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If I Perish, I Perish
Excerpts and Thoughts from Chapter 3
This week’s Reading: Esther 3-4 & 2 Samuel 10
If you remember the story of Esther, you might remember this verse from Chapter four:
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? (Esther 4:4, KJV)
These are the words of Mordecai, a father figure to his cousin Esther, both of whom were Jews.
The Bible tells us that he took Esther in and raised her as his own daughter when her parents died. After some time, Esther was taken to the king’s palace in Shushan, where she competed in a beauty contest of sorts. The king was in search of a new queen, and so she spent several months in a harem receiving beauty treatments under the care of a eunuch. In the tenth month, she was taken to the king, at which time she won both his favor and the crown.
While Esther was in the palace, a battle ensued between her cousin Mordecai and Haman, one of the highest officials in the palace. The Bible says,
Having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he [Haman] scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead, Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. (Esther 3:6)
This is why Mordecai was pleading with Esther. She wasn’t at the palace for any other reason than to glorify God, and Mordecai knew that. He pointed out her divine purpose by saying, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” In other words, why else would you be there?
We tend to overlook that, when we’re caught up in the hoopla of everyday life. We seem to forget that there’s a reason we’re here. It’s not just a feel-good journey through faith. There’s a point to all of this, and so we need to be ready to answer His call.
If we don’t, help will surely arise from another place, but in the process, we miss out on the blessings that come to those who courageously allow God to use them.
Esther teaches us that courage begins by making a choice. A decision to lay down our lives and to pick our cross. A willingness to say, “Yes,” to God. How will you answer His call?
This Week’s Challenge:
Reflect on your purpose and calling in life. Ask yourself, “Why am I here?” and “How can I use my talents and resources to serve God and others?” Take time to pray asking God how you can courageously answer His call.
Take Note:
As you go through the questions at the end of each chapter, you’ll find that some of them relate to you personally. There’s no right or wrong answer with these questions as they are designed for soul searching.
I will be back on Friday to give you my thoughts on this chapter and some of the questions from the study guide. Again, if you are looking for the printable chapter, you can find it at the bottom of the email you receive from Time-Warp Wife. If you have any trouble subscribing, feel free to email me at darlene @darleneschacht.net (no spaces in that email address)
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