You Were Made for This Moment: A 5-Day JourneySample

A MOMENT OF DECISION

King Xerxes chose Esther to be his new queen. Esther now lived in the lap of luxury. Mordecai was given a seat of power. Both continued to keep their Jewish nationality a secret. All was well and peaceful . . . until one day when Mordecai overheard a plot against the king’s life.

Mordecai reported the scheme to Esther, and the conspirators ended up on the gallows. But the episode seems to have rattled the Persian king. The mighty king was somehow vulnerable. So, he appointed a man named Haman to protect him and keep order. 

Haman, as it turns out, was a descendant of the Amalekites, the most ancient of Hebrew enemies. The rivalry between the two groups went back to the days of the wandering Israelites when the Amalekites picked off the weak—the old, the sick, the widowed, the disabled—and hunted them in the wilderness. Moses had told the people, “Remember what the Amalekites did to you” (Deuteronomy 25:17). The Jewish people had never forgotten—not even now that they were in exile.

The stage was set for a showdown. Haman demanded that everyone kneel to honor him as he passed by. Mordecai had compromised greatly to fit into the Persian culture—but this was too much. In a moment of decision, he refused to bow before an enemy of God’s people. After years of trying to fit in, one look at Haman changed everything. Mordecai admitted he was a Jew—and Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jewish people was hatched. 

When Mordecai learned of the extermination orders, he sent an impassioned plea to Esther for help. He urged her to reach out to her husband, the king, and plead for mercy on behalf of her people. Now it was Esther’s moment of decision—her “Esther event,” if you will. She knew that if she appeared in the king’s court uninvited, and he was in the wrong mood, he could demand her head. She wavered . . . until Mordecai reminded her that no one gets a free pass in life. 

Trouble knocks at the door of us all—even Persian queens. Jesus would later promise as much, saying that “in this world [we] will have trouble” (John 16:33). But he also promised that God would be with us in the trials and that, in one form or another, deliverance would come. 

In the end, Esther realized that she could not stay silent. She told Mordecai, “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

You may not be confronted by Persian officials, but you will be tempted to compromise your beliefs or remain silent in the face of injustice. Family members may mock your beliefs. Professors may make fun of your faith. Colleagues may gossip about your convictions. But in these times, it is critical to look for your own “Mordecai moments” or “Esther events,” for these are occasions when God invites you to step into the greater plan he has for your life.

God will give you the courage to stand for what is right. You may be weary, wounded, worried, and—like Mordecai and Esther—you may feel alone. But never bow when you need to stand. Mordecai’s refusal to bow was the first link in a chain of courageous acts that led to the salvation of his people. Your resolve might likewise be the decisive gesture that breaks the stronghold. Decide now what you will do then. The time to determine to resist temptation is before it strikes. And remember: Stand up for God, and he will stand with you. 

Like Esther, you are here on this earth for a reason. This is your hour. This is your moment to stand up and speak up. God is with you—and he will have his victory. The question is not, Will God prevail? The question is, Will you be part of the team? You can retreat if you want. Stay quiet. Or . . . you can see your challenge as an opportunity to join with God in his work.

Respond 

• What Mordecai moments or Esther events are you facing today? 


• Why is it important to decide now that you will not bow before what is wrong?  


• How could your courage to stand for what is right inspire the faith of others watching you?