Courage

A side note: This post was inspired by the courageous women in my bible study and the great conversations we have. Beth Moore's video lessons are usually the topic of conversation, although we occasionally discuss flying garbage. 

I am in the middle of Beth Moore's bible study on Esther. We've arrived at the point in the story where Queen Esther's destiny, and that of her people, hang on one decision: Will Esther summon the courage to appear uninvited before King Xerxes, a choice that could be her death sentence but could save the Jews of Persia, or will she chicken out?

Esther didn't want to put her life on the line. She probably preferred her plush palace lifestyle to the king's sentence of death (yes, the king is her husband). One couldn't request an audience with the king of Persia in the mid-400's BC; one had to be summoned. The penalty for violating this law was death.  It didn't matter that Esther was queen. She, too, had to be summoned. Esther's surrogate father, Mordecai, told her to go the king and plead for the life of the Jewish people, who were marked for annihilation. Esther balked. Her first reaction was, I can't go before the king. He hasn't asked for me! He could put me to death! Mordecai reminded Esther that she, in addition to being queen, was also a Jew. She could be put to death for that reason alone. Or she could choose courage and go before the king. She would risk her life, but could potentially save herself and her people. What's a girl to do?

It wasn't luck that crowned Esther as Queen of Persia. An orphaned Jewish girl doesn't get chosen randomly out of hundreds to be the next queen. Her Heavenly Father placed her there to save her people. Mordecai said, "...and who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this." (Esther 4:14) And she had! Esther realized she must go to King Xerxes. She accepted that which may transpire: "And if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16) She entered the King's presence, he offered her the gold scepter in his hand (consider it a pardon for appearing uninvited), and he eventually agreed to help her.  Esther's courage sealed her destiny.

Now imagine the story differently. Imagine that God put all of the pieces of the puzzle together except one, the piece He gave to Esther, and imagine she kept it. She could not place the final piece. She chose the path of less risk; she forgot to trust God; she acted selfishly. She chickened out and failed to plead with the King.  Her destiny, and that of her people, would forever change.

We encounter many decisions each day and most aren't life-changing. Paper or plastic? Regular or decaf? To shower or not to shower? (ok. maybe that's just me). What will you do when the next big one comes along? Will you choose courage? Esther did! Consider that your decision could unlock the destiny your Father has planned for you. I learned this week that the most frequently given commandment in the Bible is: be courageous. (Thank you, Beth Moore!) What does this tell us about our lives and God's plans for them? We should expect to encounter choices that require courage. We should pursue God's Will courageously. And when faced with difficult choices, we should remember the blessings that await when we live with courage. 

It may not be long until someone says to you, "...and who knows but that you have come to ________ position for such a time as this."  When that time comes, and it will, be courageous.