A Path to Purpose
December 19, 2018·Deborah Clark
This week, in our Pause Bible Reading Plan, we covered the entire Book of Esther. There’s so much packed into this short book of the Bible. It’s filled with action and danger and palace intrigue. In fact, it would make an amazing blockbuster film, don’t you think?
When talking about the Book of Esther, the first thing that usually comes up are the words found in 4:14, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” That is certainly one of the highlights of this book – recognizing that God placed Esther in that specific location for a very specific purpose. And it’s a good reminder that whether we are in a palace (I’m guessing most of us aren’t) or in an office building or a classroom or a one-bedroom apartment, God has placed us here, at this moment in time, for a specific purpose.
I would encourage you, especially during this Christmas season, and as 2018 is coming to a close, to seek the Lord for what that purpose may be. Some of you know exactly what you‘re called to do, and you are living out that purpose daily. For some, you may feel lost or misplaced, and wonder why you’re here. But God sees you and knows exactly where you are, and He has a purpose for you, “for such a time as this.” Someone needs to hear that today.
As I was reading through Esther this time, two other things really jumped out at me.
The first thing I noticed is that when you read through the book, you see over and over how God intervened and set the path for Esther and Mordecai to be where they were and when they were.
When Queen Vashti refuses to obey the king, and the plan for a new queen is set in place, Esther, an orphan and unlikely candidate, is there. When the palace guards are talking about assassinating the king, Mordecai is there. When Haman is plotting to have Mordecai killed, the king can’t sleep. And the section of the chronicles that is read to him just happens to contain the part about Mordecai saving his life. Over and over, we see God setting the stage for all the pieces to be in place. It’s like a well-thought through script, with God as the screenwriter. I love it!
The second thing that stood out to me is that, as Esther is preparing to go uninvited before the king to beg for the salvation of her people, she has a request for Mordecai.
Esther 4.16, “Go, gather together all the Jews 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.”
Before Esther took on this great task, one that could have been dangerous, or even deadly, she stopped. She fasted. She asked others to join her in fasting. She knew the significance of what she was going to do and knew that she couldn’t do it alone.
This is such a great reminder that, as God is writing our story, we partner with Him. We trust that He is God and He is sovereign, but we also get to partner with Him – through prayer, fasting and obedience.
Let’s be people who, like Esther and Mordecai, recognize that God has placed us here for a purpose, and that we get to partner with Him in seeing the fulfillment of that purpose.
