casual theology

“Who knows—perhaps it was for a time like this that you became queen?” (Esther 4:14) The book Esther tells the story of a Jewish girl chosen for the harem of a Persian king because of her beauty. One of the king’s  advisors  harbors a deep hatred for the Jews and hatches a plot to exterminate the entire race. Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, learns of the plot and convinces Esther to use her position of favor as queen to save her people. There was a risk for Esther for to enter the king’s royal court without an invitation carried a sentence of death. She at first hesitates out of fear for her life, but then Mordecai challenges her by asking her to consider that it was for just this very reason that she was chosen by the king to be his queen. Esther finds the courage to approach the king in his court, plead for her people, and in the wins him over. The Jews are saved, and those plotting against them are punished. Looking back at 2013 there were many great challenges for ...