Why does being in the right place so often feel like the wrong place, at least until seen in hindsight?
Purim begins tonight at sundown – the holiday that recounts God’s deliverance of the Jews through Esther. Although she was queen, Esther was essentially acquired into a harem. For a devout Jew, this was probably not the place of her choosing. Though she had some influence with the king, she was also in danger as her people were being targeted for extermination. At great risk to herself, she tempted the limits of that influence and God used her to rescue His people.
When Esther signaled some reluctance to act, Mordecai gave her a timely reminder that she may be where she is “...for such a time as this.”
Esther was involved in saving her people entire, but do we really believe God only orchestrates the big events? Maybe you missed that plane to encourage the stranger. Maybe God brought you to that failing company to help protect the innocent. Or maybe you’ve been placed within your family “for such a time as this.” You might be in a place you don’t want to be, but maybe God wants you there so He can rescue you, too.
Mordecai also reminded Esther that God was going to rescue His people whether she participated or not. If we step back, God may use someone else to fulfill His purpose.
Let us be bold in our faith as we embrace, not only the mountains, but the speed bumps in our life as an opportunity for God to work through us. Who knows if God has put us in that less than desirable place “for such a time as this?”
Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 3:13-14
