Such A Time As This !

By: Kitzie Pallas

It is Sunday March 22, 2020. Normally, I would have been in church. My Sunday mornings were filled with church activities. This Sunday is different. Church services have been cancelled. We will have on line worship service.

Coronavirus has hit the U.S. We are being warned this is a devastating flu, equal to the flu of 1918. We are a completely different society than 1918. Technology has completely changed our way of life. We know instantly what is happening all around the world. We have experts in every field giving us information. We pride ourselves in being independent, knowledgeable, and put our security in our possessions and our bank accounts. We can also put our dependency in the govt., become a victim, and look for someone else to provide for our security.

We no longer see God has relevant and attending church has become less and less.

It is in times like these we need to take stock of our relationship with the Triune God., Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the One that is in control.

Today, we open our eyes to a new reality. So many familiar things that we have taken for granted are not available. We are in a Shut Down. It begins to take a toll on the economic system, people are fearful, plans and events are being cancelled, people are getting sick and we begin to get a death count. We all begin to ask, “ How long is this going to last.

We Have Never Seen Such A Time As This!

There have been other times such as this though. Let’s take a look at the book of Esther in the Old Testament. Esther is one of two books of the Bible named after a woman, the other is Ruth. What is unusual about the book of Esther is; it is the only book in the Bible where the name of God is not mentioned. God’s fingerprints are woven all through the book with indirect references and divine instructions.

Who was Esther? She was a Jewish orphan living in a foreign land with a hostile environment to Jews. Esther’s parents had died and she was being raised by her cousin Mordecai.

They were living under the rule of King Xerxes and Queen Vashti of Persia. When Queen Vashti disobeyed the King she was banished from the throne. The King sent out a decree to find a new queen. Esther was brought to the King’s palace and won the King’s heart through her beauty and character. She was made Queen of Persia. Mordecai had warned Esther to not reveal she was Jewish to the King. There was a very wicked leader in the court named Haman. He wanted all the Jews executed.

Mordecai gets word of Haman’s plan to execute all the Jews. He sends a message to Esther. She must reveal her Jewish heritage to the King and plead for her people. Mordecai warns Esther that if she remains silent God will raise someone else up to save the Jews and she will die with her relatives.

What was Esther’s response? Esther first reaction was to hesitate; after all she could be executed for going to the King without being summoned. Esther could have played it safe. She could use her power and influence as Queen. Esther was not an all about me kind of woman She was selfless. She could not let her people be executed. She told Mordecia “If I Die I Die” Esther was willing to sacrifice her life for her people.

Haman continues to carry out his plans to execute the Jews. It was the practice in ancient times to cast lots or dice in order to know the best time to carry out certain events. Haman throws the dice and it comes up 6 and 6. The Jews will not be executed for a year. Some might say God loaded the dice. What is important it gave Esther a year to make her plans to save her people. Many times during Scripture and even now certain crisis come upon our nation or our lives and God leaves open a window for the people to respond. What is important is what do we do with that window.

Let’s see what Esther did with that window. She was not going to be silent. She would speak to the King. Before she went to the King, she asked for her people to fast and pray. Esther and her staff prayed and fasted. She took advice from Mordecai and acted. Esther was told if she did not obey God; God’s plans would not be aborted. God would find someone else to carry out His plans. God does not need us to carry out His plans. He has chosen to be involved with His creation.

Esther was courageous but she made detailed plans to carry out the mission. She knew God and had a deep commitment to being obedient.

God has always used women to carry out His plans. Maybe, we should take this role seriously and see how far we have fallen from the role God has called us to play. During this time of crisis reflect on what God is asking you to do. You may be in this place at this time for Such A Time As This! We don’t need one Esther but many Esthers. The Human Race may be at stake.

About the author: Kitzie Pallas grew up on a small farm near Heritage Lake, and observed as the lake area was created and grew. Her parents, Harold and Thelma, lived near and beyond 100 years and were life long members of Canaan Community Church. Returning to her family home after many years, Kitzie remains a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and member of the Canaan Community. Watch for more Blogs from Kitzie in the coming days and weeks.