Esther 4:9-14 — Exit "why me" + Enter "it's me"
READ THIS: Esther 4:9-14
9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “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.” 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 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. 14 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?”
WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?
Throughout this book so far, did you ever think about how you'd feel in Esther's shoes? You wake up one day, just a kid doing your own thing, and suddenly you're shoved into this beauty pageant to win the favor of the king. You just do what people tell you to do, and somehow that's enough to make you queen. If I were Esther, I would be thinking, "Why me?! How did I end up here?! What just happened?!" Then, add on top of that, suddenly the king I'm married to agrees to the annihilation of my people. What?!?!?!
In that situation, it would make sense to think that your journey to queen-hood was useless or just full of stupid coincidences. Potentially, it might feel like you were just being spared somehow since no one really knew about your Jewish heritage, so while everyone else was to die, you could live. But, Mordecai, the faithful mourner, sees something else. He sees opportunity! Maybe this hardship is the very reason that Esther ended up where she was...So that she might have the chance to step up and save the Jews. That's not all, though. Mordecai also sees that this is a chance for Esther to work with God! Did you catch that in verse 14? One way or the other, the Jewish people would be saved. God, again, is not mentioned, but the Old Testament proves again and again that God stands up for His people (even if He does let them go through hard things for long periods of time). If not Esther, someone else would step up. Relief and deliverance would come no matter what.
THINK ABOUT IT:
1. When's the last time you thought "why me?" Why'd you think that? Looking back, is there a potential reason why it might've been you?
2. What would it look like for Esther to work with God? What about against God? Why does it matter what Esther does if the Jews would be saved either way?
TRY THIS:
Live out today as if you were made to be on this planet on this day in history. Because the truth is...you were! You're here, aren't you?!
As often as you can, ask "what if I was born for this time right now?"
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