Day 74 – Crisis Response Contd.

Esther 4:14
‘For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’ 

How do we respond, as the people of God, in a time of crisis? Today, we find the second way in Esther 4 about how we should respond.

 King Xerxes had commissioned an edict to annihilate the whole Jewish people. Mordecai had sent a message to his relative, Queen Esther, warning her that if she did nothing about this that she, with her family, would perish. He challenged her saying, ‘And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?’ We read in subsequent chapters about how she courageously and tactfully approached King Xerxes, which by God’s hand, meant this law was overturned. 

We’re currently faced with crises relating to the coronavirus pandemic, severe economic downturn and systemic racism. This account in Esther challenges us, the people of God, in our time, to take our place. God has placed us in our communities to care for the poor, the needy and the vulnerable. The Church has been placed to speak against injustice in our nation.

It’s sometimes hard to know how to respond, and there’s another step before we launch into action, which we’ll look at tomorrow. But there is a call of the people of God to respond compassionately, creatively, and courageously. 

Reflect – Take time to re-evaluate how you’re responding to the crises in our nation. What will your response be? 

Tim Bateman
Gas Street Leadership Team