Made for this Moment, R-Code

We have been going through the book of Esther to learn from her experience with God, how we are made for this moment. . . . created to handle the moment . . . overcome despite the moment

What is the moment?

The moment is the situation/circumstances that you find yourself in, however you got here . . . God made you for this moment, you were made for this

We are to handle this moment using what I am calling the R-Code

We have seen how Esther dealt with Reality, Responsibility, a Roadmap, and being Re-directed

Recap

In the empire of Persia, the king was tricked into writing a “Purge Day” law that targets all Jewish people: On what we would call March 7, people would be free to kill any Jew and take their possessions.

And In their culture laws cannot be revoked, but the King has given Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai, who are Jews, permission to write a “counter law” in his name to offset the first law: So they write a law that the Jews could gather together to protect themselves and they could take the possessions of anyone who tried to kill them

Here is that law:

Esther 8:11 NLT

11 The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies.

and here is the response of the Jewish people

Esther 8:17 NLT

17 In every province and city, wherever the king’s decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a public festival and holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them.

Please understand the time line:

Jewish people hear the king’s decree that on March 7 they can be killed

Then the people hear the king’s new decree, learn of the king’s word that on March 7, they can fight back

and their response: rejoice, great celebration, declared public festival and holiday.

March 7 is still coming! And on that day, John Boy and ‘em still plan on gathering their weapons and go hunting after them . . . they WILL have to fight on March 7

I think my response would have been one of hope: “at least now we have a chance” but I don’t know if I would be throwing parties.

What am I missing? Why are they REJOICING

that brings us to the 5th R

Rejoice!

Philippians 4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, gain I say rejoice!”

but How do we rejoice in dangerous times?

How do we rejoice when troubles are all round

How did these people rejoice when troubles are still all around?

God has shown me two reasons why they are rejoicing like they are rejoicing

two reasons why they are rejoicing when trouble is just around the corner

1st reason - They understood the king’s word is final

It’s hard for us to understand the power of a king’s word because we live in a democracy, and the closet thing we have to a king is a president

And when a president wants to make a law, then it is only a possibility that it might happen

congress has to actually pass the law

a federal judge could rule against the law

many times governors can say, I am not going to enforce this in my state

another president can come along the next year and change it

But they lived in a kingdom, not a democracy, they lived in a kingdom where the king had the ultimate authority, and they understood that the kings’s word was final

the king’s word was it

The kings’s word was law

the king’s word would come to pass

no one could rule against the king’s word

you could count on the king’s word

and every Christian should also be able to rejoice because we live in a kingdom (the kingdom of God) and serve the king of kings

if God says, he is your shepherd, that’s it

if God says, no weapon formed against . . .that’s the law

if God says, I am your light and you salvation . . . that’s final

If God says, it will work out for your good . . . you should understand that will come to pass

if God says, I am your keeper, I am your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. I will protect you from all evil; I will keep your soul. I will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever . . . . you can count on that

Do not doubt and think that God’s words are temporary like our words!

God’s words are final!

there are no “if’s”

except’s, however’s, well sometimes

the king’s words are final

When you understand that, you can rejoice even in the midst of trouble. . . . even if the trouble has not been defeated yet

2nd reason - They understood that the King was going to back that law

upon first reading, I missed that connection, but they didn’t miss it

this law is more than just a decree

it’s more than just a chance to live

it’s more than just a sign of hope

The law is an indicator that the king is on the side of the Jews

Example: if you went to a courtroom

it’s one thing for the judge to say, “state your case, sir.” (you don’t know what the judge is going to do)

but it’s another for the judge to say, “Bob, my friend! Tell me what’s going on so that I can help you!” (you know the outcome will be in your favor)

When they read the decree, the understood that significance of the king’s words . . . the king is supporting us . . . he is not neutral . . . he is own our side . . . he is backing this law

Look at these verses:

right after Mordecai wrote the new law

Esther 8:15 NLT

15 Then Mordecai left the king’s presence, wearing the royal robe of blue and white, the great crown of gold, and an outer cloak of fine linen and purple. And the people of Susa celebrated the new decree.

with your eyes you could see that the king is heavily favoring Mordecai, the Jew, and backing this new law . . . that’s why we see . . .

