For Such a Time as This
Esther 4:14 – 16
God not only choose the right person but also in the right time with right purpose. The story of Esther is one of the historical records that display the mighty hidden hands of God working mysteriously on behalf of His people for His glory. It was a dark age for the Jews. They were in a heathen land under gentiles rules. According to the prophecy of Jeremiah, confirmed by Daniel, people of Judah retuned back under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah. However, some Jews preferred to stay back and therefore faced the consequences. They almost lose their lives. It would have brought dishonor to God ; but His plans were yet to come.
God raised Esther and brought to a position to fulfill His plan and Esther responded to her call and task wisely and faithfully in-spite of danger and challenges.
ESTHER, THE BOOK, FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS :
The book itself had to go through challenges and criticism. The book of Esther has had a hard life. When it wanted to become a part of the Hebrew Scriptures there was a lot of objection and it had a lot of explaining to do. Some folks objected that it wasn't historically true. They said it was just fiction written to justify bringing a pagan festival into Judaism--the festival of Purim. Others said it was morally bankrupt, and still others had problems with the fact that it was missing important elements of the Jewish faith--things like law, covenant, prayer, dietary regulations, or Jerusalem. No prophet sent with any message ; no mention of Law of Moses. And the major one - the book also neglects to mention God--not even once. If the book of Esther had been facing the Board of Ordained Ministry it may just as well have given up and gone home.
And yet, despite all of the objections, there was something enduring in the story of Queen Esther. Somewhere in this story of greed and lust for power and vengeance was a message of truth that overcame the objections and landed the book in the Canon, forever to be labeled as Holy Scripture. And thus today we are learning and being edified from this glorious book the Holy Spirit has inspired and intended it be a great encouragement for the children of God today.
God preserved His Word, the Book of Esther, for such a time as this !
ESTHER , THE QUEEN , FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS :
Esther, a challenging character : she was born in a foreign land, to her slave parents, and sooner or later became orphan. It was her uncle, Mordecai, brought her up. Like the book, itself, she had to go through all emotional struggles, challenges and questions in life.
Esther , a beautiful character : Her beauty is seen in her dedication, wise, humbleness, obedience, sincerity, faith and persistence. The reason she was born in a foreign land as slave baby girl, the reason she was born as beautiful and she was selected in the beauty context, is the work of God and His providence. Behind this wonderful drama being played by an orphan young beautiful lady and her uncle, we see the unseen direction of God.
We see 3 reasons why and how God chose Esther as such as time as this :
Esther means star – a shining star. Stars shine at night alone; when there is darkness everywhere, they shine. Stars appears after the sun sets down, to beautify the sky, to give fulfill the purpose they are made and placed for; they shine at night to glorify their Creator, to display His might handy works in darkness. Some star are created to shine, some stars are created to direct the people to their right destiny and to display the time and seasons and likewise fulfill the plan and purpose of God on earth.
And Esther was one of such star that God placed here in a dark and gentile land to shine for His glory, to direct His people, to display His works and fulfill His purpose.
They fades away when the Sun comes up, giving all glory, rights, and respect to Him.
Stars cannot be numbered: there are stars that are not seen to our human eyes; they are hidden but doing their job very well and faithfully. Esther ( both as book and as person ) was almost ignored and was not numbered. Human eyes could not see the mighty hand of its Creator. But God brought her to light that all could see His mysterious hand writing a important history of His people.
Esther was star in the hand of God : no wonder in the Book of Revelation ( Rev 1-3) we see 7 stars in the right hand of our Lord Jesus Christ. And He is in the midst of them, walking and watching, encouraging them with His unseen presence to shine continually and to overcome the darkness.
And it is the same Lord who said to His disciples, “ You are the Light of the World..” Let us shine for His glory even for such a time of darkness as this.
“ If I perish, I perish ..”
Every Christain is called to make a commitment; he or she cannot fulfill the plan of God he/she called for without making a commitment. We fail to follow the Lord, for we fail to make commitment to follow Him. Paul says, I know whom I believed, I am sure and Persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to unto Him, until the day.( 2 Tim 1:12).
God is calling us to make a commitment to make for such a time as this. Are we willing?
Divine intervention can take place only when there is a fasting and praying. There are such things in our Christian lives that do not happen and cannot be achieved, unless we are committed to fast and prayerful life.
No wonder, Esther tell her uncle to tell people to fast. I believe, though there is no mention of God and prayer, the fact that fasting was proclaimed to the people, is proof that God was working mysteriously.
God answered to His people heart cry.
Nothing happens in the life of a child of God accidentally. All is a divine intervention. God brings good out of evil and brings glory to His name. Right from the fall of Adam, birth of Enoch, birth and call of Noah, call of Abraham, Joseph being sold to Egypt, Moses in the house of Pharaoh, selection of Judges, sending of Prophets and their prophecies, exiles of Judah, return of Jews to their land, and birth and selection of Esther….. birth and life of Jesus, choosing of apostles, history of church, etc….. all displays so vividly the Divine Intervention in history of mankind.
Esther , became a channel to bring that diving intervention into the History and it became so visible and clear.
Our birth to this world and being saved by God’s grace are not at all accidental, but God’s Intervention. God has chosen us to bring that into this world for His kingdom.
Conclusion
The world is in darkness, but God has placed as the light of the world, like Esther to shine forth.
The world is without hope, in danger of death and destruction, but God has chosen you to make a commitment and be an instrument of God to bring hope to this dying world.
The world is not able to see the Works of God, but God has chosen you to bring His Divine Intervention and fulfill His purpose in the lives of hundreds.
You are chosen for such a time as this .
Blessings !
