At this time...THIS time.

Was Esther going to do what Mordecai asked her, and go to see the king even though she wasn't allowed to? He didn't wait to find out: "When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: ‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’"  Esther 4:12 - 14

Esther now has a decision to make: does she believe Mordecai, or does she think that she, as queen, will be protected? Will she risk the king's displeasure and thus her royal position? Or is she, too, now facing death? No doubt there would have been many at court who were jealous of her and would have insisted that the king's orders be followed.

Or perhaps she recognised the truth of Mordecai's words: that everything that had happened to her so far (taken from her family to the harem and then being actually chosen as queen) was to put her in the perfect position to plead for the lives of her family and her fellows.

"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this."  Famous words. But God puts us all into our circumstances for good reasons. What can I do today to take a stand for justice, peace and love? Who am I placed to talk to, to demonstrate God's love to?

Quite often - especially at the moment, as we face retirement and changes in our lives - I find myself absorbed in plans for a future which may never happen. Which probably won't happen the way I expect it to, anyway. So planning and looking ahead is all well and good, but not at the expense of the present. Here is a challenge, to look at MY present circumstances with fresh eyes and take courage to speak out, to act.

"If not me - who? If not now - when?"

1 Chronicles 12: David's fighting men

I'm reading the Bible through the year: slowed down a little recently, as I ploughed through what seems like a zillion names and genealogies, until I stopped here. Wow, this caught my attention.  It is the picture of all Israel united together, each tribe bringing different gifts and qualities in a combined effort to obey God's will that David should become king.

Look at what each tribe brought:

Judah: carrying shield and spear—armed for battle
Simeon: battle-ready warriors: mighty men of valour
Levi: including Jehoiada, leader of Aaron’s family, and Zadok, a brave young warrior and his family
Benjamin: Saul’s tribe, who had been loyal to Saul until they knew that it was God’s will that David become king.
Ephraim: brave warriors: mighty men of valour who were famous in their own clans
The half tribe of Manasseh: designated by name
Issachar: men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do
Zebulun: experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty – keeping rank, not of double heart
Naphtali: many officers, together with men carrying shields and spears
Dan: ready for battle, experts in war
Asher: experienced soldiers prepared for battle
Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, east of the Jordan: armed with all kinds of fighting weapons

All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king. 39 The men spent three days there with David, eating and drinking, for their families had supplied provisions for them.  Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

Lots of bravery and good training...but the quality I like best is that of Issachar: men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.

Good men to have around.