Not Only God, but Life Itself, Respects and Supports the Resolute Person
For if you altogether hold your peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish: and who knows whether you haven't come to the kingdom for such a time as this? — Esther 4:14
Don't you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win. — 1 Corinthians 9:24
Author
Dr. Roberto Miranda
Summary: The life of faith requires more than prayer, meditation, and prudence: the time comes to decide, act, and take responsible risks. Like Ruth, we must honestly examine our circumstances, recognize our abilities and limitations, choose a path, and commit ourselves to it wholeheartedly. Her resolve toward Naomi was met with counsel, provision, and blessing. Esther, too, left behind false security, embraced her identity, and used her strategic position to intercede for her people. Entrusted to the Lord and carried out with a clear strategy, her action brought honor, salvation, and advancement for the Kingdom. When we know what to do, we must weigh the options, accept the possible consequences, and move forward trusting in God’s faithfulness.
We have all heard the expression “burn the candles,” which refers to making a decision that commits us and leaves us no option of turning back. It originally refers to the mythical decision of the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, who supposedly ordered the ships in which he and his men had arrived in Veracruz, Mexico, to be burned as they began the conquest of the Aztec Empire. By eliminating the possibility of an escape route, Cortés hoped to strengthen his men’s resolve and thus increase the likelihood of victory under highly unfavorable circumstances.
The Bible shows us time and again determined men and women who make desperate decisions in the name of the Lord and who always end up wresting victory from the clutches of defeat. I think of Esther, who chooses to follow her mother-in-law and bind her destiny to hers, even though the latter feels defeated and insists on making it clear that she has nothing to offer her. Ruth’s words are still inspiring: “Do not plead with me to leave you or turn away from you; for wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried; may the LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death separates you and me” (Ruth 1:16 and 17). The account says that “when Naomi saw that she was firmly resolved to go with her, she said no more.”
Ruth’s decision was noble and heroic, but also very wise. Naomi’s wise counsel and family connections enabled her to find a wealthy and generous husband, and God’s blessing covered her to the point that she became an ancestor of Jesus Christ himself. When a man or woman lives life resolutely, honestly examining their context, accurately knowing their personal limitations and abilities, and committing themselves wholeheartedly to the decisions they make, the course of their life will inevitably rise, and obstacles will move out of their way to open a path for them in life.
At first, Queen Esther chose the prudent and safe course when the Jewish people were at risk of being exterminated by the wicked Haman. She wanted to hide her Jewish identity and avoid the risks involved in intervening with King Ahasuerus on behalf of her people. Her uncle Mordecai challenged her to make a decision—to fully embrace her identity, take advantage of the strategic situation in which she found herself, and take desperate action by entering the king’s chamber without having first been invited, in order to intercede for her people. In essence, he told her: “If you remain undecided, choosing a false sense of security, sooner or later life will run you over, and you will perish like all the other Jews. But if you decide to intervene, even though it entails great risk, perhaps you will stumble upon greatness and do much good. And who knows whether it is for this that you were born and find yourself in the position you now occupy” (Esther 4:13 and 14).
Esther entrusted herself to the Lord, adopted a clear and ambitious strategy, and the rest is history: Her decisive action resulted in honor for her, salvation for her people, and clear advancement for the Kingdom of God.
It is good to pray, meditate, and be prudent in life. It is good to confess the Lord’s promises and believe that He is good and faithful to those who trust in Him. But in life there also comes a time for action, for making concrete decisions and taking risks, for carefully weighing the options before us and choosing just one of them, committing ourselves calmly and responsibly to its possible consequences. And once we know what we have to do, all that remains is to plunge into the water, taking an inflatable life preserver with us if possible, and entrusting ourselves to the merciful arms of the Lord. He will not allow us to fail. “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
If you want to explore this reflection more deeply, I recommend studying Pastor Omar Soto’s sermon entitled “Taking the Risk and Living According to the Truth.”