For Such A Time As This

Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?  Esther 4:14

Today is Purim and here’s the rest of the story. After Esther was chosen queen, and Mordecai foiled an assasination attempt on the king, there rose an enemy by the name of Haman. Now Haman was promoted to second to the king and he also hated the Jews. He was in the blood line of the Amalekites, a product of the disobedience of Saul, who failed to anihilate them and left some of them escape and mingle among the nations. Haman never forgot what happened to his people and vowed revenge against the Jews. So he called one day for a pur (casting of lots) to see when he would decree the entire Jewish population to be destroyed throughout the kingdom. The day was 13th of Adar.

When Mordecai heard about it, he tore his clothe, mourned and gave the decree to Esther. She told him she didn’t know what to do since he hadn’t summoned her for over 30 days. And then reminded him about what it means to go into the king unsummoned, death. Unless he held out the scepter to her. Mordecai then told her, unless she did something, God will would call someone else, because no one would be safe. So she oredered all the Jews to pray and totally fast for 3 days, then she would go into the king and if she perished, she perished. So she went in unannounced, but once again when the king saw her, she found favor in his eyes and her life was spared. When he asked what she wanted she said she wanted to invite him and Haman to a banquet she had prepared. He accepted.

Of course Haman was thrilled and went home and bragged about it, but said he couldn’t enjoy it because of Mordecai. So his wife and friends encouraged him to make a gallows to hang Mordecai on. And he did 50 cubits high. That night the king had insomnia and when being read the royal chronicles learned that Mordecai was never rewarded for thwarting the assasination plot. So he asked Haman what he should do, and he said to have him wear the kings royal robe, put him on his royal horse with the royal crest and walk him aroound declaring this is what happens when the king is pleased with you. The king’s response, wondeful! Do just what you said to Mordecai. After he did that, he went home hiding his head. As he was telling his humiliation to his wife and friends they whisked him away to the second banquest Eshter had prepared. There when the king asked what she wanted, she replied her life. He then asked who would do such a thing and she said the wicked evil Haman. The king left for a minute and when he returned, Haman was hanging on Eshter pleading for his life. The king said is it not enough that you want to kill the Jews, but you molest the queen too. Then they took him out and hung him on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

In the end although the law could not be rewritten, it was overriden with a new law that the Jews could defend themselves. And when the 13 of Adar came no Jew died, but over 75,000 of their enemies did. And not only did Haman die, but his 10 sons did also in the attack. Mrodecai, received everything that belonged to Haman including his place among the royal princes.

So here’s the the take away. Esther is a picture of the church today. We are up against an enemy that has been becoming increasingly violent and causing chaos and confusion. But, we have been placed here in this time, for such a time as this. We are the only ones that have the supernatural power to overcome the enemy. We understand how God works, that His way of dealing with evil may take longer and seem round about way, but His restoration is always greater than that which was lost. Let’s show the world how awesome and loving our God truly is.