"And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" The story of Esther is set in Susa, the Persian capital, during the reign of King Xerxes (486–464 BC) after Persia had replaced Babylon as the ruling power. Some Jews had returned to Jerusalem where they enjoyed a reasonable amount of control over their own affairs as described in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Others, like those in the story of Esther, lived in various parts of the empire where they were often treated with suspicion and recriminations. Because of her great beauty, Esther became the queen of Persia although her Jewish heritage was unknown to the king. When the king issued an edict to exterminate all the Jews in the empire, Esther was in a unique position to persuade the king otherwise and so it was in this context that Esther's cousin and guardian, Mordecai, made this statement to Esther. God is providentially at work in this world and He generally works through His people to accomplish His plans and purposes. Jesus recognized and acknowledged God's providence in this world:
"My Father is working until now, and I am working" (John 5:17). The nature of God the Father is continuous activity and Jesus occupied Himself with constantly performing the work and activity of the Father. Like Esther, you are in a unique position to be used by God to accomplish His plans and purposes. Jesus explained how to be used of God:
"The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise" (John 5:19). You were chosen by God for such a time as this! See what God is doing around you and go and do likewise!
