Verse of the Day 6/23

Through the Bible - Esther 10, Job 1-2, Acts 7:23-34

 

Good morning,

Over the weekend the Old Testament reading was in the book of Esther and today's reading closes out that book.  If you haven't read it, or it has been a while, take some time and read through it.  It's an amazing story about God's providence, in His working in the details of life when it appears that He is not there.

 

Although the book follows Ezra and Nehemiah in the Bible, the events actually take place 30 years prior to those recorded in Nehemiah.  Ezra and Nehemiah record remarkable events and the importance of prayer, community, and putting faith into action.  They are magnified and magnify the significance of what took place in the book of Esther.

 

Today's verse is probably the most quoted from the book.

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

or from the NLT

Est 4:14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?"

 

It is unusual that in this book about God's providence, that in the original version, God's name doesn't appear in it, yet you can see the hand of God in the timing, the twists and turns that bring glory to God and reveal His faithfulness in the dire situation that Mordecai and Esther find themselves. 

 

All the Jews were to be killed but God used a faithful servant and a young woman to accomplish His purposes.  They did so by showing courage, faith, trust and found hope in their God.

With God in charge we too can take courage, even if we don't understand what is going on around us.  Mordecai and Esther faced death.  They  took risks, setting aside the fears that were within them to take a stand and do what was right, what was needed, and what was necessary.

 

In what position has God placed you?  Will you have the courage to act?  Will you have the courage of Mordecai to see the situation and ask of someone else?

At some point in your life you probably will come to a situation in life where God will place that question in your mind, "who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"  Will you be prepared to respond?   How will you respond?  

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Est 4:10-5:1

 

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days." 12 So they told Mordecai Esther's words.

 

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

 

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"

 

17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.    NKJV