Mindy Lee Hopman

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

God’s Light was able to shine through one young girl in the darkness.

And just like the beautiful olive tree, the Hebrew roots continue to grow deep.  It’s here that we see maturation of the seed, stability of the roots, individuality, and faithfulness in bearing everlasting fruit.  Even when the trunk is cut down, the shoots continue to grow.  The oil is still hard-pressed and squeezed from its leaves.  God uses this oil, which spans across generations, to shine light on the greater story so we may see.

But as for me, I will wait expectantly for the Lord.  I will wait for the God of my salvation.  My God will hear from me.  Do not rejoice over me, oh my enemy. Though I fall, I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness; The Lord is a Light for me. Micah 7:7-8

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’ John 8:12 (NASB)

God knows our struggles even better than we do.  He walks through the darkness with us, as we press into Him for strength and hope. Often, we don’t understand because we cannot see through the darkness.  But according to His Word we know, “God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all” 1 John 1:5.

God divinely selects those whom He knows will help Him carry out His purposes.  Esther was an ordinary person in a difficult place when He called her (Esther 2). Mordecai raised the daughter of his uncle to know God. Esther was called (kletos – divinely selected or appointed) and served right where she was appointed.

If we look at the story of Esther from an outsider’s perspective, we can see how God used someone out of the ordinary to do something extraordinary.

God moves within the hearts of those who know Him, spend time with Him, stay true to Him, and choose to love Him back.

Esther was placed into the arms of one of the most influential kinds of the time.  The king loved Esther.  She was young, beautiful, and she has a faithful and true heart.  However, the adversary is always present.  Haman was under the king’s leadership in the castle and Esther’s cousin Mordecai did not bow down to him.  Haman was threatened by Mordecai. Haman was a rotten seed!

Everyone has a Haman in their life at one point in time. 

Haman wanted to destroy Mordecai, however he was so upset with Mordecai that he didn’t just want to destroy him, he wanted to destroy the entire Jewish nation.

He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it. Philippians 1:6

At the time Esther did not realize how important her position as a Jew in the castle would be. God began to reveal Himself to her, and she was able to see His Light in the darkness that was plaguing her nation.  She fasted and prayed with the nation… and she committed herself to God’s plan.

… If I perish, I perish Esther 4:16

To this day, on the 14th and on the 15th day of the month of Adar the Jewish nation celebrates the day when the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, when sorrow was turned into gladness, and mourning turned into a holiday.  Feasting and rejoicing takes place during this holiday and portions of food are given to one another, and given to the poor.  This is the holiday of Purim.

Where there is darkness, light is needed.
Where there is death, life is needed.
The Light of the World provides the life in the world.

You did not choose Me but I chose you… John 15:16

Trusting God does makes us uncomfortable sometimes as He places us out of our comfort zone and into His comfort zone.  It’s only in Him that we can find true comfort.  Instead of snapshots, He can see the entire picture.  He knows where He needs you to be in order to reach the people He needs you to reach.

You have been raised to life for such a time as this.

Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5:14

Where The Father guides, He always provides.

When He is in us, we are never in a state of darkness, because the Son is always shining.

1. God uses ordinary people to achieve His extraordinary plans.
2. God moves by the Spirit within our hearts.
3. God asks that we trust Him even when we cannot see.

Heavenly Father,
I praise you for the Spiritual Seed which you passed down from Adam, to Abraham, to Noah, through the young girl named Esther.  You sent the Spirit to light the way when we could not see, and to raise us to life to do your work in your kingdom.  May Your Kingdom come and may Your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. Thank you for using ordinary people to achieve extraordinary plans.  Help us continue to trust that all things work together, since You alone can see the “big picture.”
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen

Reflect & Respond:

• Are you able to look back on your life and see God’s fingerprints?
• Where did He take you in your past to prepare you for where you are right now?
• Do you believe He is working in your life right now?

I’m praying for your heart to see, you are where you are, “for such a time as this.”

 

 

 

 

 

For more information:  Wright, Christopher J. H. Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1995. Print.