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“Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” ‭‭Esther‬ ‭4:13-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
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The Jews were under Persian captivity. The Babylonians were conquered by the Persians. The Jews had been under Babylonian captivity when this occurred. Persia was located in the geographical area we call Iran. The Persian Empire was one the greatest of its time. Dwelling in the midst were a host of Jewish people. Mordecai and Hadasah (Esther) were two of them. Mordecai raised Esther as his own daughter because her parents had died. Mordecai was her older relative (cousin, it appears). Esther respected him like a father. Esther was a very beautiful woman. The king of Persia, Ahasuerus (Xerxes), had chosen her to be his Queen. Xerxes didn't know that Esther was Jewish. Mordecai had instructed her to keep it secret. Haman, the kings right hand man had developed a hatred for Mordecai because he wouldn't bow before him when he passed by. Mordecai would only bow before God. Rather than take his wrath out on Mordecai, Haman determined to extinguish the entire Jewish population within the Persian Empire. Haman was successful in getting the king's approval (Esther 3:8-15). One thing: he, nor the king, knew that Esther was a Jew. Mordecai, aware of the dire situation, sent word to Esther that she had been placed in her position by God for this specific time. He charged her to go before the king to intervene for her people. There was only one problem: no one could come before the king without invitation. Should someone choose to barge into the kings quarters without invitation, death would follow unless the king extended his golden scepter. Esther called for the Jewish people to fast from eating and drinking for three days (Esther 4:15-17) before she approached the king. She was willing to die, if necessary, to see her people delivered. Esther did go before the king, and in a private meal with the king and Haman, she explained to the king that Haman wanted to kill her people, which would include her since she was Jewish. The king was wroth with Haman and ordered his men to hang Haman from the gallows he had made for Mordecai.
Because of her beauty and the place it put her, Esther had a divine appointment in time. The entire nation of Israel was saved by the courage of a beautiful woman who loved God. Today, wherever you are, whatever you may be doing, wherever you may go, simply ask yourself this question: Did God place me in this time, at this place, for a purpose that I haven't yet recognized. Seek Him, honor Him, love Him, and allow Him to use you right where you are. There is something bigger than you that He is wanting to accomplish through you. Are you willing?