When I read Esther chapter four once again, tears welled up in my
eyes. It was not an easy time for the Jews, just as they actually never really
had it easy and we must pray for them regularly and support them.
Once you have read this chapter from
the link above or in your Bible, I would like us to put ourselves in our
current life in Esther’s position. Esther faced a dilemma. She was in an ideal
position to intercede for her people with the king, but she had to choose - it
was either she or the people she loved. When she eventually got the information
out of Mordecai why he was in sackcloth and ashes, fear grabbed her heart. She
realised she had to do something to help, but if she broke the rules, her
comfortable position would be at risk and she probably would have faced death.
Her first reaction was an excuse – a cop out. “All the king’s officials and the
people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the
king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that
he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the
gold sceptre to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was
called to go to the king,” (Esther 4:11). She basically told Mordecai
that she would like to help, but have to stick to the rules.
How often are we relieved that rules
of society and even the law relieve us from being obedient to the LORD’s
instructions. They state that we should not offend anybody, and since we feel
we need to obey our authorities, we conveniently abide by the rules – do not
rock the boat and your life’s boat won’t be rocked. Does the persecuted church
obey the law of the country stating they should not serve the LORD? This
initial attitude of Esther would not have made any difference to the destiny of
the Jews. Unless she stepped out, breaking the rules and risked having her boat
rocked, they would be destroyed. Unless we do something and risk having our
boats rocked, people go to hell. That is exactly what Satan wants and which is
why we get persecuted, for then we are too afraid to obey God. It is also why
all these laws and social rules of not interfering with other people’s beliefs
were made, so Satan could have a handle by which to prevent the Kingdom of God
to advance.
However, soldiers are usually brave
and face danger all the time in order to accomplish what they came to do, and
we are called to be soldiers in God’s Kingdom. “Endure hardship with us like a
good soldier of Christ Jesus. No
one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please
his commanding officer,” (2 Timothy 2:3-4). This is why Mordecai did not
spare his words when he challenged Esther in verses 13-14: “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 royal position for such a time as this?” How often do we challenge
one another this honestly?
Esther then realised she had to do
what she came to do, no matter the consequences. I love the way she approached
it though, for she realised that in the light of the rules and laws only the
LORD would be able to minimise the risk of failure of her mission. She knew
that only fasting, prayer and intercession would make this task possible – Esther 4:15-16.
When we know we have to do something
that could make life difficult for us, our sinful nature will also present an
excuse, which we should wave away and then enter our conquest bravely with the
help of the LORD through prayer, fasting and intercession. We should also be
aware of other people’s challenges and encourage them and intercede for them.
We are on earth as an army working together as a body, and not as individuals
to selfishly meet our own needs.
Lord, please give me grace to be
brave in Jesus.
Thank you Lord that your Word went
out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you
empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which
you sent it.
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