Day 34 – Coincidence? NOT! (Esther)

Have you ever had things happen in just the way you needed them to?  I can’t even count the times that has happened to me.  Money showing up in time to pay an unexpected expense, the “right” person showing up at the hospital at the “right” time, situations resolving themselves, something/someone “coming through” just in time, and having a particularly successful day despite the odds against it.  Did you give God credit for orchestrating those events, did you think it was just luck, or did you feel you created favorable conditions?

Esther’s story starts with the Queen Vashti refusing to appear before the King (of Persia).  The men urge the King to issue a royal decree ordering that the Queen can never come before the King again, a new queen shall be found, and that all women shall honor their husbands.  They didn’t want all of the wives in the country being disobedience on account of the Queen.

Esther, a Jew, is one of the virgins prepared for the King – it was a year-long process.  She gains favor with the King’s staff, likely through humility and respect for their positions and advice.  Esther goes before the King, and “…the King loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight..” (Esther 2:17), so he made her Queen.  Coincidence or God’s favor?

Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, overhears a plot to kill the King and saves his life.  Coincidence or God’s favor?  In the meantime, Haman, the King’s right-hand man, is plotting against all of the Jews and convinces the King to send letters “…with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews…” (Esther 3:13)  Mordecai pressures Esther to use her position to plead for her people’s lives.  She reminds Mordecai that it is illegal to approach the King, if she has not been summoned.  She replies, “I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” (Esther 4:11)

During the night, the King can’t sleep and requests that his staff read him “the book of memorable deeds”.  Don’t you love that name?  I think we should all have one of those books.  Anyway, the King remembers that Mordecai saved his life but was never recognized.  Coincidence or God’s orchestration?  Meanwhile, Haman is now plotting to kill Mordecai on freshly built gallows just for the occasion.  As Haman comes before the King to make the formal request to hang Mordecai, the King instructs Haman to dress Mordecai in royal robes and lead him through the city square on horse proclaiming the King’s desire to honor Mordecai.  Coincidence or God’s intervention?

Esther risks her life to enter the court.  Rather than ordering her death, the King asks, “What is it, Queen Esther?  What is your request?  It shall be given to you, even to half of my kingdom.” (Esther 5:3)  Coincidence or God’s favor?  Esther invites the King and Haman to a banquet where the King again offers to fulfil any request she has up to half the kingdom.  She pleads for her life and the life of her people.  The King is happy to grant it and is so angry at Haman that he order Haman be hung on the gallows built for Mordecai.  Coincidence or God’s unfavor?

Sometimes, serving God requires risk with no assurance about the outcome.  Esther is willing to commit a crime and risk her life to save her people, but she still seeks God first.  Esther instructs all the Jew to “…hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.  I and my young women will also fast as you do.” (Esther 4:16)  It doesn’t appear that she gets an answer or instruction from God - but it’s time for action.  She honors God by fasting, but then she commits to doing her part, regardless of the outcome.

Are there times in your life where you see that God was orchestrating events for your benefit?  At the time, how did you attribute those events?  Are you willing to take a little risk to serve God?  Are you willing to serve God even if He hasn’t “called” you or seems silent?

My prayer for today:

Lord, thank you for weaving the events of my life for my benefit even when I’m not aware that it’s happening.  Thank you for allowing me to sometimes see times that you orchestrate my life for a greater purpose.  Help me to recognize your work in my life publicly.  Give me courage, like Esther demonstrated, to serve you with boldness, even if it means taking a risk, to save your children.  Give me courage especially, when I need to take action without reassurance from you, Lord.  You know hesitant I am to move without your prompting.  Amen

Add a comment June 18, 2010

Guest Blogger, Carla Yarborough

I woke up around 3:00 AM this morning.  I kept hearing “for I know the plans that I have for you.”  That statement was repeated several times.  I then decided to “play” God and finished the well known scripture…as if to say “yeah yeah yeah..I already know plans of good and not of evil”….I dozed back off and awoke again to the same words scrolling across my mind “for I know the plans that I have for you.”  This time, my soul was quieted.  It dawned on me….God already knows the plans that He has for me…I just don’t know them yet. I started focusing on the one simple but powerful line “for I know the plans that I (God) have for you (Carla)”…..

As I meditated on these words…I realized that I often come to God with my plans that I call His and ask Him for guidance and to bless it.  I rarely ever say God show me the vision that you have for my life.  Lord, show me the plans that you have for me.  Instead, I often pray that God will bless my plans (believing that He has planted the plan within me).  This morning I prayed differently.  I prayed that God would show me the plans that He has for me in exchange for the plans that I have for myself.  A divine exchange took place (by faith).  No more will I try to plan my life to its fullest.  I will rely on the God who has created the plan for my life.  No longer will I try to interpret every detail.  I will rely on the God who creates the details.  My inheritance is in His plan.  My salvation is in His plan (Jesus).  My life is in His plan (eternity).  Truly I can live life and follow my own plans but what good is it if it is not God’s plan?  My personality has caused me to have faith based on what I can see (the details) or can imagine….this is how the “godly” missed Jesus. Had the Pharisees said…”God show me your plan of salvation” they would not have crucified their Savior.  Instead the godly crucified their Savior because they believed that they knew God’s plan for redemption!!!!

Perhaps you can relate.

We miss God when we present to Him our detailed plans.  Let’s leave the details up to God.  Let’s leave our plans with God.  Let’s embrace His plans.  Let’s start praying…..God show me the plans that you have for my life….you don’t need to finish the rest of the scripture because if you are praying to God you know His plans are only good!

This scripture that was given to me comes from Jeremiah 29:11…It was words of hope spoken to those who were in captivity – exiled…..You may be at a space in your life where you feel far away from God or exiled from His plans….just remember you are never too far from the God that created you.  He still speaks to those who are distant from Him. Or, you may be at a space where you are walking in sync with God.  Wherever you are at…allow God to speak to you to show you His plans for your life!

Carla

1 comment May 14, 2010