For Such a Time as This
“When it comes to living out the will of our Lord for such a time as this, an all-in bet is not really a gamble at all.”
Esther 4:4-17 (NIV)
When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
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?”
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Reflection
The night had not gone well. I stared into the eyes of the church elder seated across from me at the table. Time was running out to make a big decision. The elder’s eyes narrowed, knowing the stakes at hand.
“I’m all-in,” I said. The elder’s expression showed he was almost certain he’d won the play-for-pocket-change poker game that night in my basement at the bachelor party for a member of my church small group. My fears were confirmed when he laid down his cards with a less-than-charitable grin. The whole table laughed at my expense as the church elder gleefully counted up the 78 cents I’d just lost, (along with the game,) and dumped the handful of coins into a gallon zip-lock back full of change he’d brought for the occasion. It turned out that my all-in moment for the evening was a complete failure.
Other, more noteworthy all-in moments are the subject of countless stories of heroes throughout the ages, overcoming overwhelming odds and the highest of stakes. They put everything, including their very lives, at risk for the chance of a positive outcome. When successful, this list of all-in heroes were the right people, with the right skill set, in the right place, at the right time to get the job done.
Among the numerous heroes in the Old Testament who, through faith, rose to the occasion for such a time as this, was Esther. After an incredible set of circumstances, this beautiful Jewish orphan girl found herself in a unique position to save the nation of Israel from annihilation. But, to have a chance of doing so, Esther had to risk everything: a life of highest luxury in the palace of the most powerful king on earth. Through faith, Esther made the decision to risk her life with the hope of saving a nation when she said: “And if I perish, I perish” (verse 17). Now THAT’S being all-in. By faithfully following the call of the Lord, Esther’s story is one of true heroism. In God’s plan for each of our lives, we will all face our own all-in moments with real risks and real consequences. In such circumstances, we can learn from Esther’s faith and obedience in the face of likely death. We can also learn from her that when it comes to living out the will of our Lord for such a time as this, an all-in bet is not really a gamble at all.
Action steps
Prayer
Lord, the challenges I face in this life are many, and some of them require making a decisive all-in choice. Please guide me with Your Holy Spirit and give me the wisdom to discern Your plan for my life among those choices. Help me to be strong in Your strength, wise in Your wisdom, and patient in Your patience. Help me to love in Your love and guide my feet upon Your path for such a time as this. Amen.
When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
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?”
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Reflection
The night had not gone well. I stared into the eyes of the church elder seated across from me at the table. Time was running out to make a big decision. The elder’s eyes narrowed, knowing the stakes at hand.
“I’m all-in,” I said. The elder’s expression showed he was almost certain he’d won the play-for-pocket-change poker game that night in my basement at the bachelor party for a member of my church small group. My fears were confirmed when he laid down his cards with a less-than-charitable grin. The whole table laughed at my expense as the church elder gleefully counted up the 78 cents I’d just lost, (along with the game,) and dumped the handful of coins into a gallon zip-lock back full of change he’d brought for the occasion. It turned out that my all-in moment for the evening was a complete failure.
Other, more noteworthy all-in moments are the subject of countless stories of heroes throughout the ages, overcoming overwhelming odds and the highest of stakes. They put everything, including their very lives, at risk for the chance of a positive outcome. When successful, this list of all-in heroes were the right people, with the right skill set, in the right place, at the right time to get the job done.
Among the numerous heroes in the Old Testament who, through faith, rose to the occasion for such a time as this, was Esther. After an incredible set of circumstances, this beautiful Jewish orphan girl found herself in a unique position to save the nation of Israel from annihilation. But, to have a chance of doing so, Esther had to risk everything: a life of highest luxury in the palace of the most powerful king on earth. Through faith, Esther made the decision to risk her life with the hope of saving a nation when she said: “And if I perish, I perish” (verse 17). Now THAT’S being all-in. By faithfully following the call of the Lord, Esther’s story is one of true heroism. In God’s plan for each of our lives, we will all face our own all-in moments with real risks and real consequences. In such circumstances, we can learn from Esther’s faith and obedience in the face of likely death. We can also learn from her that when it comes to living out the will of our Lord for such a time as this, an all-in bet is not really a gamble at all.
Action steps
- Today, make a sincere effort to turn your focus from your daily, earthly struggles to God’s eternal perspective.
- Take time this week to assess any all-in situations you may be facing and turn them over to an all-knowing Lord.
Prayer
Lord, the challenges I face in this life are many, and some of them require making a decisive all-in choice. Please guide me with Your Holy Spirit and give me the wisdom to discern Your plan for my life among those choices. Help me to be strong in Your strength, wise in Your wisdom, and patient in Your patience. Help me to love in Your love and guide my feet upon Your path for such a time as this. Amen.
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