Super Bowl XLI and the Terror of Esther

The Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts will be meeting on February 4th for the most coveted of all professional sports titles, Super Bowl Champion. For my less than sports minded readers, we are talking football here.

I was encouraged when I read that both coaches, Tony Dungy of Indianapolis and Lovie Smith of Chicago, were using the two week spotlight leading up to Super Sunday as an opportunity to speak of their faith in Jesus Christ. Dungy has been speaking of "giving God the credit" not for their winning the AFC Championship game, but for being allowed the opportunity to be in such a great position to talk about being tested and how NFL coaches can foster effective leadership with a positive, Christ-centered mentality.

The issue at hand here is a serious one. I believe in a God that brings about all things for His eternal purposes and glory. All things. When I hear stories like the one of Dungy and Smith, I am reminded of one of the most terrifying and eye-opening passages in all of Scripture. Esther 4:14

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

God's plans and purposes will never be thwarted or denied, lest we ever dare to reason that God is surprised by the world's condition. Why He allows us through His mercy and grace to be a part of such a holy and divine plan is beyond me. But He does. And He brings about the moments and circumstances in our lives where we are called to act. If we fail to do the right thing, God will raise up one who will. In this passage of Esther, Mordecai had no doubt that God would rescue the Jews from the hands of the Persians. But he wanted Esther to understand that her position as queen was not ultimately for her enjoyment and pride. It was to honor and bring glory to God by fulfilling what she had been placed there to accomplish.

Maybe in the big moments, like Super Sunday, Dungy and Smith should think of why they are in their position at a time like this. Maybe in the small moments, like the ones most of us will encounter today, we should think of why we are in our position at a time like this. To God be the glory, great things He has done!