Rest in Christ to Fight Your Enemies

"But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

"On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness." (Esther 9: 16-17)

Esther was selected by the Persian King Ahasuerus to replace his previous Queen, who had refused to be a public spectacle (Esther 1: 12).

Yet the Lord moved that Esther would not only be honored as Queen in the largest empire in the world at that time:

"And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti." (Esther 2: 17)

We have a greater honor in Christ, that God the Father loves us as much as His own Son (John 17: 23) and has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Him (Ephesians 1: 3)

Through her position, God secured protection for His people the Israelites, whom Haman the evil grand vizier wanted to wipe out:

"For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4: 14)

When the Israelites were warned ahead of time that they were about to be wiped out by royal decree, they armed themselves, but they rested, then fought, then rest again in victory.

When we face enemies, challenges, circumstances in our lives, God wants us to rest in Him, for He has already given us victory over every enemy in our lives:

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." (2 Corinthians 2: 14)

and

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. " (Colossians 2: 13-15)

We share in this triumph, for we are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2: 6)

When we do face these trials, God calls us to stand:

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6: 13)

The fight is over, we rest by faith in His Word that the battle is won, and by His Spirit we walk in His victory!