Corona Devo 1183

The Sound of Music is one of my favorite movies, I know most of it word for word.  We would watch it each December on TV when I was growing up, I was a nun in my high school production of it, and while studying abroad in Australia for college, I remember viewing it with eight female roommates from around the world.  (I found out that many other countries know this play word for word too.)

As I was reading the Bible today, it brought to my mind a conversation that Herr Max Detweiler has with Captain von Trapp in the Sound of Music.  The Nazis were organized and moving strategically and murderously forward on their plan to exterminate the Jewish people, and Max is laissez faire about it, but Captain von Trapp is adamant that they must never allow others to be harmed without being personally affected as well.

• Max : What's going to happen's going to happen. Just make sure it doesn't happen to you.

  Captain von Trapp : Max. Don't you ever say that again.

  Max : You know I have no political convictions. Can I help it if other people do?

  Captain von Trapp : Oh yes, you can help it. You must help it.

Max's stance (initially) was that he didn't mind much because the Holocaust was not happening to him. 

In a very similar situation (Jewish people being threatened with extermination through a royal decree), Esther was queen in a land of many Jews destined for unnecessary death and initially, she did not take the threat very seriously, even though her cousin Mordecai did.

When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail... (3) And as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes.  

(4) When Queen Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was deeply distressed... (5) Then Esther sent for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs...  She ordered him to go to Mordecai and find out what was troubling him and why he was in mourning. (6) So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the square in front of the palace gate.  

(7) Mordecai told him the whole story, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. (8) Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the decree issued in Susa that called for the death of all Jews. He asked Hathach to show it to Esther and explain the situation to her. He also asked Hathach to direct her to go to the king to beg for mercy and plead for her people... 

(10) Then Esther told Hathach to go back and relay this message to Mordecai: (11) “All the king’s officials and even the people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days.” (12) So Hathach gave Esther’s message to Mordecai.   ~Esther 4:1, 3-8, 10-12

Sometimes we become aware of situations, causes, needs that we feel separate from, or that we do not want to risk getting involved with--because we feel that we are removed from them, and safe.  Sticking-our-neck-out sounds like work and possibly even dangerous for us...and so we retreat, we "look the other way", or we just plain ignore the need.  

But if someone is in need, then there is a need...and we need to be-a-voice-for/stand-up-for/help if we are able.  

Mordecai knew that Esther could have an impact, but he also such an authentic faith in God that he trusted that even if Esther didn't step up, God would step in.  But shirking our voice/duty/calling for doing-what's-right (to spare our own discomfort) will have a hefty cost.

Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. (14) If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”  ~Esther 4:13-14

Mordecai's words (and faith!) to Esther and to us are piercing!    

Is the Lord calling us to step up to a task that is intimidating to us?  Are we taking the easy (silent/non-active) way out today?  

“Don’t think for a moment that because you’re 

• friends with the boss, pastor, "popular"/status/"in"-group you will escape consequence

• "careful" about the lying/cheating/bending-of-rules that it will not catch up with us or is not seen by our (holy) Heavenly Father

• "playing it safe" by not "stepping in" that we are fooling God with our half-hearted obedience in living for Him.

Who knows if perhaps we were made (to have our role/influence/voice/position) for just such a time as this?”  ~Esther 4:14

Esther rose to the occasion, even though it could have cost her everything.  And she knew where to start (with humility and fasting before the Lord).  

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: (16) “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” (17) So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. ~Esther 4:15-17 

Esther went for it, spiritually speaking.  She stepped up to the influence that she had with the king, in order to have a voice for her people, because they needed her to.  

Who needs us today?  

Are we being quiet when we need to have a voice?

Where could we have an impact today?  Will we step up?  

Who knows if perhaps you were made...for just such a time as this?”  ~Esther 4:14

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com