Courage Like Esther by Mary Stewart

“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 ESV

This past spring I finished a study on the book of Esther with a few women from Lakeside. Through an evil empire and selfish king God demonstrates his mercy and perfect will for his people through Esther and her cousin, Mordecai. God allows Esther to be chosen as the queen and Mordecai a palace gate keeper in order to save his people. In many twists and turns leading to an edict of death from her husband, King Xerxes and Haman, an evil ruler, Esther is left with a decision to come before the king’s presence uninvited which could have led to her death. This was to plead to save the lives of God’s people.

Esther was willing to risk death saying “if I perish, I perish” in Esther 4:16. She essentially died to her own plan standing in courage and facing evil and danger in faith. In God’s divine providence he turned Haman’s evil plans into good and the Jewish people were saved while Haman was killed.

Many of us felt that Esther could be a Hollywood film today, yet realizing this ancient story of rescue was showing us God’s faithful love then and to us today. This story of courage and bravery in the face of death helped us all realize that God is at work even when we think he is silent.

We are living in the shadow of death every day dealing with everything from family strife, addictions, illness, war, and so on. Yet we have hope knowing God is at work just as he was in the life of Esther.  

Let’s consider where in our own lives we can have this same courage today. Where can we stand for Jesus with courage and bravery? We learned that it’s not always about big moves and actions. Sometimes, it is about standing in obedience in the strength of God right where he has placed us.

If God can rescue his people in this way he will indeed be involved in the most intimate way in carrying out his good purposes in you. Trust God when he seems silent to you. Keep watch in prayer and see his faithfulness in the small things. He IS working it all for good.