Please read your Bible text: Esther 4:1-17
‘…What’s more, who can say but that you have been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this…’ 4:14b (NLT)
Contrary to some beliefs, destiny is not fate. Fate cannot be controlled but destiny can. You can control and take shape of your destiny. You shape your destiny by what you do or don’t do in life. Destiny is the desire destination in life with you at the steering wheel. For life to be purposeful and thus meaningful – you need to discover your destiny. Whether you are placed in the king’s palace or in the peasant’s populace – you have a specific purpose and direction in life – that’s your destiny!
Our text reveals a certain truth about God, although He was not specifically spoken of. Today, on hindsight as we look back at the book of Esther – we see God putting Esther in the king’s palace for a specific purpose – to fulfill her God given destiny! Very Often we don’t understand why we are in such a circumstance; why we are in the palace or in the dungeon; in the mountain or in the valley? Take heed, it may well be that we are put in such places for just such a time as this…we are there for a purpose!
We are unlikely to move into our destiny until we are hit by a crisis. How we handle crisis will determine how we shape our destiny. Mordecai and Esther were hit by crisis of the hideous kind – genocide! See how they handled their crisis and so entered into their God given destiny.
1) Mordecai Handled Crisis with Words of Faith – vs.1-9, 13-14
Mordecai did not stay any longer than necessary in ashes and sackcloth (4:1-3) because of the royal threat of genocide. No, he arose from his state of sorrow and mourning to do something about his crisis. He could have sat there in ashes, sulking and his destiny would have gone pass. So often we wallow in self-pity over our crisis and resign to fate, where actually God wants us to do something in shaping our destiny. Mordecai did something about his crisis – he went as near to the outside of the Palace gate and wailed loud enough for the Queen Esther’s maids and eunuchs to notice – so that they might carried words to Queen Esther (4:4). Mordecai handled his crisis appropriately practical – he sought help from the Queen. For those of us who are spiritual – we would have remained in sackcloth in fasting and praying and God would have to say to us, “Stop praying – do something about it”.
Mordecai’s words to Esther were words of faith in the God who is faithful. He believed that deliverance for the Jews would arise from another place even if Esther remained quiet and refused to plead with the king (4:14). These were words spoken in faith – believing God for deliverance. He reminded Esther that she was placed in the palace for such a time as this. Mordecai recognized God was the One who had put Esther as queen in the palace for a specific purpose. These were the words of faith that might have given Esther enough courage to decide to step into her God given destiny.
2) Esther Handled Crisis with Acts of Faith – v.10-12, 15-17
In reply to Mordecai’s demand that she should hazard her life for the people, there was at first a natural reluctance (4:10-11). Was her love for her people greater than her love for herself? No! Mordecai’s words of faith cut deep into her heart and Esther resolved her love for her people would preside and she arose to acts of faith. She decided that she would take the risk to see the king uninvited even if it meant certain death for her. “If I must die, I am willing to die” (4:16). In her resolve there was surely something of the sacrificial love of Christ. Not only that, she would have all her people, including her maids fasted for three days apparently to seek for divine favor as she took the plunge in acts of faith. There can be no presumption in action, which is preceded by prayer and heart searching.
The way you response to crisis determines the shape of your destiny!
THINK: We may be quite sure that God will carry out his plans—with us, if possible; if not, in spite of us, to our utter lost
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me step right into your given destiny for me. Amen.
David Quek
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