Andrew Jackson once declared, “I was born for a storm, and a calm does not suit me.”
Although “a calm” might not have suited Andrew Jackson, it probably would have suited Esther just fine. However, she was born for a storm. She did not seek danger, power, or prominence. She was an orphaned Jewish girl who found herself in a palace far from home, living quietly and cautiously. Yet God was preparing her for a moment that would test her courage, faith, and obedience.
Haman had pushed through a decree to destroy all of the Jews on a certain date because a Jew named Mordecai had refused to bow down to him. The only thing that stood in the madman’s way was Queen Esther, who, unbeknownst to him, was a Jew and had been raised by Mordecai (Esther 2–3).
In an effort to persuade Esther to risk her life for her people by going into the king uninvited, Mordecai suggested that she may have been born for just such a time. He said, “If you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
Those words remind us that God’s purposes are larger than any one individual, yet He chooses to work through willing servants. Esther’s decision was not driven by certainty of survival but by trust in God’s providence. She fasted and then stepped forward in faith, saying, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
Of course, the story bears out that she was born for a storm (cf. Romans 8:28). God used her courage to turn impending tragedy into deliverance.
Do you know this Bible story? (Answer the questions on the previous page to learn more about Esther.)
Reading the Bible is interesting! The Bible tells the greatest story ever told—the story of God and man. It is not a dry collection of religious rules, but a living record of real people facing real problems, just like we do. In its pages we meet kings and shepherds, prophets and fishermen, heroes of faith and men who failed miserably yet found forgiveness. We read of love stronger than death, faith that overcomes fear, and hope that shines brightest in dark times. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible explains where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going.
