We all know the story of Purim. A beautiful Jewish girl is taken from her family and married by the foreign, occupying king. Her cousin warns her that the king’s right-hand-man is plotting to exterminate the Jewish people. The girl boldly faces the king, risking her life to expose the conspiracy. Her people are saved, the evil man executed, her cousin promoted, and all is right in the end.

The story of Esther has held a special place in the Jewish heart for thousands of years. A chronicle of bravery and hope, suspense and intrigue, the triumph of good over evil—truly a timeless classic. But what if there’s more to this story than meets the eye? What if Esther’s story is less about bravery, and more about duty—a duty to God and to His people that all of us today share? Indeed, an invisible danger threatens the Jews even now, in our time, and believers in Messiah have the ability—and responsibility—to make a difference.

Every single day, across the world, hundreds of Jewish people die having never accepted their Savior, Yeshua. The final enemy—Death—picks off God’s treasured people, one by one, as multitudes meet not just the end of their lives, but the destruction of their souls. Who is to stand in the way of this crisis? With what force does God seek to defend his chosen ones? Brothers and sisters, He has laid that duty upon us: a generation who find ourselves too paralyzed with fear, overcome by distractions, or—even worse—chilled by indifference to share the Master’s great gift of salvation with everyone we meet.

The story of Queen Esther should be a rallying cry—a resounding reminder every year that we have a duty to speak the truth, no matter the personal cost. Was Esther brave? Certainly. But maybe that’s not the point. Yes, she knew that she was risking her own death by going before the king. Yet according to her cousin Mordecai, death was coming for her anyway if she held her tongue (Est. 4:14)! Mordecai did not ask, but rather commanded her to plead for her people (4:8). Esther’s part, then, was simply to swallow her fear and obey her calling. She was, in a sense, simply following orders.

Framed like this, the story starts to sound familiar, similar to those disciples of the Master who first spread our faith far and wide. They too were able to save Jewish lives with the truth they were entrusted to speak; they too risked their own lives by speaking (cf. Act. 7:59-60, 12:1-2). And yet, they continued to share the Good News because, as Peter said, “We must obey God, rather than men” (5:29). They were firmly committed to their duty—the duty that comes with receiving the Holy Spirit, which bore witness to Messiah’s sacrifice (5:32). They could not help but speak, and so too must we.

The Father could have placed each one of us into any time or place in history that He pleased. But we look around, and we find ourselves in this present day—in a time when not just the Jews, but the whole world, perhaps more than ever before, are desperately in need of the Truth that we know: Messiah. Like Esther so long ago, we too were called “for such a time as this” (Est. 4:14). We must speak out against degradation of our morals, and the perversion of our affections. We must speak out against the rejection of reality, and against the destruction and mutilation of our children. We must speak out against the undermining of the family, and the watering down of our faith. We must speak out against hatred of the Jews. And in the face of these enemies, we must boldly and bravely share the Good News of Messiah’s salvation.

The world around us has given us plenty of reasons to hold our tongues regarding our faith. Perhaps we are afraid of confrontation, or don’t want to risk alienating friends or family. Maybe we don’t feel that we are well-equipped enough, and that it’s better left to teachers and evangelists. We could be putting a job or career at risk. We might worry that we’re driving someone even further from Messiah. Or maybe we honestly just don’t think about it, or we can’t spare the time, even when we see people who are struggling, hurt, depressed, and broken. Surely, someone else can do it, right?

It’s true, God will never forsake His people. But consider what Mordecai told Esther: “if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish” (Est. 4:14). Woe to us if we sit idly by, secure in our own salvation but withholding it from those who need it most. Let us no longer be a generation of deserters, abandoning our duty to speak, and leaving God’s people to their fate. This Purim, let us be inspired by Esther’s example, to answer the call and share the truth with everyone willing to listen. Like Mordecai, let us seek the welfare of God’s people, and speak peace to them (Est. 10:3)—for Yeshua “is our peace” (Eph. 2:14), and “He will save His people from their sins” (Mat. 1:21)!

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!