For Such a Time as This - Esther

What if God has positioned us exactly where we are for a specific purpose?

The book of Esther tells an incredible story of a young Jewish woman who became queen of Persia at precisely the right moment. When an evil advisor named Haman plotted to commit genocide against all the Jewish people, Esther's cousin Mordecai asked her a profound question: "Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Esther had to make a choice. She could stay silent and safe, or risk her life by approaching the king illegally to save her people. After three days of prayer and fasting, she decided: "If I perish, I perish." Her courage not only saved the Jewish people from extinction, but expanded God's message throughout the kingdom.

Here's what gets me - Esther's bravery wasn't just about saving lives in that moment. The Jewish people carried God's promise that the Messiah would come through them. If they had been destroyed, Jesus couldn't have come. God's plan depended on one woman's willingness to act when it mattered most.

The contrast between Haman and Mordecai is striking. Haman obsessed over power and recognition, building a 75-foot gallows to execute Mordecai simply because he wouldn't bow to him. Meanwhile, Mordecai had saved the king's life without seeking any reward. In the end, Haman died on the very gallows he built for Mordecai, and Mordecai took Haman's position of honor.

We are often the cause of our own destruction through pride and sin. But when we humble ourselves and respond to God's call, even when everything seems to be falling apart, God can use us for purposes we can't even imagine.

So ask yourself: Is there somebody who will respond best because of YOU? Is there something God is calling you to do that only you can do because of your unique position, relationships, or gifts? Were you born in this generation for such a time as this?

God's sovereignty means He sees the big picture even when we're hanging on by a thread. Esther couldn't see 600 years of history that led to her moment, but God did. And He's still working today through people willing to stand up when it matters.

What is your "such a time as this" moment?