People in Exile - Refuse to Remain Silent

Refuse to Remain Silent
Text: Esther 4:1-17 (Also read chapter 3 as background to this passage).


Seasons come and seasons go. Change marches toward us like an invading army. Opportunities here one day fade away to be replaced with something new. Each moment, each day brings new options for how we should live life or how we deny living. Into this reality comes questions, “What are you doing with the moment that has been granted to you? What are you doing with the opportunity placed before you?”


As the story of Esther progresses we discover a conflict that exists between Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, and an Agagite named Haman, a conflict that threatens God’s covenant people. Historically, the Jews and the Agagites have never gotten along. Agag was the king of the Amalekites at the time of Saul. This people frequently raided Israel. They are the first nation who tried to attack the Israel, as can be seen in Exodus 17. Saul was supposed to destroy the Agagites, but did not completely destroy them, leaving King Agag alive. Through the centuries, Agagite was a term used to speak of anyone behaving as enemies of Israel. Therefore, Haman may have been a direct descendent of Agag or he may have been identified as an Agagite because he and his father both have disdain toward the Hebrew people. The conflict between Mordecai and Haman is about more than Mordecai not bowing down to Haman. This conflict has its roots in racist attitudes. Now this conflict has risen to a point of extermination because Haman has convinced the king to eradicate the Hebrew peoples within the Persian Empire all because Mordecai refuses to bow down.


With this threat upon the Hebrew people a reality, Mordecai seeks to convince his niece to use her position as queen to persuade the king to reverse the law that calls for the eradication of all Hebrews. For Esther, to fulfill this request has its own set of risks. She would need to approach the king. To do so without the king’s permission could be courting death. Into this very real threat Uncle Mordecai challenges Esther with these words, “. . . 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 that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.” Upon hearing these words Esther realizes that God has placed her at this time, in this place to deliver God’s covenant people. She has an opportunity and she takes it!


Ultimately, this passage is about God calling a person to be His agent of deliverance for the Jewish people in the Persian Empire. God uses Mordecai’s words and challenge to cause Esther to emerge from her cocoon of not identifying with the Jewish people and answer her call as deliverer.


We too are called at this moment, in this time to be God’s instruments of deliverance! It may not be in as severe of a circumstance as presented in the book of Esther, but we do have a purpose. Scripture defines the purpose of God’s covenant people as sharing the truth of the Gospel and making disciples. This is a call to deliverance-declaring that God gives victory through Christ Jesus! When we boldly claim this moment, this time and use this moment in our lives to bring deliverance to others, we claim purpose. Too often we feel we do not have purpose or we become focused on another moment, past or future, missing our purpose in the here and now. We all have a purpose in this time and this place!


Prayer: God, you are the guiding light for your people. Inspire us to claim this time as your time and as an opportunity to share the truth of your grace and love with the world. Banish our timidity! May we rise up in boldness with you as our faithful guide! May we depend on the truth of your presence as we bravely make use of this time you have granted! In Christ’s name, Amen!