOMEN IN THE WORD: ESTHER

Five hundred years before the birth of Christ Jesus, Esther, an orphaned Jewish girl, was living as an exile in the land of Persia. Life went from bad to worse when Esther was abducted by the government and forcibly placed into the king’s harem. Held against her will, the virgin girl waited for the day the immoral king would demand her company. Poor kid!

Against all odds, the beautiful young Hebrew slave was crowned as Queen of Persia. From rags to riches, she became Queen of the world’s unchallenged super-power!  

The Old Testament book of Esther records her story, and it records the evil schemes of Haman, a power-hungry aid to the Persian King Ahasuerus. Haman hated the Jews and convinced the King to sign a decree calling for their complete annihilation. 

Mordecai, Esther’s uncle and adoptive father, had counseled Esther to keep her ethnicity a secret. So, when the king signed the death decree, he had no idea he was calling for the death of his beloved young Queen.

Esther might have remained silent. She didn’t.

After inviting her countrymen to fast and pray, she boldly approached King Ahasuerus. Divulging her Hebrew heritage, the Queen brokered a deal to save her people. Due to a young girl’s bravery, her entire nation was saved from certain destruction.

The turning point of this great story comes when Uncle Mordecai asked the fearful Queen, “Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Mordecai’s question gave Esther the nudge she needed to approach the king.

We can pose the same question today. Has God’s sovereign design set you in a place of influence? Has God directed you, prepared you, taught you … for such a time as this? Is a friend or associate ready to hear the Gospel? Is a family member or friend in a crisis? Does a classmate or coworker need God’s comfort?

Who knows, perhaps you are here for such a time as this?

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).