Called According to God’s Purpose | Esther 2:1-18
Have you ever felt overlooked, unlikely, or simply too flawed for God to truly use your life? Maybe you’ve wondered if your past mistakes—or even your current struggles—have disqualified you from making a significant impact. If this sounds familiar, you are certainly not alone. In fact, the book of Esther offers an inspiring and challenging reminder that God can work through anyone—and in any circumstance—for His purposes.
In a recent sermon, Charlie Wallace explores Esther 2:1-18, unpacking how God used imperfect people, unlikely candidates, and even the hardened hearts of political powerplayers, to accomplish His will. Let’s dig into three practical, hope-filled truths from Esther’s story that reveal how God is eager to use our ordinary (and sometimes messy) lives for something extraordinary.
1. God Can Use the Immoral for His Purposes
It’s a theme woven throughout all of Scripture, and Esther’s story is no different. Sometimes, we expect God to only work through the righteous—the ones with flawless track records. But the opposite is often true. Wallace reminds us that, in Esther’s time, “God can use the immoral for his purposes.”
Take King Xerxes (or Ahasuerus, depending on your Bible translation), the most powerful man in the world at that time. His actions were far from exemplary. In fact, the search for a new queen was less a storybook romance and more of a disturbing ancient version of “The Bachelor” meets “The Hunger Games.” Young women from dozens of provinces were gathered up, brought to the palace, and subjected to a year of beauty treatments before spending one night with the king. The one who pleased him most would become the new queen.
The system was, by every account, broken and unjust. Yet, through this very process, Esther was positioned to save her people. As Wallace points out, “God often uses immoral people for his purposes, to which they are completely ignorant.”
This isn’t the only time Scripture shows God working through the messy choices of men and women. From Joseph’s brothers, who sold him into slavery (Genesis 50:20), to King David’s scandalous union with Bathsheba (Matthew 1:6), God’s grace meets people in their worst moments and still brings about something good.
The key takeaway? Our world is full of imperfect people and situations. Sometimes, we are the ones who make those mistakes. But our sin or others’ sins—while always serious—do not put us beyond God’s reach. He is always capable of using the most unlikely channels for His glory and our good.
2. God Positions the Unlikely for His Purposes
If you’ve ever doubted your qualifications or felt like an outsider, Esther is your soul-sister. She epitomized the unlikeliest of heroines. She was a young Jewish exile in Persia, an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, and a member of a marginalized, minority people.
How did she end up queen? Divine positioning and a lifetime of daily faithfulness. Wallace notes, “For generations, Mordecai and his family only knew the what it was to be an ethnic minority in a land that was not his homeland... yet God orchestrated events behind the scenes, positioning Esther into a place where she could bless God’s people.”
Scripture is full of such stories: Moses was slow of speech and a fugitive, Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute, and Jesus’ own disciples were fishermen, tax collectors, and societal outcasts. God repeatedly chooses the unlikely and overlooked—the ones the world dismisses—as the very ones through whom He works.
So, what does this mean practically for us today?
4 Ways to Be Ready for God’s Call
Charlie Wallace offers four tools, rooted in Esther’s example and the broader biblical narrative, to help us “stay in position” for when God wants to use us:
Keep growing in your relationship with the Lord: No matter your background, staying close to God—through prayer and the Word—keeps your heart available for His direction.
Cultivate humility: As James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” The quiet confidence and humility of Esther set her apart.
Be faithful in the small things: Esther’s consistent demeanor—her kindness to the chief eunuch, her willingness to trust Mordecai—were key to her eventual elevation. Daily faithfulness matters.
Look for God’s purpose, right where you are: God has placed you in your unique context for a reason. Ask Him to reveal how you can honor Him and serve others, even in ordinary tasks.
The world may have its own checklist for greatness, but God delights in using the unlikely. Your background or perceived weaknesses are not barriers; they are the very places God loves to work.
3. God Softens Even the Most Stubborn Hearts for His Purposes
Have you ever thought someone—maybe a boss, a family member, or a public leader—was just too hard-headed or hostile for God to change? Esther’s story urges us not to give up hope.
King Xerxes wasn’t known for being wise, compassionate, or even particularly rational. Yet, because of Esther’s “humble disposition,” Wallace points out, “even the most maniacal and selfish and angry man” was moved. He not only made Esther queen, but threw a royal feast in her honor and granted a remission of taxes—a significant sign of favor for the entire nation.
Esther’s quiet courage, humility, and grace softened the heart of a stubborn, self-absorbed king. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” God can use your gentle words, integrity, or even simply your steadfast presence to do what years of striving or clever arguments never could.
Never underestimate what God can do through your faithfulness, especially when dealing with difficult people. He can break through the toughest walls, using your example as a catalyst.
Ordinary Faithfulness, Extraordinary Impact
So often, we wait for perfect circumstances or perfect people before we expect to see God move. Esther shatters those illusions. Her story teaches us that God’s purposes are not thwarted by our brokenness, our backgrounds, or even the worst culture around us.
Instead, He uses:
The immoral acts of others, to bring redemption
The unlikely and overlooked, to shape history
The soft words and humble actions of the faithful, to transform stubborn hearts
The call is simple but profound: be ready. Grow in your walk with God. Embrace humility. Be dependable in the everyday. And trust that God can use you—right where you are, just as you are.
Ask Him to open your eyes to the unique position He’s given you, and pray for the courage to step forward, even if your role seems hidden or unlikely.
Because, just like Esther, you may be where you are “for such a time as this.”
Ready to let God write an extraordinary story with your ordinary life?
If you’ve never placed your faith in Christ, or you’re seeking a fresh start on your spiritual journey, remember: God loves using the unlikely—and that includes you. Today is a wonderful day to trust Him with your story.
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Inspired by “Called According to God’s Purpose (Esther 2:1-18) | Sermon” by Charlie Wallace.
