Tuesday; March 31

          The story of Queen Esther is more than an early version of Eliza Doolittle – a poor girl who made good.  Even though God’s name is not mentioned in the text, His fingerprint is all over the story.  If you haven’t read the account in a while let me remind you of the amazing rags to riches tale of a young Jewish girl who grew up to be queen of Persia.  While this seems to be fairy tale, it does have a nightmarish nature to it as well.  Even though the Jewess, Esther, was living a charmed life, her people were being persecuted by Haman.  In fact, he had manipulated the king into approving of an ethnic cleansing of the Hebrew people throughout the kingdom.  However, God was not going to allow His people to be eradicated.  Led by men like Mordecai, this holocaust was averted.  While the story has a happy ending, there is an exchange between Mordecai and Esther that speaks throughout the ages.  While Esther seemed to balk at interceding for her people with the king, Mordecai reminds here, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).  As I ponder this exchange, two things come to mind:  First, God is in control – His desire will not be thwarted.  Second, God uses people to make a difference in the lives of others.  In fact, He uses all kinds of people in His service.  From paupers to queens, no one is outside the realm of being God’s chosen ones.
          Has God summoned us to do something?  We may or may not be used to save a people from annihilation, but no matter the task, let’s be willing to answer His call. 
          Think About It!

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