Matt Clarke's Morning Messages

A Corn Dog at the Palace Gates

Written by Matt Clarke | November 19, 2025

She was doomed if she did, and doomed if she didn't. She had two choices to make: take action or sit back and see what happened. If she took action, she risked her life. If she didn't, she would be killed right along with the rest of her people. 

One of the most powerful officials in the entire empire got his butt hurt because a Jewish dude named Mordecai refused to bow down to him, and only to God. Because he had an abundance of power and pride, he whined to the king and convinced him that all the Jewish people in the land should be taken out or face more disrespect. The coward even offered to pay the king a huge sum of money to carry out his request. The king, too busy eating and drinking to think it through, agreed.  

The only problem was that Mordecai and the rest of the Jews had an insider. Mordecai's adopted daughter just happened to be Queen Esther, who was also Jewish. The king just sentenced his own wife to death. So, here she was. Make an unauthorized visit to the king and ask him to change his mind, which was a crime punishable by death, or don't and die with the rest of her people.  

"Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: 'Don't think for a moment that because you're in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 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 4:13-14)

 

Perhaps you were made queen for such a time as this. 

Esther considered her options and finally decided, if I must die, I must die, but I'm not going down without a fight. First, let's all pray about it for a bit, asking God to clear a path for us, and then I'll go. She chose action.

When all seems lost and there doesn't seem to be a clear direction on what to do...do something.  

You were created for such a time as this, whatever the situation you are in. You can choose to float in the harbor and let the waves have their way with you, or you can choose to crank your engines and cut through them. Either way, there is danger, but doing nothing assures that you will eventually be smashed by the rocks. Choose action.  

Turns out, once Esther revealed the power-hungry official's plot to the king, he ended up a corn dog at the palace gates for the buzzards to feed on. The Jewish people? They ended up better for the encounter. That is what happens when you mix courage with prayer and take obedient action. When all seems lost and you aren't sure what to do, do something. Fall to your knees, seek the Lord’s favor and direction, then get on your feet and get moving. You were created for such a time as this.