Prasad Rao
July 19th , 2015
Esther 4:14 – 16
God not only choose the right person but also in the right time with right purpose. The story of Esther is one of the historical records that display the mighty hidden hands of God working mysteriously on behalf of His people for His glory. It was a dark age for the Jews. They were in a heathen land under gentiles rules. According to the prophecy of Jeremiah, confirmed by Daniel, people of Judah retuned back under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah. However, some Jews preferred to stay back and therefore faced the consequences. They almost lose their lives. It would have brought dishonor to God ; but His plans were yet to come.
God raised Esther and brought to a position to fulfill His plan and Esther responded to her call and task wisely and faithfully in-spite of danger and challenges.
ESTHER, THE BOOK, FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS :
The book itself had to go through challenges and criticism. The book of Esther has had a hard life. When it wanted to become a part of the Hebrew Scriptures there was a lot of objection and it had a lot of explaining to do. Some folks objected that it wasn't historically true. They said it was just fiction written to justify bringing a pagan festival into Judaism--the festival of Purim. Others said it was morally bankrupt, and still others had problems with the fact that it was missing important elements of the Jewish faith--things like law, covenant, prayer, dietary regulations, or Jerusalem. No prophet sent with any message ; no mention of Law of Moses. And the major one - the book also neglects to mention God--not even once. If the book of Esther had been facing the Board of Ordained Ministry it may just as well have given up and gone home.
And yet, despite all of the objections, there was something enduring in the story of Queen Esther. Somewhere in this story of greed and lust for power and vengeance was a message of truth that overcame the objections and landed the book in the Canon, forever to be labeled as Holy Scripture. And thus today we are learning and being edified from this glorious book the Holy Spirit has inspired and intended it be a great encouragement for the children of God today.
God preserved His Word, the Book of Esther, for such a time as this !
ESTHER , THE QUEEN , FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS :
Esther, a challenging character : she was born in a foreign land, to her slave parents, and sooner or later became orphan. It was her uncle, Mordecai, brought her up. Like the book, itself, she had to go through all emotional struggles, challenges and questions in life.
Esther , a beautiful character : Her beauty is seen in her dedication, wise, humbleness, obedience, sincerity, faith and persistence. The reason she was born in a foreign land as slave baby girl, the reason she was born as beautiful and she was selected in the beauty context, is the work of God and His providence. Behind this wonderful drama being played by an orphan young beautiful lady and her uncle, we see the unseen direction of God.
We see 3 reasons why and how God chose Esther as such as time as this :
- To Shine for God in the days of Darkness.
Esther means star – a shining star. Stars shine at night alone; when there is darkness everywhere, they shine. Stars appears after the sun sets down, to beautify the sky, to give fulfill the purpose they are made and placed for; they shine at night to glorify their Creator, to display His might handy works in darkness. Some star are created to shine, some stars are created to direct the people to their right destiny and to display the time and seasons and likewise fulfill the plan and purpose of God on earth.
And Esther was one of such star that God placed here in a dark and gentile land to shine for His glory, to direct His people, to display His works and fulfill His purpose.
They fades away when the Sun comes up, giving all glory, rights, and respect to Him.
Stars cannot be numbered: there are stars that are not seen to our human eyes; they are hidden but doing their job very well and faithfully. Esther ( both as book and as person ) was almost ignored and was not numbered. Human eyes could not see the mighty hand of its Creator. But God brought her to light that all could see His mysterious hand writing a important history of His people.
Esther was star in the hand of God : no wonder in the Book of Revelation ( Rev 1-3) we see 7 stars in the right hand of our Lord Jesus Christ. And He is in the midst of them, walking and watching, encouraging them with His unseen presence to shine continually and to overcome the darkness.
And it is the same Lord who said to His disciples, “ You are the Light of the World..” Let us shine for His glory even for such a time of darkness as this.
- To Make a Commitment ( 4:16)
“ If I perish, I perish ..”
Every Christain is called to make a commitment; he or she cannot fulfill the plan of God he/she called for without making a commitment. We fail to follow the Lord, for we fail to make commitment to follow Him. Paul says, I know whom I believed, I am sure and Persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to unto Him, until the day.( 2 Tim 1:12).
God is calling us to make a commitment to make for such a time as this. Are we willing?
- To Bring an Divine Intervention ( 4:16)
Divine intervention can take place only when there is a fasting and praying. There are such things in our Christian lives that do not happen and cannot be achieved, unless we are committed to fast and prayerful life.
No wonder, Esther tell her uncle to tell people to fast. I believe, though there is no mention of God and prayer, the fact that fasting was proclaimed to the people, is proof that God was working mysteriously.
God answered to His people heart cry.
Nothing happens in the life of a child of God accidentally. All is a divine intervention. God brings good out of evil and brings glory to His name. Right from the fall of Adam, birth of Enoch, birth and call of Noah, call of Abraham, Joseph being sold to Egypt, Moses in the house of Pharaoh, selection of Judges, sending of Prophets and their prophecies, exiles of Judah, return of Jews to their land, and birth and selection of Esther….. birth and life of Jesus, choosing of apostles, history of church, etc….. all displays so vividly the Divine Intervention in history of mankind.
Esther , became a channel to bring that diving intervention into the History and it became so visible and clear.
Our birth to this world and being saved by God’s grace are not at all accidental, but God’s Intervention. God has chosen us to bring that into this world for His kingdom.
Conclusion
The world is in darkness, but God has placed as the light of the world, like Esther to shine forth.
The world is without hope, in danger of death and destruction, but God has chosen you to make a commitment and be an instrument of God to bring hope to this dying world.
The world is not able to see the Works of God, but God has chosen you to bring His Divine Intervention and fulfill His purpose in the lives of hundreds.
You are chosen for such a time as this .
Blessings !
Prasad Rao
July 19th , 2015