6So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate.7Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8He 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.
9Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11“All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for 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.”
12When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14For 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?”
15Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16“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.” (Esther 4)
Thoughts: Haman the Agagite was basically the prime minister of Persia. He was mad that he felt like he didn't get the honor he deserved, so he wanted to force Mordecai to bow to him- and for that matter all the other Jews. The Israelites were told to wipe out the Agagites but they did not. Now Haman the Agagite has gotten the king to make a decree for genocide of the Jews. Mordecai was Esther's cousin who adopted her and took care of her. He now asked for her help. Mordecai and Esther had hidden her identity up to this point from all the Persians. But now it was time for Esther to stand up for her God and her people. She was put as queen for such a time as this. Esther had a choice. She could try to be queen without mentioning her ancestry or she could associate with her people and her God- and risk death. She chose to risk death right away in order to meet with the king to soften his stance toward the Jews. She knew there was something worse than death- and that is meaninglessness, faithlessness, having no real identity. Many people act like they are a Christian at times and then act like they are not others. But some times we need to stand up for God and identify with Him.
Prayer: Lord, help me to stand for you when the time comes.
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