Esther 4 - 6.10.25
SCRIPTURE: Esther 4:12-14 "When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 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 your royal position for such a time as this."
OBSERVATION: Esther was a beautiful woman. Her beauty and character captured the heart of King Xerxes, who was the King of the Persian empire. Esther's cousin, Mordecai adopted her after her parents died. His parents had also died, so he felt it was his responsibility to care for her. Mordecai was a man who loved God deeply and vowed not to bow down to anyone except God. The king made Mordecai an official in his kingdom.
UNDERSTANDING: A man named Haman had achieved great power, and was put second in rank to king Xerxes. Haman was an enemy of the Jews. It enraged Haman that Mordecai would not bow down and pay him honor so he planned to murder Mordecai, and he went so far as to build a pole for him to be impaled on. But after learning that the Jewish race was Mordecai's people, he decided to find a way to destroy them all! This would mean even Mordecai's cousin, queen Esther would die!
Haman went to the king and told him that there was a certain people dispersed among them in all the provinces of his kingdom who kept themselves separate. Their customs were different from all other people, and they didn't obey the king's laws. He told him it was not in his best interest to tolerate them. "If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king's administrators for the royal treasury." So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman, the enemy of the Jews. "Keep the money," the king said to Haman, "and do with the people what you please."
Enter Chapter 4: After Mordecai learned all that had been said and done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went into the city wailing loudly and bitterly. When Esther's eunuch's and female attendants saw him at the king's gate, and told Esther, she was in great distress. Mordecai's mourning and fasting led Esther to take action. But not before she committed to doing something very important: She gathered support and she fasted! She sent word to Mordecai to go gather all the Jews who were in Susa, and told them to fast for her. She told them not to eat or drink anything for three days and three nights. She and her attendants would fast the three days as well. When this was done, she would go the king, even though it was against the law to approach the king uninvited. Any man or woman who approached the king in the inner court without being summoned would be put to death unless the king extended the gold scepter to them and spared them their life, but if he didn't... they would die! This law didn't exclude Esther, even being the King's wife, and the queen of the palace!
Esther fasted and prayed, and then she chose to risk her life to save her people. Her decision was made, and her exact words were: "If I perish, I perish". Choosing to do what was right by sacrificing her own life for her people was what made Esther a hero of the faith. I'm sure she must have been scared to do this, but after she prayed and sought the guidance and favor of God, she trusted that He would be in control of the outcome.
APPLICATION: Esther's faith in God caused me to examine my own faith. Esther and Mordecai were willing to set aside their own fear and take action. Esther was willing to risk her own life by asking King Xerxes to save the Jews. Another thing I noticed is that prayer was an important part of her life, and it helped her to do what was right and be brave.
Esther's faith and dependence on God made me think about the level of my own faith. Do I allow fear to keep me from praying that God will use me to accomplish His will? Am I more concerned about others than my own security? Do I trust that God is in control even when circumstances seem to indicate they're not? Do I trust God enough to want to pray for Him to use me, even if it's way out of my comfort zone? I quickly realized that I am in need of much improvement!
PRAYER: Lord, I am always amazed of how You answer my prayers! You have an awesome track record throughout history for making evil plans backfire on the planners, and You use the prayers of Your people to accomplish Your plans according to Your eternal purposes. I admit that I treasure security and peace, but I pray that my true security will be found in You alone, and that I will make prayer an important part of my daily life, especially when life's scary challenges come my way. Amen
- Robin Orefice
