For Such A Time As ThisReader: Jon WatsonDate: 2nd September 2022Passage: Esther 4:14-------------------Do you like a good story? Yes? Well the book of Esther has all the ingredients of a good story — a beautiful and brave heroine, a romance, an evil villain who gets his just desserts, an obscure good man who gets a great honour... all played out in an exotic Persian palace and its surroundings.Strangely enough for a Bible book there is no mention of God! Yet the Providence of God is everywhere in the story. By Providence we mean God's gracious working out of his purposes so that all events that happen are made to bring about what gives glory to God and ultimate good for people, especially all who have their trust in him. That is the great lesson the book of Esther teaches.Yet God uses people to fulfil his purposes not as robots but as free agents who know and are responsible for what they are doing. This was why Esther's cousin (or uncle?) Mordecai challenged Esther to be brave and plead with the Persian king to save the Jewish people when they were in danger of being completely destroyed.Esther, a Jew, was the queen of the Persian king at that time and she was in danger of being killed along with all the other Jews. But Esther used her position to get the king's help to save the Jews — she had come to the kingdom for just such a time and she did not fail.
PrayerDear Lord as I salute Esther's bravery I also ask for your help to make me brave when challenged about my faith in Christ, Amen.

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