These days, people will do some crazy things on a dare. There are those who will walk on hot coals or glass. Some will jump off buildings into swimming pools. There are even those who get a thrill out of propelling off dangerous cliffs… and I’ve only scratched the surface.
But here’s the real question: Why the extreme? Is it for the excitement? Is it to one-up on the haters or to make good on the double-dog dares coming from the secretly faint of heart? I have to wonder, does one do such stupendous exploits to boast a sense of bravery or secretly conquer their own extreme sense of fear?
Observers might call such crazed feats “fearless.” Networks develop shows and milk that “cash cow” to appease thrill-seeking junkies. Regardless of the motivation or circumstance, I believe God addresses fears — extreme or tame — as a way to draw us closer to Him.
Before Esther made the beauty cut, she lived as an obscure, Jewish girl in exiled Persia. Based on customs and protocol, the former queen made a fearless gesture which cost her her royal position. Often, there are times we make bold decisions without consulting wise counsel or fully weighing the consequences of our actions. Though summoned before the king to show off her exquisite beauty (much like the ultimate trophy wife), Queen Vashti refused. The Bible never mentioned her performing “Fear Factor” exploits, but her fearless exploit resulted in dethroning.
Then along comes Esther. Every fear-based step of her journey from obscurity to royal position walks in close proximity to God. When chosen as a contender for the unoccupied title, Esther found favor with royal insiders (Esther 2:9). When her appointed time came, the king chose Esther over everyone else (Esther 2:16-17). And when a power-hungry nemesis threatened to annihilate not only Esther’s uncle but her entire ancestral race, Esther heeded to the wise counsel of this familiar passage:
“If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
Fear is fickle. And though some do crazy things on a dare, others dare to do some amazingly crazy things when directed by God. Esther didn’t set out to gain notoriety for herself or to gain some level of fearlessness on her own. She factored in her fears through the heart and caring of her people. I can’t begin to imagine what thoughts went through her head in the preparation for a king, but ultimately when it mattered, when all those fears converged in one great big double-dare of a request — that is, to go before the king unannounced on behalf of her people — Esther boldly responded to Mordecai, “…though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die” (Esther 4:16).
Factor in your fears, but do so with God always at the center of every decision you make. He knows we might not understand why and we might even feel a bit of apprehension behind those steps we take. But as we learn to trust like Esther, He stands with us for “such a time as this.”
