For such a time as this

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" – Esther 4v14

The book of Esther is an interesting story. Though God’s name is never mentioned we see His hand at work throughout the book.

Through a series of unusual circumstance Esther, a Jew, had become queen of the land. In the meantime a plot was being hatched to totally wipe out all the Jews. Political scheming was taking place. Haman was a self-aggrandising plotter who was trying to rise to a position of favour in the kingdom. He convinced the king that the Jews were enemies and that they should strike first before the Jews caused problems.

Esther’s uncle Mordecai was a noted person. At one point he refused to bow down to Haman so he was officially under his own death sentence. Certainly something had to be done.

Only one person was in a position to do anything about this and that was Queen Esther. Mordecai came to her and told her that she needed to talk to the king about this situation. Of course she was afraid to act. Who would not be?

But Haman pointed out that no one else could help. If she did not act not only was he dead, but so was the nation was in danger. He told her, ‘If you don’t do this God’s people will survive. Somehow they will be delivered.’ That was good news and it did show his faith, but he went on – ‘But who knows if God has put you in place for such a time as this.’

Esther was in a place to make a difference. Sure, God could have used someone else, but she had a unique opportunity to be the one to do it.

I wonder how often we find ourselves in a similar situation. There is always something to do. God is going to see His work done. But, like the situation with Esther, who knows if God may have put us in this place and this time to do a special work for Him? It is easy for us to sit back and wait for someone else to do it. But is that God’s plan? Who know whether or not God has put us ‘in such a time as this’ to do a work for Him?