When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “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, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Escape. God’s Timing.
These two concepts sum up the options available to Esther. If we think about it, we can probably come up with times in our own lives where some sort of sacrifice was called for. And usually we have the same options.

I love the story of the Ten Boom family, who was hiding Jews in their home during the Holocaust. They were not Jewish, but put themselves at risk to save their neighbors. They could have escaped the Nazi regime by simply “minding their own business”. But they chose to act when God’s timing presented itself. The sisters ended up getting thrown into a concentration camp for their part in helping the Jews. And still, they looked for God’s timing and started a Bible study there.

Esther, in this passage, knew that under a normal scenario there was a very high likelihood the king could have her killed. This was a real threat to her. And so Mordecai called her out and challenged her to be courageous.

Mordecai helped her to see that: 1) God will always find a way to work his plan, even if we shrink back in fear. He will just find another way and/or another obedient follower. 2) There are consequences to not obeying God’s Spirit and doing the good we know we ought to do. And finally, 3) He helped her see that God placed her in this high position “for such a time as this!”

How can I accept and sacrificially obey the Lord in his timing?

Lord, give me boldness and courage to be your man in the heat of the battle, when even my life might be in jeopardy. Teach me to look for your timing in this world of chaos.