During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai.
- Esther 2:21-22

Mordecai finds himself in the right place at the right time. He passes news of the assassination plot along to Esther – who is also in the right place at the right time – who warns the King, saving his life.

The right place at the right time. It’s important to be at the right place at the right time. But that’s not enough.

Both Mordecai and Esther are the right people in the right place at the right time. The kind of people that they are makes all the difference here.

What would you do if you were a person living in exile if you discovered an assassination plot against the king who was actively oppressing your people? This isn’t a complex coup. It’s just a couple of angry guards. If they kill this foolish and oppressive king, perhaps the Persian Empire will collapse. Perhaps, in the ensuing chaos, God’s people can slip free and return home. Would you pass along the information about the assassination plot?

Throughout the book of Esther, we see that character matters as much as (if not more than) timing. The places and times in which we find ourselves reveal who we truly are. Will we cut corners and take shortcuts? Will we do whatever it takes to achieve our goals? Will we do the tough thing that needs to be done or speak the tough words that need to be spoken? Will we love, even if loving comes at a great cost?

What is this season of your life revealing to you about your character? What would you like to see change? Where do you need God’s help?