Right Person, Right Place, Right Time

Esther, Queen of Persia

This weekend marks the Jewish festival of Purim. This festival has its origin in the Old Testament story of Esther, a young Jewish woman who lived during the reign of Xerxes, the King of the Persian Empire. (Xerxes is also the big bad in the movie 300.)

On one occasion Xerxes was hosting a week-long banquet with lots of drinking. Being pretty soused, he ordered his beautiful queen, Vashti, to come to the banquet hall to be ogled by his guests. She flat out refused and as a result was deposed as queen. Following her dismissal, the search for a new queen began.

Esther was chosen as a contestant in the "Miss Persia Beauty Pageant," from which the new queen would be chosen. Esther's older cousin, Mordechai, the man who had raised her after the death of her parents, told Esther not to reveal her Jewish heritage, presumably to prevent any discrimination against her. After a year of preparation, Esther was presented to Xerxes, won his favor, and became his queen.

Now, enter the villain, Haman. Haman was an Amalekite, the historic enemy of Israel since the time of the Exodus. Haman also won the favor of Xerxes, who gave him a place of honor higher than any of his other officials. When Haman walked by, everyone knelt before him in respect (or fear). Everyone but Mordechai.

Infuriated by this Jew's disrespect, Haman schemed to have Mordechai hung on the gallows and to have all the Jews throughout Xerxes' Empire exterminated. Xerxes issued a decree to that effect and published it throughout the provinces.

When Mordechai learned of this decree, he urged Esther, at the risk of her own life, to intervene on behalf of her people. He persuaded her that she might have "come to royal position for such a time as this." Esther pled her case before her king and, in an unexpected turn of events, Mordechai was honored by Xerxes and Haman was hanged on the very gallows from which he wanted to see Mordechai swing. At Esther's request, Xerxes reversed his decree and allowed the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies.

To celebrate this great deliverance, the Festival of Purim was established and is observed by the Jews to this very day.

Esther was the right person in the right place at the right time. Even though God isn't mentioned once in the Book of Esther, His fingerprints are all over it. He orchestrated these events not only to deliver His people in Esther's day, but to deliver all people throughout all history. God had a bigger plan at work and would not allow a weasel like Haman to get in the way. God still had a Savior to send, His Son, Jesus, who was born a Jew. Esther's obedience furthered God's saving work for all humanity.

God places each of us where we are to serve His plan and further His purposes. It might include political drama and palace intrigue as it did for Esther. But it probably won't. We may serve our God in ordinary and even mundane ways, but we can serve Him nonetheless. We most likely won't make the headlines. But we can still make a difference.