Defining Moments
Notes
Transcript
God’s Assurance
God’s Assurance
A little girl was born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland, in 1822. Her nights in the slave quarters were most often cold, and she slept as close to the fire as possible. Sometimes she even stuck her toes into the smoldering ashes to avoid frostbite.
By the age of six, she was considered old enough to work all day and was hired out to temporary masters, some who were cruel and negligent. That lasted just until she was caught stealing a sugar cube; the mistress of the house whipped her and sent her back home.
While working as a field hand as a young teen, she was injured by a blow to her head from an iron weight, thrown by an angry overseer at a fleeing slave. The severe injury resulted in occasional seizures and headaches for the rest of her life.
When she was 27 years old, her owner died, leaving her and her family at risk of being sold to pay his debts. Late in the fall of 1849, she tapped into an Underground Railroad that was already functioning well on the Eastern Shore: traveling by night, using the North Star and instructions from white and black helpers, she found her way to Philadelphia. She had escaped the chains of slavery.
But that didn’t end her problems. In fact, she later described upon arriving, “I had crossed the line and I was free, but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land.”1
She sought work as a domestic, saving her money to help the rest of her family escape. From 1850 to 1860, the woman conducted at least eleven escape missions, aiding approximately seventy individuals, including her brothers, parents, and other family and friends, while also giving instructions to fifty more who found their way to freedom independently.
She would devote the rest of her life to rescuing slaves from the South and leading them to free states in the North.
Her name was Harriet Tubman.
Considered one of the most fearless conductors along what was known as the Underground Railroad, Tubman was known only by the complimentary nickname Moses.
But before Harriet ever became a hero to the western world, she was first an outlaw. So much so, in fact, that rewards were posted throughout Maryland offering $50,000 for her capture—the equivalent of nearly one million dollars today.
Tubman was hunted on numerous occasions by professional gunmen, dogs, and even wild animals, but she managed to elude them all. And in spite of their constant pursuit, she continued to fulfill her mission of rescuing slaves. She determined to fight for their freedom as long as she had strength, and she sincerely believed that when it came time for her to go, God would let her be captured.2
Harriet’s abiding sense of calling and purpose compelled her to eventually lead more than a thousand slaves to freedom.
Throughout the Civil War she provided badly needed nursing care to black soldiers and hundreds of newly liberated slaves who crowded Union camps. Tubman’s military service expanded to include spying and scouting behind Confederate lines.
When an early biography was being written about her, Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became a well-respected entrepreneur and abolitionist, was asked to write words of commendation on her life. Instead, he penned these stirring words to Harriett in a letter dated August 29, 1868:
I need words of commendation from you more than you need them from me, especially where your superior labors and devotion to the cause of the lately enslaved of our land are known as I know them. The difference between us is very marked. Most that I have done and suffered in the service of our cause has been in public, and I have received encouragement at every step of the way. You, on the other hand, have labored in a private way. I have wrought in the day—you in the night. I have had the applause of the crowd and the satisfaction that comes of being approved by the multitude, while the most that you have done has been witnessed by a few trembling, scarred, and foot-sore bondmen and women, whom you have led out of the house of bondage, and whose heartfelt “God bless you” has been your only reward. The midnight sky and the silent stars have been the witnesses of your devotion and I know of no other who willingly encountered more perils and hardships to serve our people than you have.3
There is little surprise that to this day Harriet Tubman is revered and honored for her self-sacrificing efforts for the freedom and safety of her fellow slaves.
Esther finds herself in the middle of “The Purge” the Persias were no doubt prepared to strike. The date was determined the plans laid… strike early, strike , fast pillage early.
Unlike Esther’s nationality the Purge was no secret.
God is at work preparing the way for Esther… the Devil obviously oblivious or so it seems is working in Haman.
Certainly he had realized Esther had somehow won the Queenship, that she happened to be the cousin of the stubborn Mordecai who happened to have recieved a position in the King’s Gate, or that it was Esther’s uncle Mordecai who had somehow uncovered the plot against the king’s life. How could he not have realized Esther was a part of God’s chosen people?
What a series of convenient coincidences or could it be that God though invisible is still invincible?
God has a plan in our daily crises and drama.
Mordecai’s Testimony
Mordecai’s Testimony
When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
No more guarded defence of his people. Now Mordecai is out and out for the Jews as a Jew. Weeping, Mourning, Sackcloth, Ashes it is not a secret.
In Western culture we hide our tears behind closed doors, handkerchiefs, and sunglasses. In Eastern culture you wear your emotion o your sleeve. There is great merit in Eastern culture for your ability to mourn.
And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
Weeping, Sackcloth, Ashes, Tearing of Clothes all of this is evidence of Mourning, but it is not evidence of a heart right with God.
The only other time you find these three in conjunction is
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
This is a defining moment for Mordecai… it is in this moment that Mordecai realizes he is powerless to save himself or his people. That realization brings out of Mordecai that he belongs to God and that he yearns for all His/God’s people to join him in turning to God.
Have you had such a defining moment in your life… when you realized you were powerless to save yourself and turned to God for salvation. Moments like this are not singular but often in the life of the believer… we are frequently reminded by the events of this life that we are powerless and that God is all-powerful. These moment call us to turn to God and to call all God’s people to turn with us.
Esther’s Hesitation
Esther’s Hesitation
So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
Esther hears of Mordecai’s condition and sends raiment so that he may come to speak with her. But he refuses and she sends her personal eunuch. Obviously she was not able to go to him, and in his chosen condition he could not come to her.
