TUESDAY
This week marks the first of our two conference weeks in the devotional. During these weeks when we have guest speakers scheduled, the devotionals look a little different since I typically write them based on the previous Sunday's sermon. When I'm not preaching, I take a different approach.
For these two weeks, we'll explore some stories and texts that didn't make it into this campaign. Due to conference week preparations, I'll keep my commentary brief.
The Book of Esther tells the story of a Jewish woman who becomes queen of Persia and saves her people from destruction. After King Xerxes banishes Queen Vashti, he holds a contest to find a new queen. Esther, an orphaned Jewish woman raised by her cousin Mordecai, is chosen as the new queen, keeping her Jewish identity secret at Mordecai's advice.
The conflict begins when Haman, a high-ranking official, becomes enraged that Mordecai won't bow to him. Haman convinces the king to issue a decree ordering the destruction of all Jews in the empire. Mordecai informs Esther of this plot and urges her to intercede with the king, though approaching him uninvited could mean death.
After fasting for three days, Esther courageously approaches the king. Through a series of strategic banquets, she reveals her Jewish identity and exposes Haman's plot. The king reverses the decree, Haman is executed, and Mordecai is promoted. The Jews are saved and given permission to defend themselves against their enemies. This deliverance is still celebrated today during the Jewish festival of Purim.
Esther 4:12–14 (NIV) 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 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?”
Although the text doesn't’ mention explicitly that God was fighting for his people this line from Mordecai reveals that he knows it is God working behind the scenes to preserve his people. His trust in God runs so deep that he knows God will deliver them through an other means if this one doesn’t work out.