Just last week a Chinese airline crashed near Busan, South Korea. A young man survived the crash. After freeing himself from the wreckage, he went back near to the burning parts of the airplane and started pulling out the survivors. He shouted for help. Soon, people living nearby came to lend a hand. After as many as twenty people were pulled out, the young man collapsed. On the hospital bed, he told the reporters that he did not know where the incredible surge of force came from. But he felt that this was the hour he needed to stay strong and help those who were hurt.

We celebrate courageous actions taken by ordinary people as they risk their lives to save others or to stand for truth.

The book of Esther
The book of Esther is about courage in the face of a crisis. The Jews during the 4th century BC were facing an impending genocide. The book of Esther describes how this crisis was aborted as a result of one woman's courageous action. We could put away this story by saying that it is all about Jewish nationalism and the explanation on the origin of the national holiday, Purim. We might even wonder why it is here in our Bible.

Let us examine this book further. True, it is a unique book. There is no mention of words like 'God,' 'worship' or 'covenant.' Since 'the God-talk' is missing, it appears that the book is not interested in promoting spirituality. Instead, what we find are honor, courage, integrity, and risk-taking, --- those elements that make up real human dramas.

So, we might conclude that the book of Esther reads like a great novel with all the fascinating characters and a visible plot. In fact, it is quite fun reading this book. For those of us who have not read this book in a while, here is a quick summary:

a. King Xerxes is offended by Queen Vashti's refusal to show her beauty and he is utterly embarrassed in front of his honored guests.
b. The king 'dumps' the queen and calls a beauty contest in search of the next queen.
c. Esther becomes the queen of Persia. However, her Jewish origin is concealed.
d. Haman and Esther's cousin Mordecai, both top officials in the Kingdom of Persia, do not see eye to eye.
e. Haman elevates the personal differences into an ethnic issue. He secures a decree to kill all Jews in Persia (genocide).
f. Mordecai asks Esther to go to the king and tell him the whole truth.
g. Esther must make a decision. She could get killed for approaching the king without being summoned to come.
h. Esther risks her life and exposes Haman's evil scheme. The whole Jewish race is saved and Haman is punished.

So, what is the point of this book from the Christian's perspective? What lessons can the church learn today and apply?

Spiritual lessons for us
Esther did not have to get involved in opposing Haman, if she wanted to remain safe and comfortable. Of course, her conscience would have bothered her later on for not helping her countrymen.

In a sense, a definite intervention was required, even demanded, of Esther. Yes, it was time to take a risk. So she risked her life and approached on her own initiative. Let us look at two concrete spiritual lessons we can learn from this:

1. God places us in strategic positions and demands courageous actions
"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (vs. 14b)

Mordecai, who raised Esther up from when she was young, reminds her that God must have had a purpose in putting Esther in the position of the queen. Although the word 'God' is not there, we just have to supply that word. Otherwise, the whole sentence does not make sense. Very much behind this whole statement is the notion that God is sovereign and that Esther will do well to reflect on who is in control and why the One in control has placed her where she is at now.

All of us at one time or another face a trial. We must learn that 'trials' can be either a turning point or a missed opportunity. It either strengthens our faith or weakens it, even breaking it.

Thus, we must learn to rise up to the challenge of the hour or face shrinking from it in fear. God certainly does not want us to shrink in fear (Heb 10:38).

When the disciples of our Lord were told not to preach in the name of Jesus, what did Peter and John say to the authorities? Did they not say, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God'? (Acts 4:19)

God places us in strategic positions and he demands from us courageous actions.

2. God will use others when we disobey.
"If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place" (vs. 14a)

Mordecai's advice is simple and clear: God will use others if Esther disobeys and refuses to help the Jews.

We must keep at all times one somber fact of life: We are not the last actors and actresses on life's stage. After we are gone, there will be others who will continue to play out the drama of life. No one is irreplaceable. No one is immortal.

At the same time, God is in control of all situations. He will see to it that His will is done through his humble and obedient servants. When God demands a courageous action from us, we must deliver. We will do well in believing wholeheartedly that orr courageous action is ultimately rooted in the sovereignty of God.

Esther responded to her cousin's challenge. She asked for prayer support and then vowed to approach the King:

"If I perish, I perish" (vs. 16).

With these words, Queen Esther went to the King and told the whole truth. Haman's evil scheme was exposed and the plan to wipe out the Jews was aborted.

On the 14th day of the month of Adar, the Jews get together in their synagogues and read the book of Esther. Every time the name Haman is mentioned, the crowds boo. It is their national holiday known as Purim. Esther's courage is long-remembered, even till this day.

Tertullian said, 'the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.' Church history is full of such heroic acts by those who gave their lives for the truth and the Kingdom of Christ.

Let me give you one such example. Polycarp was martyred in his 80's. Just before his death, his Roman persecutors started a large bon fire and said,

'Have respect for your age. If you recant your faith, we will let you go.'

Father Polycarp's response was as clear and sharp as ever, 'How can I desert my Lord who has never deserted me in these years!'

Polycarp was burnt alive. The legend says that his body took a long, long time to burn, a symbol of his lasting testimony in the hearts of the believers.

God invites us to stay where we are and show courage against intimidation, or temptation.

These Trials of Ours
Taking his oath of office as the 13th president of the Philippines on June 30th, 1998, in historic Barasoain Church, Joseph Ejercito Estrada proudly declared,

Walang Pilipinong magugutom sa sarili niyang bayan. (There will be no hungry Filipino in his own country)

Walang kaiiaibigan, walang kumpa-kumpare, walang kama-kamag-anak. (No favors to friends or kins will be given)

I am reading a book on the tragic fall of the President Estrada. How could he have squandered such an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the Filipinos, especially in the lives of the poor who trusted in him and voted for him? And yet he wasted the golden opportunity. Instead of making things right, he made them worse. Courage was bowed to corruption. Perseverance and hardship gave way to pleasures of life.

If only he could have felt the divine call to put him in the strategic place 'for such a time as this'!

History will tell how much he could have done for the good of the country.

God has called you and I to a unique place, a unique time. Don't you feel like quitting? Not asserting what you believe is right? Are you seeking an easy way out?

In life we go through various trials. But trials can either be turning points through our courageous actions or missed opportunities of God's blessings to us or through us.