February 23, 2021

Esther 4:13-14 (NKJV) – 13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 

Mordecai makes a second plea to Esther to go talk to the king about his proclamation. In his argument, we are again faced with another morally ambiguous statement. At best he has a half faith and believes that God will save the Jewish people. At worst, he is making a veiled threat to reveal Esther’s identity as Jewish and is completely secular. Mordecai sees what he believes is the right path to save the Jewish people but his moral position in obtaining that is unknown.

We can see the right path or what we think is right and can ignore our own faults and be willing to tear down whatever to it takes to obtain it. We can stand up for what is Biblical and right, but we want to stand in a way that is Biblical and right. We shouldn’t just be standing, but be standing in the correct way. When we make a stand, we are not sacrificing any truth or anything that is right, but we must make sure that the way we address the situation is correct. We do not need to push our agenda’s at all costs because God is in control.

What types of things could be done in taking a stand that would end up hurting our cause more than helping it?

Standing up for what is Biblical and right should always be in balance with our trust that God is in control. When separated, it is possible to fall to one side of an extreme. Either pushing our agenda’s no matter the cost. Or becoming complacent because God will take care of it.

How can you avoid falling to one side of the spectrum?

Esther 4:15-17 (NKJV) – 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” 17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.

Here, we see Esther’s heart changing towards the good of her people. Despite the complicated situation and potential for her to lose her life, she is acting to try and save the Jewish people. Though, we do not know her position or belief in God, she is turning to her faith and trusting that God will deliver the people.

Despite complicated human situations, despite when we are acting right or wrong, God is in control. He does not shy away from messy complicated situations. He takes it straight on and in His providence has complete control. We also should not be afraid of messy, complicated situations. We can trust in God’s providence and control and seek Him to figure out how to navigate the situation. God has placed you in a position where He can and will use you. He is completely in control and we can take confidence in that.

What causes you to want to or actually shy away away from messy complicated situations?

How can you take comfort in God’s providence and His desire to use you to confidently approach and navigate complicated, messy situations?