Esther 4:16

"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."

The book of Esther is unique because in it there is no mention of the name or person of God. But there is no mistaking His hand in the events that are recorded. It is the story of something that happened after Israel and Judah had been carried away from their lands. In the land of their captivity, Esther, a Jewish woman, was elevated to the rank of Queen. Other characters in the story include her uncle, Mordecai, who had raised Esther after the death of her parents, the king, Ahasuerus, and the prime minister of the land, Haman.

Haman hated Mordecai particularly, and all of the Jews in general. He decided one day that he would deal with them once and for all. Sine the king had given Haman almost all authority in the land, he took it in hand to arrange for the murder of every single Jew. He even got the king to agree to it. With the kings concurrence, Haman made a proclamation that on a certain day all of the people of the land should rise up and kill their neighbors, the Jews. Because of the method Haman chose to make his plan known, the Jews were quite aware of what was going to happen. Mordecai and the other Jews in the capitol city, Shushan, sat in sackcloth, as was their manner in times of great sorrow.

All the while, Queen Esther was in the palace. She had not made her heritage known to anyone in the palace because Mordecai told her not to. In spite of being in the palace, Haman’s plans were unknown to her. So, after the proclamation was made, Esther heard that her uncle was clothed in sackcloth. She sent to him a set of comfortable clothes, which he refused. In his refusal, Mordecai sent a message to his niece telling her of the plot against the Jews, and asking her to appeal to the king on their behalf. She replied that it was the law in the land that the only people that were allowed to go in to see the king were those that he himself had invited to come. Anyone coming into his presence uninvited could be sentenced to death. Mordecai replies, "Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Even in their captivity Mordecai knew that God would protect His own people. What he is telling Esther is that God will protect the Jews, but maybe she was in the palace for the very reason to be the instrument in bringing about this protection. Esther’s response to her uncle is Esther 4:16.

To make a long story short, Esther goes to the king and finds favor before him; she was not put to death. Within a few days she makes her appeal to the king, and Haman is found out. In the very same day Haman is put to death, and in his place as Prime Minister the king put Mordecai! Then, Mordecai made a decree that the Jews could defend themselves in the day declared by Haman to be unto their death, and they were spared. What an astounding turn of events!

But Esther had to make a choice. She had to decide to go in to see the king even if it was against the law. She knew her uncle was right, but she knew it could cost her dearly. So, she asks her uncle and the Jews to fast and pray for her for three days, as she herself and her maids would do. On the third day she would go in. And, as she put it, "If I perish, I perish." The significance of the matter was not lost on her. This was really a life or death choice. She determined to put the welfare of her people over that of her own, and make the appeal to the king, knowing full well what it could mean. But, it turned out that she did not go in alone. For God was with her. Because of His hand, she found favor in the sight of the king. Because of His hand her appeal was heard. Because of His hand the Jews were spared annihilation. But she had to take that first step.

There are many things that we know that we should do. Who knows whether we are in the place that we are for some very important purpose. God does, of course. Taking a chance on God, as did Esther, is never foolish. Trusting Him, as did Esther, is always rewarded. But sometimes as we face an event we lose track of Whom it is in which we trust. He never moves, but our heart does. Hebrews 10:35, 36 reminds us, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Look at the approach Esther chose. "... fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise..." Fasting and praying go hand in hand. She wanted prayer to be made on her behalf. She cast herself on the only One that could make a difference.

So should our approach be. Throw ourselves entirely on God, trust Him, and take the steps we know we must. As the fate of Israel was changed on that first Purim by trusting in God, so we too will find God to be faithful and trustworthy.

HJK