Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Esther 1-5
Esther 4:14
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this.
Seldom do faith and logic collide in the same verse. For frankly, most of the time logic is the enemy of faith. But in today’s verse logic is the basis of faith in action.
Esther is the last of a three-book series about the return of the Jews to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. The book’s namesake, Esther, became Ahasuerus’ queen through a strange chain of events. Sometime later, she, being a Jew was sentenced to death as was her entire race. Her cousin, Mordecai, raised her as his own daughter after the death of her parents (Esther was the daughter of Mordecai’s uncle 2:7, 14). There was no way that he could know of the influence he and she would have on their nation. God definitely moves through circumstances.
Upon hearing of the plan to exterminate her kindred, she received a message from Mordecai that included today’s verse. Consider a few thoughts from this amazing verse.
One, Mordecai knew that Esther had a free will, which he respected. He did not command anything of her, he simply laid out her options and gave her some things to consider.
Two, this great man, her cousin, who in and of himself was a hero to the Hebrews, believed that if Esther did not intercede for them, God would provide some other manner of deliverance. This was pure and simple faith in God and His Word.
Three, Mordecai spoke in faith, but interjected logic to the situation that was based on faith. He said in faith that God would find another way to stop this massacre, but then logically added …who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. God knew! But Esther and Mordecai had no clear word from Him on the matter. At this time Malachi, and Haggai were prophets to the returning remnant. Where were they? They were doing that which God would have them do about this situation, nothing. For the Lord God of Heaven was setting this up for His own reasons; one may be to teach us something about faith and logic and how they can work together.
By faith Mordecai knew that God would be their deliverer. Perhaps he knew of the Abrahamic covenant, or some of the other promises God gave to his nation. We don’t know, but we do know this, logically at this time, who else was in the position that Esther was in? She had the right position to possibly influence the king.
The story is well known. She, Esther, decided to activate her own free will and put her life at risk at the chance that God put her into that palace for her “such a time as this.” Esther stepped out on faith, based on logic, after a time of prayer and was rewarded with life for her and her people.
In conclusion consider this thought for the day, for the child of God faith is the only logical basis for action. After all, upon whom else should we base our actions? Our loving, all knowing, all powerful, Father in Heaven? Or our own, or someone else’s, human knowledge and understanding? Peter decided this question when he stated: …Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)
Dr. William T. Howe
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