Exile – Esther

Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, … And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:13-14

The Book of Esther is another tale from the Exile. Esther is Jewish woman born in the kingdom of Persia where her parents ended up after the fall of Jerusalem. The first half of the book is kind of like Cinderella. The Persian king and queen have a falling out, so the King goes shopping for a new Queen. Esther, an orphan Jewish girl, goes through a year-long makeover process. She is eventually chosen as the new queen, but she keeps her identity as a Jew a secret because her uncle Mordecai, who works for the king, tells her to.

One day a plot is revealed that a new law would destroy the life of every Jew in the kingdom. Mordecai sends word to Esther that she has the opportunity to save her people by appearing before the king and asking him to change the law. Esther is terrified of upsetting the king. Lots of people had lost their heads – literally – by appearing before the king without an invitation.

It’s clear that Esther has never thought of herself as having any power. She’s spent her whole life at the bottom of society because she was a woman, a minority, and young. But now that she’s queen, Esther has the opportunity to use her power to help others. Mordecai hints that God might have made her queen for just this reason. She can be the heroine of this story, but if she is too scared to act,  then God would have to find someone else.

Every day, the Holy Spirit offers us opportunities to participate in God’s work in the world. It is a privilege and a responsibility to be servants in the Kingdom of God. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works, and Esther 4:14 reminds us that if we refuse God’s purpose will still be done. You have the power to change things for the better, so in what parts of your life are you tempted to remain silent?