“For such a time as this”… these were the words that a concerned man spoke to his young cousin who had achieved significant notoriety at an early age. The man’s name was Mordecai and the cousin was Esther. Ya… that Esther, the one with a book in the Bible named after her. Her story is found in the Old Testament between Nehemiah & Job.
Because of Esther’s physical beauty she stood out from the rest of the women of her time. She was apparently “hot” because the Persian King, Xerxes, took notice of her and made her one of his wives. But Esther was not just another harem girl. She became the favored wife and given the title of queen. Interestingly, as you read her account in the Old Testament, you’ll find that this is just the beginning of the story. Her real purpose and destiny would be realized through the appeal of her beloved cousin Mordecai.
While Esther was living the pampered life of royalty, her people were suffering under the evil tyranny of war-lord named Haman. This man despised the Jews and especially loathed Mordecai. Because of his hatred, he manipulated the laws causing the Jews to become “enemies-of-the-state.” It became open season on the descendants of Abraham.
Esther would become the intercessor for her people. She would would risk her very life for the sake of saving God’s children from brutal annihilation. But it may not have been that way, if it hadn’t been for the persistent challenges of Mordecai. In Chapter 4, it chronicles Esther’s discovery of her destiny through the exhortation of her cousin Mordecai. After a couple of messages sent back and forth between Esther and Mordecai, he finally clarifies the reality of the dire circumstances…
Esther 4:13-14 (NLT) Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
Did you notice how Mordecai brought eternal and Godly perspective? He didn’t sugar-coat the situation. His final message was meant to rock Esther out of her comfortable life-style and reveal to her the true purpose for her position.
As I read this story, I was captured by the extreme importance that Mordecai played in this epic drama. Primarily his role as a coach, helping Esther discover and become exactly who God had created her to be. His persistent, bold, and timely words were precisely what Esther needed to be awakened and open her eyes to her destiny.
As a minister to the Next Generation, I play the same role as Mordecai. This role is to challenge, motivate, encourage and exhort young leaders to step up into their God ordained destiny. I will strive to help them see beyond their current circumstance and life stage to the higher calling of Christ Jesus. Helping to lead them to discover and become exactly who God has created, called and commissioned them to be.
“For such a time as this!”