It is completely possible that Esther had not yet heard of the edict. When Mordecai refuses her second request he returns word with the written document as to the reason for his situation.
Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.
Worse than the edict, at least for Esther is that Mordecai wants her to beg the King who she hasn’t seen in over a month for mercy.
Hatach was one of the few people who probably knew that Esther was a Jew, and he was very possibly a Jew himself.
Even if Esther reveals that she is a Jew she still has two issues.
All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
The legal issue of entering the King’s chamber without a summons.
She hadn’t been requested in over 30 days for all she knew he was through with her.
There’s an old saying that when you marry a child of the devil, you will eventually run into problems with your father-in-law.-Anonymous
The timing of the edict couldn’t be worse as far as Esther is concerned. If she doesn’t make the request certainly someone will expose her.
If she appears before the king the best case scenario is she tells the king she has been lying for the last 5 years and that she is a Jewess and dies for lying, or dies because the king does not rescind the edict or dies before she even has a chance to say a word to the king.
Haman was the kings number 2 and all things communicated to the king had to flow through Haman. So Esther had to tell Haman she wanted to speak to the king about the edict because she was a Jew.
So Esther’s solution is to do nothing. Just like most of us. So Mordecai makes a final appeal too Esther and to her faith.
Mordecai’s Confrontation
Mordecai’s Confrontation
Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.
Mordecai makes one final attempt to convince Esther.
The palace wall won’t save you, you can’t hide in your little apartment, you can’t hide under the crown, if the Jews die… You die.
That is Mordecai’s basic message.
We are given her Hebrew name-Hadassah and her Persian name-Esther. Now she must choose which name she is going to live under.
At some point you have to determine as a believer what name you are living under, as well. The name given you at birth or the name given you by Christ-Christian.
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Mordecai reminds Esther that God is the real sovreign and that se has an opportunity to be a part of God saving the Jews. Mordecai had faced his defining moment and cast his lot with his people. Mordecai’s mourning had turned confidence and he was proclaiming his faith in God. It is Esther’s time to decide whose side is she on.
Mordecai didn’t know what God was planning, but he did know God was planning.
This was the faith of another Jew who hid in a cellar from the Nazis. He scribbled on the stone wall these defining words; “I believe in the sun even when it is not shining; I believe in God even when He is silent.”
Mordecai was in a dark place, but he was trusting God that He would keep His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
He throws is a strong appeal… basically he says, “ you can hide from everybody else, but you can’t hide from God… if you let all of die… God will not let it go.”
He finishes up with God may have put you there for this… you have an opportunity to be a part of God’s master plan.
This should be our greatest desire… that we might be a part of God’s plan to reach the world with the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is a place for each of us in God’s work.
It is the same God who said,
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
is the same God who said,
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
God is going to do His work and build His church with or without us… The decision is up to you… do you want to be a part.
God isn’t going to teach a Sunday School class or tithe… He isn’t going to invite your friend to church or pass out tracts. You are going to have to decide if you want to be a part of God’s plan.
When we become a part of what God is doing we witness amazing things not only in the loves of other, but in our lives, as well.
So the question is are you in?
Mordecai is giving Esther three reasons to get involved these three reasons apply to us.
Other’s need you to be involved
It is an act of worship
This is your purpose and destiny
Esther being the Queen didn’t matter right now… what matters is she has a God given position and an opportunity.
This may have been the first time that she considered her journey to where she was and began to dawn on her that she wasn’t lucky or talented… she was blessed.
Esther’s Decision
Esther’s Decision
Esther not only decided that Mordecai was right… she was there for such a time as this… but she also put her own plan into action.
First, she call for a fast.
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
She took Joel seriously
Blow the trumpet in Zion, Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Secondly, she publically stands with God’s people. It is possible that she surrounded herself with Jewish maidens.
Thirdly, she submits to God’s will and goes to the king.
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
She changed from fear to faith; from hesitation to determination; from concern about her own safety to concern for her people’s survival.
Like David facing the giant, she had realized that this is an opportunity for God to work through her.
There is no safety in a significant life … there is no significance in a safe life.-Anonymous
Two things we should understand about defining moments.
Defining moments are not giant leaps they are small steps of obedience that draw us closer to being the believers that Christ has called us to be.
Douglas MacArthur once said that in the world there is a constant conspiracy against the brave: an age-old struggle between the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice of conscience on the other.
I’d like to amend that for the Christian disciple’s defining moments: the struggle between the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice of Christ on the other.
For us these moments look like
Are you going to bow your head and pray in public?
Are you going to hand that tract to the teller?
Are you going to raise your voice in the moral discussion at work and tell them your position is because you are a Christian?
Small, simple steps of obedience define who we are as Christians.
Defining moments are small moments of faith when we trust God like he deserves to be trusted.
The moment Haman surfaced, Esther began to move from being a beauty queen to becoming a [believer]; from being an empty-headed sex symbol to being a passionate intercessor; from the busy life in the harem to the high-risk venture of speaking for and identifying with the people of God.-Eugene Peterson
Esther needed to start living like she trusted God because God deserved for he to live like she trusted Him.
So what will we do with our defining moments this week.
The difference between a hero and an average joe is the voice they listen too. An hero listens to the voice of conscience… a true hero listens to the voice of Christ.
It is time to do it. Take a stand for Christ, Speak up for what is right, Identify with Christ and His people, Seize the opportunity join in God’s work,
You are who you are, where you are, when you are for such a time as this.