Esther 4:8

New International Version

He [Mordecai] also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

For Meditation

Queen Esther gets caught in the intractable call of faith when she has to rise from the comfort of her royal chambers to plead for mercy on behalf of her people before Ahasuerus, her husband, the king of Persia. Mordecai, her big cousin, is at the king’s gate, dressed in sackcloth and ashes over the royal decree instigated by Haman to annihilate the Jews in Persia. Esther doesn’t like it and sends new clothes to him for a changeover, but Mordecai rejects it. It’s not time for luxury when their people have only a few days to live.

Hatach returns from Mordecai to Esther with a report of Haman’s conspiracy and a copy of the decree signed by her husband, the king. Mordecai asks the queen to intercede on behalf of her people before the king. Esther did not see that coming. Never in her imagination did she see herself pleading for mercy for her people. The king does not know her identity as a Jew. It is her little secret, so how does she represent them in the royal court now? That is not part of the deal she signed when she became the queen of the land. Besides, there is another problem. Nobody enters the king’s presence in the inner court without a formal invitation and lives.

“Any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king” (Esther 4:

Poor Hatach! Like a Yo-Yo, he runs back to Mordecai with Esther’s response. It’s not possible, cousin. You are asking for my death, but I don’t think I am ready to join my parents yet.

Mordecai is unsympathetic. That wicked Haman has already signed you up to join them, little cousin; he may have quipped. Therefore, hear this, my dear:

“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?”

Reality check! What does Esther do? It’s easy to imagine her pacing back and forth in her royal chamber, rehearsing her chances. There comes a time when we must confront our fears and stand up to do the right thing, regardless of the consequences. Queen Esther has reached that crossroads and has to cross it with boldness and finesse. Mordecai has challenged her bravado; he will see her authentic character—a Jewish woman who knows her God and trusts His faithfulness.

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

God has placed every believer where you are for a reason. It is not just for our comfort and pleasure. We are part of His redemption program and have various responsibilities to fulfill at any time. Some are mundane, while others are intricate and daring. However, each assignment calls for our readiness and obedience. Overarching all this is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Have you prepped yourself to respond to His call to go where He sends you, uncomfortable and dangerous as it may be? What will it take for the Lord to get you to such a pinnacle of faith as He did for Esther? How will you respond to His call to stand up for Him in suffering and the face of death?