This morning we are going to look at a most unusual Old Testament Book. It stands out among all the books of the Bible, as it is the only one in which God is not mentioned. Nevertheless, there is a clear assumption of God's activity in the story and so it has been included in the scriptures. Now, for those of you unfamiliar with the book, it would take too long to read it all to you, even though it only has 10 chapters. I encourage you to read the book on your own, but this morning, I want to tell you the story and read a few key verses to help fill in the relevant details.

Once upon a time there was a king named Ahasuerus, who reigned in the city of Susa, the same city where Nehemia lived - not far from Babylon. He ruled over a large kingdom, 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. Three years into his rule, he threw a great feast, inviting the nobles and governors of all the provinces, proudly displaying the wealth of his kingdom. It was a modest affair - lasting only 180 days. After that he threw a banquet for all the people of Susa - both great and small for 7 days in the court of his palace. According to the text, drinking was by flagons, without restraint - so you can get an idea of the kind of party it was. On the 7^th day, when the king was "merry with wine", he commanded that his queen - Vashti - should come before the people so that they would see her great beauty. She refused to come and the king was enraged that she had publically refused him. Fearing that this would lead to a widespread feminist movement, the king dumped Vashti and sent letters to all the provinces declaring that every man should be master in his own house (where is a good text when you need it?).

So, the king is without a queen and after consulting his advisors, a decision is made to have a "pageant"to find a new one. All the eligible virgins are gathered from across the land and brought to the king's harem where they each had a chance to impress the king who would eventually choose one of them to be queen. This was kind of a "who wants to marry a millionaire king" sort of thing. Before they could be presented to the King, however, they had to undergo their cosmetic treatments. For the contestants, it involved 6 months of oil and myrrh treatments, and six months of perfumes and cosmetics. After this they would be presented to the king to see if they would win his favor. I'm not making this stuff up! It's right here in the book.

Now there was a Jewish woman named Esther, whose parents has died and she had been brought up by her cousin Mordecai, who treated her as his own daughter. She was one of the woman who went to the palace and was chosen by the king. Mordecai warned her not the tell the king of her Jewish heritage. In that part of the world, Jews were outcasts and not particularly popular. So against all odds, Esther became queen. Meanwhile, Mordecai uncovered a plot to assassinate the king. He told Esther, she told the king and the plot was put down. Esther naturally rose even higher in the king's favor.

At that time, the king promoted a man named Haman to be his chief official and all the king's servants bowed and did obeisance to Haman as was the king's command. All, that is except Mordecai. The implication is that Mordecai would not because he was a Jew, and his obeisance was reserved for Yahweh. So, Haman was furious, and knowing that Mordecai was a Jew, he decided that the best way to get back at Mordecai was to have all his kindred killed. The story continues in the 1^st reading - chapter 3:7-13.

Mordecai learned what had happened and he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes and walked the city wailing with a loud and bitter cry. Esther heard about Mordecai's distress and eventually discovered the plot that was afoot. Mordecai approached Esther and asked if she would speak to the king. But she told Mordecai that there was a law that specified that no one could go into the king's court without an invitation or they would be put to death - unless the king held out his golden scepter - signaling his approval and letting them live. She explained to Mordecai that she had just seen the king recently and probably would not be invited again for 30 days or so, after the date for the execution of the Jews. Therefore, Esther would be risking her life to approach the king. Continuing at chapter 4:12-17.

Ok, we're almost half-way through the book! To make a long story shorter, Haman's plot is foiled and he is hanged for his efforts, the Jews are saved, Mordecai gets promoted to a position of power and influence, for the king discovers that he was the one who uncovered the assassination plot, a great banquet is thrown for Esther, who, presumably lives happily ever after with the king. And there is a feast established, which is still celebrated by the Jews today, called the Feast of Purim...

It's a great story - it would make a good, made-for-tv movie. For the Jews, this story is inspiring because of the actions of Esther, a faithful Jew, who at risk of her own life, saved her people. And while God is not mentioned - it is clear that God's hand was at work through his chosen servant Esther and Mordecai to protect and deliver the people.

