Right Place, Right Time

Suggested Bible Reading

Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what was happening and why. Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate, and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and charge her to go to the king to make supplication to him and entreat him for her people.

Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai, saying, "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law--all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days." When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, 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. 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." Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish." Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

-Esther 4:5-17 (NRSV)

Today's Scripture Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? -Esther 4:14 (NIV)

ESTHER was a Jewish girl captive in a foreign land. Yet she became the queen of her new country. She also faced a problem. She may have thought herself above all of Haman's plotting, until her relative Mordecai pointed out to her that she would suffer with the rest of the Jewish people in the Persian Empire if she did nothing to prevent their destruction. Yet for her to approach the king without an invitation could have meant her death. However, when she took a step of faith and went to the king, he was pleased to see her and did not order her death. From that point on, Esther knew that God was with her. God is not mentioned in the Book of Esther, but we can see God working behind the scenes.

The key to Esther's saving her people was her courage to use the position she was in at the time when she was needed. Her step of faith saved God's people from extinction.

Today we may find ourselves wondering what is going on in our life - and why. We may wonder if we are also in the right place at the right time for God to use us. Surely we can pray to be prepared as God's servants, ready to act in "such a time as this."

John Harrold (Gwent, Wales)

Prayer

Great Ruler of the world, help us to be what you want us to be, ready to serve you in whatever situation we encounter. Amen.

Thought for the Day One person's faithful acts can change history.

Prayer Focus

People who are oppressed