Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 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?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

Esther 4:13-16

At that time there was a Jewish man in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. He was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei. His family had been among those who, with King Jehoiachin of Judah, had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. This man had a very beautiful and lovely young cousin, Hadassah, who was also called Esther. When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter.
Esther 2:5-7

• Esther is like Joseph in Egypt.
• Esther is like Moses before Pharoah. 
• Esther is like David before Goliath. 
• God brings them all to the front to work out His plan. 
• God places people in specific places and times for a reason.
• Today we're looking at a pivotal moment in the book of Esther, a story of an orphaned Jewish girl who becomes queen of Persia.
• Her people, the Jews, are facing a genocidal plot by the wicked Haman. Esther is in a unique position to help, but taking action could cost her life.
• Our passage today captures the powerful exchange between Esther and her cousin Mordecai, a conversation that changes the course of history and teaches us about divine purpose and the courage it requires.

• The Challenge from Mordecai:
  
  • "Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed." This is a stark dose of reality. Mordecai reminds Esther that her royal status won't protect her from the decree. She is inextricably linked to her people and their fate.
  • This isn't just a physical threat; it's a spiritual one. Mordecai is calling her to acknowledge her identity as a Jewish woman and to see that her safety is tied to her people's.
• The Providential Question:
  
  • "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." This is a powerful statement of God's sovereignty. Mordecai is confident that God will save His people, with or without Esther. God's plan of deliverance will not be thwarted.
  • "Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for such a time as this?" This is the core question. It links Esther's position directly to God's purpose. It suggests that her entire life's journey—becoming an orphan, being chosen as queen—was not a coincidence but a divine appointment.
  • After hearing Mordecai's words, Esther sends back her reply. She doesn't immediately act, but she requests a communal time of prayer and fasting. This shows her reliance on God and her need for spiritual strength.

• Esther's Declaration:
  
  • A Call to Prayer and Fasting: Esther understood that this was a spiritual battle, not just a political one. She called for her people to join her in seeking God's favor and intervention. This highlights the importance of relying on God's power, not just our own courage.
  • "I will go to the king, even though it is against the law." This is an act of incredible courage. To approach the king uninvited was punishable by death. She is willingly putting her life on the line for her people.
  • "If I must die, I must die." This is a profound statement of surrender and resolve. It's a "come what may" attitude, a willingness to face the ultimate consequence in pursuit of God's purpose. It's a moment of heroic faith.

• God's Purpose in Our Lives:
  
  • The question, "Who knows if perhaps you were made... for such a time as this?" is for all of us. God has placed each of us in our families, workplaces, communities, and friendships for a divine purpose.
  • What unique gifts, positions, or relationships has God given you? How might He be calling you to use them "for such a time as this"? Don't assume your position is an escape from the world's problems, but a platform to address them.
• The Call to Courage:
  
  • Esther's decision was not easy; it required a willingness to risk everything. Our call to courage may not be as dramatic, but it can be just as real. It might be speaking the unpopular truth or simply being a faithful witness.
  • The story of Esther teaches us that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act in faith despite it. When we sense that God has placed us in a strategic position, we must be willing to step out, trusting that if we must sacrifice something "for such a time as this," God is faithful and our courage will not be in vain.

• God carefully protected the Jewish nation for the purpose of blessing the whole world. 
• God kept His promise. 
• God’s will is sovereign. 
• God’s plan is secure. 
• God’s love is deeper than we can ever imagine. 
• God’s grace holds together the fabric of time. 

God works in unexpected places through unexpected people. Be ready when your time comes.