For a Time Such as This

by | Aug 10, 2022 | Generosity, Giving, Thankfulness

When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail.  He went as far as the gate of the palace, for no one was allowed to enter the palace gate while wearing clothes of mourning.  And as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes.

 When Queen Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was deeply distressed. She sent clothing to him to replace the burlap, but he refused it.  Then Esther sent for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who had been appointed as her attendant. She ordered him to go to Mordecai and find out what was troubling him and why he was in mourning.  So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the square in front of the palace gate.

 Mordecai told him the whole story, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the decree issued in Susa that called for the death of all Jews. He asked Hathach to show it to Esther and explain the situation to her. He also asked Hathach to direct her to go to the king to beg for mercy and plead for her people.  So Hathach returned to Esther with Mordecai’s message.

Then Esther told Hathach to go back and relay this message to Mordecai: “All the king’s officials and even the people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days.” So Hathach gave Esther’s message to Mordecai. -Esther 4:1-17


Do you have a favorite movie you can watch every time it comes on the television and never get tired of it? I only have a few, but the one I always enjoy from beginning to the end is “Forest Gump.” In the movie, Forest is confronted with two philosophies of life by two different individuals. Lieutenant Dan tells Forest that there were no accidents in life and that everyone has a destiny that only they can fulfill. Jenny said that everything was an accident and that all people were floating atoms in the universe that collide with each other.

I am afraid that many people live their lives seeing through these same glasses, but it is not connected to Holy Scripture. Esther is an example of an individual that demonstrates that you and I could choose to make a difference, but what stops us from making a difference is “fear.” Fear stops us cold in our tracks! It will cause us to pursue a course of least resistance that usually causes us to do nothing. The result is always a disappointment for not pressing the advantage.

Esther feared failing, but her love for her people was stronger. In the end, Esther chose the tougher course.  She agreed to go see the king without being summoned. The result was that her actions saved generations of her lineage. I hope we take advantage every day, knowing that our God is greater than any challenge and His love is never-ending.

Journeying together,

John


Share:

Categories

0 Comments

Submit a Comment