I've been enjoying reading through Esther lately, and it is amazing how God brings fresh insights to familiar passages. Haman was incensed by the Jew Mordecai's refusal to give him reverence, and so great was his pride punishing Mordecai was not enough: he would exterminate Mordecai and his people as well. Having the favour of the king, Haman was able to write the doom of the Jews into law. When Mordecai heard these evil tidings, he put on sackcloth and mourned publicly. Esther the queen, seeing her cousin in such strife, inquired concerning his welfare and heard the news for herself.
Mordecai urged Esther to use her privileged position as queen to gain access to the king to plead for her people. At first she resisted, citing a law which endangered the lives of all who approached the king without a summons. Esther 4:13-14 reads, "And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Mordecai was a man of great faith in the God of Israel who faithfully delivered His people from great trouble when they cried out to Him. Even when the destruction of the Jews was decreed by command of the King of a world empire, never for a moment did Mordecai doubt God could or would save the Jews.
Mordecai did not plead with Esther as we might, conveying she was their only hope for survival. He did not don sackcloth to wring his hands in despair, worrying from where deliverance could come: God would deliver His people without doubt. The question was, would Esther be willing to be used to that end, even at the risk of her own life? God would surely raise up relief and deliverance for the Jews from somewhere, and Mordecai did not presume to know where. Mordecai believed God had elevated Esther to her position as queen not because of her great beauty, but because God intended for her to serve Him to her full extent in her current station. Mordecai was convinced if Esther refused to act and remained silent, she was resigned to her own destruction.
Brother and sister in Christ, this is true for us! God is a deliverer and a Saviour, of this we can be certain. The question is, will we submit to serve God in our current role and relationships to the utmost so God can work His wonders through us? Do we have the faith of Mordecai, believing God would raise up relief and deliverance for His people from somewhere - even when the source is obscured from our sight? Do we look upon God with such confidence? May it be such hearts and eyes of faith in the power and compassion of God are found in all God's people.
Mordecai urged Esther to use her privileged position as queen to gain access to the king to plead for her people. At first she resisted, citing a law which endangered the lives of all who approached the king without a summons. Esther 4:13-14 reads, "And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Mordecai was a man of great faith in the God of Israel who faithfully delivered His people from great trouble when they cried out to Him. Even when the destruction of the Jews was decreed by command of the King of a world empire, never for a moment did Mordecai doubt God could or would save the Jews.
Mordecai did not plead with Esther as we might, conveying she was their only hope for survival. He did not don sackcloth to wring his hands in despair, worrying from where deliverance could come: God would deliver His people without doubt. The question was, would Esther be willing to be used to that end, even at the risk of her own life? God would surely raise up relief and deliverance for the Jews from somewhere, and Mordecai did not presume to know where. Mordecai believed God had elevated Esther to her position as queen not because of her great beauty, but because God intended for her to serve Him to her full extent in her current station. Mordecai was convinced if Esther refused to act and remained silent, she was resigned to her own destruction.
Brother and sister in Christ, this is true for us! God is a deliverer and a Saviour, of this we can be certain. The question is, will we submit to serve God in our current role and relationships to the utmost so God can work His wonders through us? Do we have the faith of Mordecai, believing God would raise up relief and deliverance for His people from somewhere - even when the source is obscured from our sight? Do we look upon God with such confidence? May it be such hearts and eyes of faith in the power and compassion of God are found in all God's people.
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