The verse in this story that jumped out at me is in chapter 4, the last part of verse 4. Mordecai asks Esther to go to the king and plead for the lives of her people. And while Esther hesitates, aware of the personal risk this would put her in, Mordecai says, "who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this."

I have said before that I don't really believe in coincidences. I think God is involved in all areas of our lives and therefore all things happen for a reason -a reason that fits into God's larger scheme of things. We may not be able to see exactly how God is involved in every situation, but that does not negate the reality that God could be involved. I would suggest that all of our experiences are potential opportunities to be "God-moments" - where God's presence and activity are at work. I would suggest that each of us is uniquely placed to make a difference for God in the lives of others. If God is always at work, and part of God's activity is to work through us, then God will be creating opportunities for us to witness all the time.

Esther was in a position of influence. But note that she chose not to reveal her faith to the king.In fact it was Mordecai who warned her against it. I assume he thought she might put herself at risk by openly admitting to be a Jew. And so she hid her faith, even though she was in a position of significant influence. Mordecai's tune changed when he and his kinfolk were in danger. And his suggestion to Esther was that events happen for a reason and that her becoming queen must have a purpose and maybe this was it! Now was the time for her to act on behalf of her people. And, as we have seen, Esther agreed, accepted the risk, spoke to the king and saved her people.

Perhaps the same could be true of us. Think about where you are at. Where has God placed you in your vocation? What are the specific opportunities you face? What might God be asking you to do at your work place to contribute to the kingdom? Perhaps you should pay attention in a deeper way and seek to discover God-led opportunities to make a difference in someone's life. Who are your neighbors? Why has God put them next to you and what ways might you reach out to them with God's love and compassion? If you or someone in your family belongs to a club or community center or soccer league, what might God be wanting you to notice? What has God in store for you to advance the cause of the kingdom? You see it can make a tremendous difference in the way you view the world and the people around you if you begin with the assumption that you are there for a reason, a purpose. It might not be as glamorous or specific as Esther's. But if we believe God is constantly at work in our lives and in the lives of others, then it is pretty likely that God has some way that we can be used effectively in service to the kingdom.

Why are you part of this Good News Fellowship? If God has brought you here for a reason - what is it? God has given you faith and abilities and gifts - what are they for and how will you use them? How does who we are affect the direction of the ministry of this faith community? What makes us unique as individual Christ-followers and by inference unique as a faith community? We know that God is at work among us for reasons that go beyond our own personal comfort. I hope we do not attend merely for the benefit we receive for ourselves. Not that there's anything wrong with receiving God's blessing through our worship. But we know that God is calling us to much more than that!

I don't know what the future holds. But I do know that God has a plan for our future, as individuals and as a community of faith. Some of that will almost certainly involve risk. It will, because God is always pushing us past our comfort zones so that we can attempt great things for God. It's part of how we come to trust God, by attempting things that are clearly beyond our human abilities, so that we know that when they happen it is because God's power was at work. Esther risked her very life. She willingly went into danger when there was a very real risk that the king might have killed her for breaking his law. But she did so because she loved her people and wanted to save them.

Who are our people? One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Christian faith is that it is not tied to a race. There is no one racial group that reflects Christian faith. And so our people are all people. And there are a lot of "our" people who are in danger of losing their lives eternally.And God has placed us here to reach out to them with the love of God in Christ to try to save them, to keep them from destruction. And many people in this city are on a path of self-destruction and we can see their broken-ness and their hopelessness and their need.

We do not have to risk our lives to try to make a difference. But there is risk involved by letting people know to whom you belong, to which drum beat you are marching. Risk of rejection, ridicule, marginalization, being ignored or written off as crazy. None of that is fatal by the way. It may wound us inside, but it also just might be worth it if even one person was saved through our actions.

God has placed us where we are for good reasons - in our jobs, in our communities, in our church. Wherever we are God can and will use us to touch others.Part of our task is to watch for the opportunities, to discern God's leading and to be willing to be God's instrument. Perhaps we are here for just such a reason.