Esther, in the Bible Book called Esther, was a lovely young lady. The Word says she was 'beautiful in form and face'. That's a pretty good recommendation.
Because the King was in need of a new wife/queen, and because she was so beautiful, Haddasah called Esther was taken from her family and put through the rituals, preparations and testing to enter the Kings' harem. Once she had slept with the King she could never leave the harem. Even if she had not 'won' the queen contest she was stuck in the odd half-life of the harem. Probably as a servant for the rest of her life. (Unless the King died or was deposed or conquered. Then her life hung in the balance with the Kings' or there were many other scenarios, none pleasant).
But Esther won and became queen. Crowns and gowns and long baths, manicure and pedicures and servants galore. Even her own private eunuch to help her and to guard her and to report on her activities to the King. For although she was the Queen and had some power, her life was not all a bed of roses. If she didn't come when the King summoned, she would be relegated to servant hood or to death. If she presumed to go to the King unbidden, she could be condemned to death unless she received the Royal Reprieve of an outstretched scepter. Not exactly a secure feeling.... Esther was good and loved by everybody who saw her. She was a sweetheart with a heart after the God of her fathers, the God of the Bible. She even had a group of her servants that she fellow shipped and prayed with. Perhaps she had led them to faith in the God above all gods, the One True God. She conducted herself in a manner that gave validation to her being chosen as queen and in a manner that honored her husband the King. Although she was not much more than a teen-age slave (albeit a very well dressed, coiffed and fed slave) from a slave people, it is not reported that she complained or pined away in self pity or went to therapy or wanted anything different than what she had.
You probably know the story: Haman (a rich toe-kisser to the king)and Esther's uncle Mordecai had a falling out which rekindled the age old hatred of the Aggagites (conquered by Saul) and the Jews (Mordecai and Esther being Jews). Haman worked out a plan by which he would put a bunch of money into the King's treasury and the King in turn would authorize a day that everyone in his kingdom could kill Jews. (The Jews were just one of the many subjugated peoples scattered throughout the Median/Persian empire, the remnants of Assyrian and Babylonian conquests of the past.) Haman and the King set a date and a decree was issued. Esther, in her glorious royal cloister, was unaware of the coming day and decree and probably wouldn't have considered herself in any danger. When she heard about it, her information was incomplete and pretty distressing but she could not understand the total danger and sought just to encourage. Mordecai however was completely aware. He saw Haman's plot for what is was; an insidious plan from Satan to destroy the Jews before the Messiah could be born and redeem human kind. Since the King had issued the decree the King was the only one who could stop it. How to get to the very much exalted and isolated King? It seemed God had made a wonderful way for His people. Mordecai, working as a bureaucrat in the King's service, and Esther the queen, right there in the King's harem. God had placed them where they could be a great help and they were there at just the right time. Mordecai got word to Esther about the decree, the date and even the amount of money Haman was going to pay the King (there are few secrets when servants are about). He urged Esther to do something for her people.
Esther responded just like you or I would. She said that her life would be in danger if she went into the Kings' presence unbidden, and furthermore he had not bidden her for a long time. She felt she could do nothing to help. What could she do? Mordecai gave his famous answer: "Do not imagine that you in the King's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" Esther heard the Word and responded with prayer, fasting and brave faith. God heard her prayers and rewarded her actions of faith. She was delivered and, more importantly, her people were delivered. Haman and his plot were completely overthrown.
What we face today is not the eradication of the Jews or the interruption of the Messianic line of descent. But we do face an overwhelming need among God's own children. A need that we are uniquely placed in time and ability to meet. A need that, if we don't meet it, will only increase and overwhelm us in the future. It is the need to feed, clothe, house, provide medical care and educate the orphan, refugee, street, indentured and enslaved children of the world. We have before us and around us millions of children (eighteen years and under) in the aforementioned conditions. Millions die every day, without a knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ, from treatable diseases, hunger, bad water, abuse and mistreatment. Those who live through this horrific sentence of childhood without care will grow up and have children (the teens are already pro-creating at a very high rate) and repeat the cycle. Only they try to take what you have now. Its their turn.
Do not think that you will escape. If you don't speak up or stand up or act with determination and faith, God will provide for His children from somewhere. He can either seek it from cheerful givers or take it in judgement. But be certain He will provide for His children who cry out to Him. One Hundred and Fifty Million orphans cry out today for a good meal, a clean glass of water, freedom from abuse, a dry place to sleep, a caring adult, school books and a pair of shoes. One Hundred Million indentured and enslaved children cry out today for an advocate and deliverance.
And how do know you whether you have not attained to this time and place of abundance for such a time as this? Perhaps God has prospered the 'Western Democracies' for such a time as this. You did not create the wealth, and wealthy land you now enjoy but I think we have a God given responsibility to use our abundance to alleviate the suffering of others. I do not think that we will escape judgement as God hears and responds to the cries of His children.
In Christ
In Haiti
For the least....jason