Being stuck at home sick over the weekend I had plenty of time to read. Articles, news briefings, essays, educating myself thoroughly into anguish over the political and social state of our country right now. I made myself more than physically sick over more than a few things.
As I was contemplating what I must do, how I must act, one of the most iconic passages of scripture of all time came to my mind.
Esther 4: 14 “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
And I thought, “Yeah! I’m a bad a** woman of God! A Queen! And I’ll fight in “such a time as this”! I’m gonna go kick some…”
Hold on…
As I thought more and more about the story of Esther I recalled everything the mighty woman had done.
It had everything to do with her being a woman and it had nothing to do with her being a woman.
First she waited.
She was God fearing, and she loved the Lord but she had suffered a lot.
Finally inside the palace itself, probably just rooms away from the king and yet she waited. She was within the palace for a year before she ever even saw him. She took it all in. Observed. And with the information supplied from her Uncle outside those walls, she began to see the truth… from both sides. She was God anointed and appointed for where she was. She discovered her gifts and began to implement them in due time.
She followed one of the king’s highest official closely. Educating herself on how to make her voice heard. She watched carefully and learned from him. And planned the best way to reach the king.
She sought the truth.
She and her Uncle uncovered the lies. Discovered conspiracies, bribes, and murderous plots with their own eyes and ears. Because they existed, not just to make some up. And they made them known.
They did everything in their power to seek the truth.
Then they told the right people. The people who needed to hear. People who could do something about it.
She respected her position in the kingdom while supporting her Uncle when he took a stand.
Both she and her Uncle knew what had been decreed was wrong. He had the power to stand up against it, so he did. He stood up against what he saw was wrong. Against fear of punishment.
They made their upset obvious.
Her Uncle wailed in sackcloth and ashes at the palace gates, for days in protest for the plight of his people. When she heard his position she joined him in whatever action she could take.
But first… she prayed.
She fasted and prayed for 3 days before doing anything. Seeking the Lord’s wisdom, guidance, and presence in whatever she was about to do.
She also gathered those around her in prayer and later to join in the fight. She-
created unity to seek out justice.
She was terrified but she didn’t let fear hold her back. When she was afraid her Uncle reminded her that if she remained silent, relief and deliverance for the people would come from another place. And the chance to do something would pass her by. He told her now was the time to act, the time she had been waiting for.She made the choice not to miss the opportunity.
She risked everything for what she knew was right.
Esther went before the king to make her plea known, fully aware she could lose her life because of it.
Then she waited again.
Esther shared a meal, eating directly across the table from the “Hitler” of her time.
Knowing exactly what he planned to do to her people. Yet, instead of allowing her righteous anger to consume her, leading her into premature action… she waited until the proper time.
Self-control, poise, pointed heroism.
You know the phrase “Well behaved women rarely make history”. She is the rarity. The most salient point being her balance of non-passive inaction with appropriate direct action.
She saved millions.
And lastly, she never called for harm.
Not even on Haman himself. Who surely deserved it. She focused instead on what was most important. She fought for the lives of the people.
She fought. She did it right. And I am not telling you not to fight.
But if you fight now, don’t you dare stop.
Historians and Political experts are warning: “with all the political charge and unrest in our country society reels and tempers run high”.
Distraction and division run rampant.
They warn of an impending, “resistance fatigue”. In other words, people will get tired of fighting. Time will go on, everyday life will catch up and injustice whatever form, will be forgotten. Maybe even prevail. Pushed to the back-burner or another’s plate. Without immediate sweeping success, discouragement will reign.
Esther’s epic story, with every element of waiting, seeking, fight, spanned the course of 3 years.
Whether the justice, righteousness, love or peace you’re fighting for comes about tomorrow, or we don’t get to see it in our lifetime but only plant seeds:
If we have learned anything, Don’t let it be forgotten!
Seek the truth.
Discover your gifts and use them.
Talk to the right people.
Respect your position in the kingdom.
Make your upset obvious.
Take a stand against wrong.
Support those who do.
Fast
Pray again.
Create unity to seek out justice.
Bring others into the fight.
Pray and wait well with them.
Don’t let fear hold you back.
Never miss the opportunity to act.
Take risks.
Balance those with waiting.
Never call for harm.
And don’t ever stop. Because who knows, but that you have come to your position in this life for such a time as this?
