Shirley’s Soliloquy #356

Who Knows?

“...who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b KJV

What a simple, but yet profound statement! How many times have I contemplated these very words? So often I have heard it said, “Oh, what a coincidence this is!” But really! Is it a coincidence?

Every person has individual backgrounds and experiences. There are no two exactly the same. But this means that each individual has a unique opportunity to be able to help someone else. Who knows what words spoken at just the right time could be what a person needs to hear. Who knows what just one smile can do for some unfortunate being? Or what could one fleeting glance mean to another?

The book of Esther in the Old Testament tells of this phenomenon. Esther was a young, orphaned Jewish girl who was being raised by her uncle. At a critical time in the history of the Jewish people, Esther comes into the picture. There had been a decree that all the Jewish people should be killed. Esther had come into favor with the great King Xerses. In fact, she became his queen. Her ties with the Jewish people were unknown in the court. Her uncle told her of the king's decree and said that she had to go to the King and plead for her people. She became afraid. One simply did not go into the king's presence without being called.
Because of the urgency of the matter, her uncle said:
“Who knows if perhaps you were made a queen for just such a time as this?” (NLT)

Could it be possible? Could God have worked out all the details years in advance, just so she would be able to save the Jewish race from extinction?

There is certainly no way a person can understand the mind of God. If that were possible, then that person would be God. In fact, the prophet Isaiah in chapter 55:8 of his book, wrote,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”

No, we do not know what goes on behind the scenes. In hindsight, it is often possible to see how good can come from impossible situations. Sometimes all it takes is the faithfulness of just one person.

My older sister & her husband came to visit this past week. Many times I have thanked the Lord for her. She made such an impression on me as I was growing up. She urged me to memorize Scriptures from a very young age. She rewarded me each time I learned another new verse. At times of crisis in my life, she had special verses that I should memorize. I must have memorized hundreds of them. Often throughout my life, especially when I was in dire circumstances, God's Word has come back to my mind during those times when it was impossible to lay my hands on my Bible. During her years of formal teaching in various colleges, how many young lives did she influence? Who knows if perhaps, unknowing to her, she was there just to influence some who have gone on and influenced thousands of others elsewhere?

May I be aware of those little coincidences, so that I might be ready and willing
for the Lord to use me!