Esther 8:17 NASB95

17 In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.

non-jews realized that this new law meant that the king was on the Jews’ side, so much so that they begin to fear the Jews and some converted and became jews.

also, look who got a personalized copy of this new law?

Esther 8:9 NLT

9 So on June 25 the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai dictated. It was sent to the Jews and to the highest officers, the governors, and the nobles of all the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. The decree was written in the scripts and languages of all the peoples of the empire, including that of the Jews.

it was sent to the highest officers, the governors, and nobles of EVERY province

and when they read it, they understood . . . the king is backing this new law over the old one

So when that Purge day came:

Esther 9:1–4 NLT

1 So on March 7 the two decrees of the king were put into effect. On that day, the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but quite the opposite happened. It was the Jews who overpowered their enemies. 2 The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the king’s provinces to attack anyone who tried to harm them. But no one could make a stand against them, for everyone was afraid of them. 3 And all the nobles of the provinces, the highest officers, the governors, and the royal officials helped the Jews for fear of Mordecai. 4 For Mordecai had been promoted in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces as he became more and more powerful.

those high officials could put two and two together: “we have two laws in effect, but it would be best for my career to put my support behind the 2nd law, Mordecai’s law . . . because the king is backing him

So not only is God’s word final, once God says it, he backs it up . . .

Jeremiah 1:12 NASB95

12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.”

He gives his word and he is actively watching over his word to make sure it comes to pass, so rejoice!

he gives is word and he keeps his word, rejoice!

Cause when God keeps his word he will have people blessing you who don’t want to bless you

officials help you who don’t care about you

he will have systems aid you that were not made to aid you

I know I am not the only one who has heard, “normally, I am not supposed to do this, but . . . “

that means God is on your side and backed his word!

the Bible says it this way,

Isaiah 41:10 NASB95

10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

don’t fear, I got you!

don’t fear, I will help you!

don’t fear, I will strengthen you!

the Bible says it this way, “I will uphold you will my righteous right hand”

God is actively on our side! Rejoice!

Remember how the whole narrative depended upon Esther having to go the king without being summoned? She had to go to him to beg for help

Esther 9:11–12 NLT

11 That very day, when the king was informed of the number of people killed in the fortress of Susa, 12 he called for Queen Esther. He said, “The Jews have killed 500 men in the fortress of Susa alone, as well as Haman’s ten sons. If they have done that here, what has happened in the rest of the provinces? But now, what more do you want? It will be granted to you; tell me and I will do it.”

She does not have to beg anymore

The king calls HER in and asks, “What else can I do for you?

she doesn’t have to go begging for favors anymore

she doesn’t have to chase favor, favor is chasing her

Truly if God is for us who can be against us?

Some people still went after the Jews

500 in the capital city, including Haman’s sons

75,000 in the rest of the empire

So you have to fight, but victory is yours because the king is on your side!!!!

you still have to fight, so fight!

but you can rejoice right now!

And the Jewish people made a holiday out of this event: they call it Purim

Esther 9:28 NLT

28 These days would be remembered and kept from generation to generation and celebrated by every family throughout the provinces and cities of the empire. This Festival of Purim would never cease to be celebrated among the Jews, nor would the memory of what happened ever die out among their descendants.

March 13, 2025 is the next one, still celebrating

so rejoice, again I say to you rejoice

Rejoice

be glad

experience joy

re joy, “re do” the joy

have joy on purpose

this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it

you don’t have to be sad in the moment

there is a time for seriousness

especially when you understand the Reality and the Responsibility

there’s a time for being careful when God gives you the Roadmap and God Re-directs you

but there is also a time to rejoice!

Rejoice in the moment, you have the king’s word

his word is final . . . . rejoice

the king will back his word . . . .rejoice

you don’t have to wait till the battle is over . . . rejoice now

Life is too short to only be happy after victory!

if you are having trouble having joy, then build up your faith . . . a lack of joy is an indicator of a lack of faith

Commercial: mark your calendar on days God has done something big for you . . . it will help your faith . . . and God deserves the praise and thanks.

Jesus

Christians ought to be happier

no fake happy

but real happy that comes from faith in God

happy I am saved

happy I have real help in this world