For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
– Esther 4:14
The story of Queen Esther has always fascinated me. I think the mystery, the intrigue, the danger is what makes this book of the Bible popular for fiction retellings. But I think the reason it resonates with us is because of the reminder that God is always working on our behalf.
Sometimes we forget that God has a plan. We get bogged down in the details. We get overwhelmed by all that’s going wrong. But God is not taken by surprise. He has a plan for such a time as this.
Note how in Esther 4:14, Mordecai states that if Esther doesn’t act, deliverance will come from another place. This statement of faith astounds me. Mordecai seems to believe God will save them no matter what. After all, even though the Jews had displeased Him time and time again, God had not forgotten them. But by speaking to Esther, he encourages her to consider that God may want to use her.
I’m sure she was scared. In fact, she tells Mordecai that going to the king could result in her death (Esther 4:11). But God had a plan for this. He knew the king’s affection for her. And He used that affection to save Esther’s life and the life of her people.
God had a plan for such a time.
Isn’t this a great reminder for us? Things may look bleak. We may be at wit’s end. But God sees more than we do. God knows more than we do. And God has a plan for such a time as this.
Life may be tough, but God’s got this.
