Esther: For Such a Time as This

Esther

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY
Creation. Abraham. Moses. David. ELIJAH. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to-Come.

I often use this verse from Proverbs 21:1: "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will." It is one of many passages that confirm God's sovereignty over even the world's most powerful rulers. Scripture makes clear that no one can thwart his divine plan (Job 42:2; Isa. 14:27). 

Yet, we are not just spectators in God's story. He works through our situations, circumstances, and personal decisions to accomplish "all things according to the counsel of his will" (Eph. 1:11). Today, we will see this truth displayed in the life of a woman named Esther. 

In 586 BC, the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, tore down the city walls, and carried the survivors into exile. Forty-seven years later, Babylon fell to the Persians, whose empire was headquartered in what is now Iran. 

Unlike the Babylonians, who often left conquered cities in ruins, the Persians governed with a different philosophy. They believed it was better to preserve conquered lands and allow their inhabitants to remain. As a result, Cyrus, Persia's first king, allowed the displaced Hebrews living in Babylon to return and rebuild their homeland. This occurred seventy years after the Jews had been taken captive by Babylon, just as God had promised through the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 25:11–12; 29:10).

Zerubbabel led the first group of exiles back to settle in Jerusalem. About 50,000 Jews returned to rebuild the city and the temple. However, they soon faced opposition from the surrounding nations and abandoned the work. In response, God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the Israelites to begin rebuilding again. At last, after twenty years, the temple was restored. The account of Zerubbabel's efforts is recorded in Ezra 1–6. 

In Ezra 7, God sent Ezra to Jerusalem to lead a spiritual revival. It is important to note that an eighty-year gap lies between Ezra 6 and Ezra 7. It was during this period that the events recorded in Esther took place. 

When the story of Esther begins, the king of Persia is Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes, who reigned for twenty-one years. At one point, he gathered all the leaders of the empire before him for an elaborate 180-day festival to display the "the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness" (Esth. 1:4). 

According to Herodotus—an ancient Greek historian who wrote about the Greco-Persian Wars—Xerxes spent four years planning the invasion of Greece, which was carried out in 481 BC. It is possible that the 180 days mentioned here were intended to allow for strategic military planning sessions with the leaders of his kingdom. Because wars are costly, this festival may have also provided an opportunity for Xerxes to display the wealth of his empire and demonstrate that he could finance such campaigns.

Xerxes also sought to impress his guests by presenting his beautiful wife, Vashti. During an extravagant banquet, he summoned her to appear before what were likely many drunken nobles. Scripture does not tell us exactly what Xerxes expected or intended from the queen, but she refused to come. Humiliated and incensed, the king removed her from her royal position and began searching for a new queen from among the lovely young women of the kingdom. By God's sovereign hand, a young Jewish woman named Esther was chosen as queen, though she kept her ethnicity a secret.

Esther's parents had died, and she was raised by her relative Mordecai. He faithfully served Yahweh and refused to bow to any man, regardless of his position. This enraged Haman, a high-ranking official. When Haman learned that Mordecai was a Jew, he secured Xerxes' approval for a decree ordering the extermination of all the Jews throughout the kingdom, and quickly had gallows built in anticipation of Mordecai's public hanging. 

As God sovereignly directed these events, Haman's plot against the Jews was exposed, Mordecai was honored, and Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Through Esther's position, God used her to preserve the Jews throughout the kingdom. 

This story is filled with twists and turns that reveal God working behind the scenes to accomplish his will. Still, he works through people and that is where I want us to focus. 

When Mordecai learned of Haman's plot to exterminate the Jews, he arranged for a meeting with Queen Esther. Up to this point, Esther had not disclosed her nationality and seemed reluctant to become involved. In this exchange between Mordecai and Esther, we find a significant takeaway for all believers.

Esther 4:13-14
Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Mordecai's response expresses confidence in God's sovereignty. If Esther remains silent, God will raise up another means of saving his people. In his plea for Esther's help, Mordecai's faith is unwavering but he is relying on more than that. He is certain of this truth: Esther's presence in this moment– her beauty, favor, position, and access to the king– was no accident. God had placed her there "for such a time as this." 

The same truth applies for you and me.

You are who you are, and where you are "for such a time as this." Esther's story is a timely reminder: do not miss the greater purpose God has for you. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read and reflect on Esther. Where in your life might God be positioning you right now for influence or service you haven't recognized yet?

Talking to God: Acknowledge that God is sovereign and ask him to open your heart to the plans he has for you. 

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