Today I had a completely new insight that I never had before. Esther is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. I love the part when she stands before the King and the King says, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you”. I always saw this as God-given favor for Esther in the king’s eyes.
Today I had a completely different insight. Why did Esther get this kind of offer on that important day? When Mordecai asked her to do something about the danger that had happened to the entire Jews, Esther explained why she could not put her life at risk. After Mordecai reminded her of why God might have given her the privilege of being in the palace at a time like that, she asked everyone to fast and pray for her. And she went to the King, putting her life at risk. “If I perish, I perish”, she said.
As she stood before the king, without invitation, wondering if it was the sword that was going to come to her head, the king stretched out the scepter and asked her the question, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you”. Is this also not a temptation to take the easy way out to protect her own life? Because if half the king’s kingdom was given to Esther, was her life in any more danger? Would she not be equal in position to the king and thus save her own life?
A lot of times, when God has a huge task before us, the devil would show some shortcuts and easy ways out to keep us from doing the difficult task that God had asked us to do. The devil did the same to Jesus too. He tempted Jesus by offering the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would bow down and worship him. The task in front of Jesus was the Cross of Calvary. The devil tempted Jesus to take the shortcut which he offered by not having to go to the cross.
Know the voice of God. Know the task He has set before you. Know the shortcuts that show up in front of you that lure you away from your calling and your purpose. Stay away from the shortcuts and stick to the task God has given you.
