Back during the reign of King Xerxes, the people of Israel were being held captive in Assyria. They were carried off to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar about a hundred years prior. But, after that, the Babylonian empire fell to the Assyrian empire and so now the Jewish people were under their control. The people of Israel typically worked hard and, with God’s favor, they rose in status over many of the other peoples in Assyria, to the displeasure of some.
One person who was not happy about the success of the Jews was a man called Haman. Haman was a noble in King Xerxes court and he rose in favor with the king, being promoted to the highest rank of nobility. But there was a problem with Haman: he hated the Jews. He hated them so much that he wanted to exterminate them. So, using his position of favor with King Xerxes, he devised a plan to have them all executed.
What Haman did not foresee was that Queen Esther, Xerxes’ new wife, was a Jew. She kept that fact hidden from Xerxes out of fear of being thrown out of the king’s court. But she was approached by her former guardian, Mordecai, who informed her of Haman’s plan. Mordecai was one of Haman’s main targets for the extermination. Haman hated Mordecai. And so he plotted to not only get rid of Mordecai, but all of his fellow countrymen as well.
Mordecai went to Esther and pleaded with her to go to King Xerxes to inform him of the plot. Although Esther wanted to intervene, there was strict protocol in approaching the king, even for his wife. She had to be summoned by him or else she could be executed. So, with this in mind, Esther informed Mordecai that she was unable to intervene. Mordecai’s response is famous. He said to her, “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:12-14).
God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things - just ask any missionary. God is not looking for a “superstar” or a gifted speaker or someone that has many talents and abilities. He is looking for a willing heart. Our world is going downhill very fast. The things being taught to our children and grandchildren are very disturbing. Not only are these teachings inappropriate but they are also Biblically incorrect. My brother-in-law always says that “what one generation tolerates becomes the norm for the next generation.” We need people to stand up and fight against this wave of perversity or else our children and grandchildren will think it is normal. We need more people like Mordecai and Esther.
Thank God Ester did respond to the call. She did approach the king without being summoned and informed him of the plot against her people. God protected Esther from being executed and then moved upon King Xerxes to take action. Haman was hanged on the gallows he built to hang the Jewish people. Evil was exposed. Justice was served. Innocent lives were saved.
God is calling all of us to take a stand for him. Yes, we can try to make excuses like Ester did. But, if God is calling, He will take care of any possible negative consequences. He is only asking for willing people to take a stand. We cannot think that, because we are a part of the King’s household, we will be spared judgment for our non-action. It is imperative that we respond “yes” to Him, no matter what He is calling us to do. Don't forget, you may be the only person He can call on to do the job He has for you “for such a time as this.”
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