Esther: Duty

Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14.

No doubt, when Mordecai posed this question to Esther, it got her attention. Don’t you hate it when someone asks you something, and it’s a direct hit to the heart? Once that question sheds light onto an area of need, you’re done for, and you know it. Until that time, you were happy and content and never considered the obvious. Over the years, there were times when I would have trudged along happily for the rest of my days, but God intervened instead. He sent someone with an urgent need or request. When that question came – a paradigm shift occurred. It pierced my heart and changed the course of my life. That’s what kingdom work does. It stretches us and moves us (sometimes physically) beyond ourselves and our comfy lives to impact others and bring God’s peace, presence, and provision into every situation. It changes lives – period – yours and others. If you’ve had a moment such as this, you know it. Esther certainly did, and so did I.

Perhaps you’d choose to ignore the duty or responsibility for performance. At first, you may attempt to dismiss its gnawing, but the question keeps coming back. Once it’s out there, you can’t escape it. Ignoring it is akin to having poison ivy and ignoring the itch - it’s impossible! You can’t un-hear the reality of the need or its potential impact. Even so, these questions must be considered when these times come: What is God up to? What is He seeking when we can’t escape the obvious? And, what is our responsibility to it? It’s always the same - faithfulness, obedience, and a sense of duty to Him. Did you catch that? The duty is to Him – to Jesus. All ministry is from Him, and He is the one we serve. Not out of obligation, mind you, but out of love and desire to partner with Him to accomplish His plan.

Esther was not born a queen, nor was she born rich or famous. When we first meet her, she’s a young Jewish girl who has been orphaned. Things look hopeless, and your sympathies immediately go there. That’s what we see in the natural, but in the spiritual sense, she grew to become a formidable Jewish woman, one who was deeply loved and admired, with a strong sense of her Jewish heritage and disposition towards it. She had a keen sense of fairness and high standards in general. She was prayerful and purposeful. Few Old Testaments saints could compare to her integrity and sense of duty.

What was her duty? It was going before the Persian king, her husband, and asking for a reprieve against Haman’s edict to annihilate all the Jews. In short, she was exposing the enemy among them. That was it. But here’s the kicker. The king had no idea he had married a Jew! Her ethnicity had been concealed rather than revealed. Consequently, he had authorized their utter destruction – all of them. But God purposed the king to love her and wed her. It was all part of God’s plan to position her to save His people.

But, the reality is this. No one appeared before the king uninvited, not even his wife. Although the Bible records his affection towards her, business was business, and every ounce of protocol imaginable was in full force and effect. Unless he extended his golden scepter to her, she was in violation, and she knew it. If he said, “Off with her head, it was done!” One could only pray for a good outcome.

So pray they did - at her request - all the Persian Jews prayed and fasted for three days. God’s Spirit went before her, and everything unfolded as she had prayed. It’s interesting to note that God’s name does not appear in the book of Esther – not once – but He is in every chapter and every verse. His sovereign care and divine providence are celebrated at every turn. Ultimately, God spared his people, reversed Haman’s edict, and hung him on the very gallows he’d prepared for Mordecai.

What’s the takeaway? Only God can write a story such as this. But more importantly, only He can prepare us to see and hear the needed call, duty, or responsibility of performance. Once He reveals the need, the next move is ours. May we be like Esther, prayerful and purposeful in doing God’s work God’s way and not shrinking back from our Christian duty out of laziness, timidity, or fear. Remember, God partners with people – we’re all He’s got! May we look heavenward and declare: “My duty is to you, Jesus. Whatever, whenever, wherever you need – period! Fill me and use me as you see fit!” Prayer is not about getting. It’s about giving ourselves to Him. Believers, when we pray, we report for duty!

Prayer: Mighty and gracious Lord, give us ears to hear your call and eyes to see the obvious. Then, prevail on our hearts to make us faithful to the task and embrace duty as only we can. Only the redeemed are called, and you call the redeemed. Thank you, Jesus. Amen and amen.