Forced to Fight

Willing to lie down, but FORCED to Fight.

Sometimes in the face of oppression we are content to lie down, willing to concede, because of the fear of getting involved in a much bigger conflict. In many cases, even when we realize that we are wronged we are slow to proceed and, left unprovoked we might actually settle for less than we deserve. Queen Esther illustrates such a dilemma.

Esther details that if her and her people were merely sold as slaves, an outcome which by no means is just or favorable, she would have still been content with that, and would have remained silent. Yet silence in such situations is a sin. The cause of the enemy was to completely and utterly annihilate her people, therefore she had no choice but to speak.

The proclivity for her and every person to not speak when they should is real, and sometimes you need that extra outside push, that reminder that makes you move and say it’s well worth whatever risk exist. Also real is the threat we face. If Esther comes before the king without advanced approval, and the king does not hold up his scepter she’s a dead woman. A would be queen, dead.
Our considerations and mental wrestlings are warranted and to be expected. In this particular instance, that extra motivation came in the voice of her uncle Mordecai, who reminds Esther of the threat of silence.

Esther is veeery powerful. And the lessons she teaches us are powerful as well.
1) She does not prevail by physical strength. She is a poor Jewish woman yet she has favor with the king and appeals to his power.
2) She was in a POSITION to help her people. Though one has the will, truly they may not be in a position to affect change. Esther when she found herself in that position capitalized on it. *If you aren’t in position, get in position
3) She had to realize her position and step out on it, in spite of how new it was to her and in spite of the threat on her life.

For every position in life there is a purpose. Mordecai’s admonishment to Queen Esther is a warning to not be selfish, but to speak on behalf of others and yourself. Consider how you have ascended to where you are now and with that also consider why it is you were led along that path and why events had to happen the way they did. Consider where you came from and at what juncture of purpose you currently stand.

I find it interesting that though power was with the crown, salvation came by means of a woman. I see so many black woman advocating for black men and black children and it stirs me. Sometimes we are content to lie down, even when our feet should be moving but we must concede that often it is the very forces we fight against that force us to levels of greatness we would have otherwise left alone.