February 8, 2026

“For Such a Time as This"
The Story of Esther
Esther 4: 9-16
For many of us, our lives are filled with comforts, privileges, and benefits that we have worked to attain (or that have fallen into our laps).  What happens when we are forced to choose between our comfort and revealing our true identity? 

The Jews were captive in Babylon for 70 years. When the Persian Empire conquered Babylon, the king of Persia gave the Jews permission to return to Jerusalem, but many Jews stayed in Persia. They had adapted and blended in to life in the Persian Empire, becoming comfortable and successful, learning to keep their Jewishness to themselves.  

The Book of Esther explores the challenges and dilemmas for the people of God when they are fully assimilated with the Empire.  But what might it cost if they are forced to choose?  How can they avoid such consequences?

What do you do when God is absent from your story?  When you can’t see him, or hear his voice, or even the mention of his name? How can you be true to your identity as one of God’s people, when everything in your life says you belong to the Empire?  Especially when your life is comfortable.

 For this Sunday… read the Book of Esther (it takes less than half an hour, and the story really clips along)

What questions do you have about the book?  Why isn’t God mentioned anywhere?  Why is this book even in the Bible?

Where is God?  Is Esther a “good” person?  What motivates her behaviour?  What questions does this story raise about God, about justice and fairness, and about our own lives while we live in Babylon?