Esther 4:1-17
4:1-2 The king and Haman's inhumane decree drove Mordecai into despair. He changed into his mourning clothes and went into the middle of the city. He grieved aloud and loudly. He was unafraid to emotionally demonstrate the cruelty of the decree. Mordecai mourned in front of the king's gate; he would have gone further had it been allowed.
It is helpful to examine the grief of faithful people in scripture. Their tribulations were not different from our own; they experienced the same wide rage of emotions we experience. Yet from them we learn that when we respond to grief and injustice with faith in God, not only is our perspective changed but so is our outcome.
4:2 Mordecai was not alone in his grief. All of God's children within the king's provinces mourned and fasted. Haman's decree fell over the provinces like a pall. From Haman we should learn that whatever our position of leadership, our actions impact others. We should be careful not to make selfish decisions that corrode justice. We should be self-aware; we should pay close attention to our motivations and intentions. If our priorities are skewed, we create potential to truly harm the people around us.
4:4 Esther was informed of Mordecai's grief and presence at the king's gate and she became distressed. She organized for Mordecai to be brought new clothes but he refused them; he wanted to remain in his mourning clothes.
4:5-9 Esther sent Hathach, one of the king's servants, to Mordecai; she wanted to know why he was in such despair. Mordecai explained the decree, gave Hathach a copy and asked him to show it to Esther. Mordecai believed that Esther, as queen, would be able to plead for her people to the king.
4:10-12 Initially, Esther was too afraid to approach the king. It was law that only a person holding the golden sceptor could enter the inner court of the king. Anyone else would die. Esther was somewhat removed from the decree: she felt sympathy but not yet empathy. She was not evil but her perspective was short: as the queen (and secret Israelite), she did not believe herself tied to the decree.
4:13 Mordecai was frank with his adopted-daughter: she was not exempt from the decree. Her life was as subject to the decree as his and all of their people. She had a chance to risk her life in order to save it, before her death was final. In Matthew 16:25-26, Jesus says this:
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
It was Esther's opportunity to offer her life to save the lives of many others (as well as her own soul).
4:14 Despite his grief, Mordecai was confident in God's ability and commitment to rescuing His people. He knew that if Esther refused to serve her people righteously, someone else would be chosen for the task. Our life and our position is strategic. God offers us purpose within our individual life and it is our decision whether or not to claim it. It is our decision whether or not to fulfill it.
Sometimes purpose seems difficult, often it seems scary but refer to the book of Acts. In Acts 18:10, the Lord explained to the apostle Paul that he did not need to be afraid "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." God strategically places us in areas where He can provide those most effective and abundant support.
4:15-17 Esther made a decision: she would help her people regardless of the potential, dangerous consequences. She asked Mordecai to gather their people in the city to participate in a three day fast. Esther herself chose to fast: she would use that time to pray to God for guidance and instruction and to build her courage in faith.
Create a habit of consulting God on all life matters. Trade haste for spiritual contemplation and conversation with God. Esther's purpose in life was rather apparent but often life purpose is not so. If we keep our communication open with God, throughout our day and month and year and life, we arrive at the specific places He chose for us to be the happiest and most impactful.
