Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. Esther 4:13
What is your immediate response when you are given a difficult assignment? Do you courageously say "yes" and take steps to do those assignments, or do you let fear get in the way and respond "No?" I, for one, am tempted to say "no" because of my fear. I fear failure, embarrassment, or even danger. The truth is that fear often holds us back from experiencing the fullest life that God wants for us. It keeps us from opportunities to be used by God.
Esther was given an impossibly difficult assignment when her cousin Mordecai asked her for help on behalf of the Jewish people in Persia. Haman, the king’s most powerful official, had convinced the king to destroy all Jews in their land. Now, Esther, the queen, had concealed her Jewish identity. No one knew she was a Jew. Mordecai, along with the rest of the Jews, was mourning this plan to destroy the Jews, so he asked Esther for help. He told her to “go to the king and beg for mercy and plead for her people” (Esther 4:8). As you can imagine, this request must have prompted fear. Esther responded, “All the king’s officials and even the people in provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days” (verses 10-11). In other words, Esther was saying, “This is a dangerous situation.” If she approached the king, she risked death. Anyone in her situation would have been fearful.
After Esther expressed the danger of granting this request and going to the king, Mordecai sent this message back to her: “If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (verse 14). In this powerful message, Mordecai reminded Esther that even though her situation was difficult, it was not impossible for God. Mordecai was confident that God would save His people. The question was, would Esther be a part of this rescue, or would He use someone else? Esther responded to Mordecai’s request with the powerful words, “I will go in to the king” (verse 16). She faced her fear and chose to be used by God, and he used her to save all of the Jewish people.
This message from the book of Esther is a message for all of us: God can do anything and use anyone. We have to be willing to let go of fear and be used by Him. What is He calling you to do today that you are scared to do? Will you face your fear and step out in obedience and be used by Him?
In our Bible study earlier this week, you were challenged to think about the situation causing you fear. Think for a moment about how that fear might be impacting you. How might fear be keeping you from being used by God? Maybe you are fearful of finally stepping up and serving, and saying “no” would cost you an opportunity to have an impact for Christ on someone’s life. Perhaps you are hesitant to share your faith with someone who needs the hope of Christ because you fear their response, and saying “no” will mean missing the opportunity to share the hope of Christ with someone in need of it. Maybe you are fearful of letting go of fear of the future because fear makes you feel in control, and saying “no” to letting go of fear will cause you to miss the peace and joy that come from letting go of fear. Acknowledge what fear is costing you, and take a step in the direction away from fear today, whatever that looks like for you.
Esther 4:1-17
1When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail. 2 He went as far as the gate of the palace, for no one was allowed to enter the palace gate while wearing clothes of mourning. 3 And as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes.
4 When Queen Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was deeply distressed. She sent clothing to him to replace the burlap, but he refused it. 5 Then Esther sent for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who had been appointed as her attendant. She ordered him to go to Mordecai and find out what was troubling him and why he was in mourning. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the square in front of the palace gate.
7 Mordecai told him the whole story, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the decree issued in Susa that called for the death of all Jews. He asked Hathach to show it to Esther and explain the situation to her. He also asked Hathach to direct her to go to the king to beg for mercy and plead for her people. 9 So Hathach returned to Esther with Mordecai’s message.
10 Then Esther told Hathach to go back and relay this message to Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s officials and even the people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days.” 12 So Hathach gave Esther’s message to Mordecai.
13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” 17 So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
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