FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS Part 1

“Who knows, you may have been placed in this place for such a time as this?”–Esther 4:14
(The reader will find similar concepts developed in “Who will Stand For us in the Face of Death?” a sermon preached by Pamela Ann Moeller in Pulpit Digest September/October, 1992. I used some of Pastor Moeller’s theological concepts and developed them concerning home schooling. The reader is encouraged to read Pastor Meoeller’s sermon.).

I. RISKY OBEDIENCE

In our Scripture reading today the Jewish nation is facing imminent extinction. They stand at the brink of annihilation, genocide. They are the victims of the vitriolic and uncontrolled hatred of one man, Haman, and the whimsical irresponsibility of the foolish king, Ahasuerus.

Today America is facing a crisis. While we no doubt, in spite of Sept. 11, 2001, have political and military hegemony, we have lost the high ground. That is for sure! And our world as we know it is ending. The once sacred cultural icons of this nation no longer satisfy the needs of our people. What is He trying to say, brothers and sisters?

In the past God used Revivals to bring renewal. I think it is time we had another. Let’s look at how revivals came in the past and how Esther handled this too.

Therefore, we have a responsibility to be Esther to this nation.

The reader wonders, “Where is the calvary? Who will save the good guys this time? Who will part the Red Sea? Where is Moses?”

But there is no Moses, there is no apparent savior. There is only weak Esther. Esther, the queen of Babylon who, hiding her Jewishness, manages to become the most powerful woman in Babylon. But, the most powerful woman in the world is less powerful than the poorest, weakest man, for this is a patrifocal society. It is ruled by men, not women.

But someone must save the nation. Someone must take a stand or every Hebrew man, woman, and child will die. And they will die soon.

Someone must take a stand or the nation will perish.

Esther’s cousin Mordecai comes to warn Esther than she must give up her anonymity and take a stand or they will all perish. All Esther wants to do is slip back into the safety of her role. Who can blame her? But for the sake of the nation, Esther will risk everything to do what is necessary. Though her knees must be shaking, she determines to stare death in the face and stand up for her people. Which is what she does. Unless summoned by her husband, Esther faces certain death by approaching him,for one never approaches an Oriental monarch unsummoned. Especially if one is a lowly woman–even a wife.

Why should she help her relatives and countrymen? What had they done for her lately? No doubt they had scorned her for her fraternization with the enemy. Esther would have known much condemnation and rejection. I doubt that she had any love loss with the Jews. Why should she put herself and her children in jeopardy for people who had no doubt rejected and derided her?

Home schoolers why should we care about the rest of America? What have they done for us lately?except harass and persecute us. Why should we rest anything – much less everything – for this nation?

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