I totally wasn’t planning on doing this two days in a row, but I didn’t realize how easy it was to see the Bible as a text book or source of doctrine instead of the beautiful story that it is. Plus I’ve really wanted to spend a good bit of time at home with my niece and sister-in-law, so I’ve been able to get some real intimate time in the Word during nap time. Today, I just sat outside and read through the story of Esther, which I could’ve recited beforehand, but was still so moved by how powerful it was. First thing, the Bible isn’t fiction. That may be a shocker to some, but it’s not made up people with a creative story line. Whether or not you believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, these are still real records of real people, making real choices.
Esther was a Jew, growing up in a Babylonian empire. Not the best combination. However, the combination of her extreme beauty and the wisdom of her uncle, she quickly won the favor of the king. When yet another attempt of genocide came up for the Jewish people, Esther was the only one in the position to do anything to stop it. Since she had won favor with the king and had become his queen, she held a position of influence. But bringing this up to a Babylonian king would surely mean death, even for someone that was his wife.
So Esther had a decision to make. What would she do with her position of influence? Would she risk everything she had worked so hard for, or just sit on it and quietly “praise God” so she wouldn’t rock the boat?
When it was finally decision time, Esther uttered the words that could have truly been her death sentence, “If I perish, I perish.”
How many of us wouldn’t take this stance, or just try to stay neutral? The chapter before records her uncle’s words to her, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” These words echo in my mind, not because I have something to learn from Mordecai’s wisdom, but because I feel like I’ve heard them before. Who knows whether or not we’ve been given this (fill in the blank) position for such a time as this?
We’re in positions of influence daily but how often do we tell ourselves, well someone else will do it. Or, if it’s meant to happen then it’ll happen with or without me. Or, just stay out of it. All statements are true. All statements are also ones of defeat and self doubt. We have been equipped and placed in positions not so we can take a title to heaven, but because we’ve been given the authority to make something happen.
Where are you just sitting on your position and not being obedient to the point you need to be? Where do you need to risk the “name you’ve built for yourself” to take care of someone else? I can’t promise you’ll always come out on top positionally but it can get really lonely living for yourself…
