Praising Him in the Hard Times...Esther Saves Her People

Anchor Verse…Ruth 1:16

Ruth 1:16 MEV

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.

Esther could have remained silent, but she risked her life to save her people. She was in the right place at the right time, but she was also brave enough to do the right thing. God has a plan that only you can fulfill.

Will you do the right thing?

Here is the nation of Israel, captive in the land we know as Iran today. As usual we should remember that they are captive because of their own disobedience. They were led astray by a King that would fall away from following God. Esther arrives for a moment such as this!

Esther 4:1–14 MEV

When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and bitter cry. He went as far as the king’s gate because no one was allowed to enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. In each and every province where the king’s command and his decree came there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So the young women of Esther and her eunuchs came and told her of it. The queen was then seized by anguish. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai so that he could remove his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. So Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to attend her, and commanded him concerning Mordecai to learn what this was about and why. So Hathak went out to where Mordecai was in the area of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him about all that had happened to him and about the sum of silver that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa concerning their destruction so he could show Esther, tell her about it, and then charge her to go to the king in order to gain him favor with the king and to make requests in the presence of the king for her people. Hathak returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Again Esther spoke to Hathak and ordered him to reply to Mordecai: “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, wishes to come to the king at the inner court but has not been summoned, there is one law—to put him to death—unless for some reason the king should hold out the golden scepter so that he might live. I, however, have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.” So all the words of Esther were told to Mordecai. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will be more likely to escape than all the other Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, protection and deliverance for the Jews will be ordained from some other place, but you and your father’s house shall be destroyed. And who knows if you may have attained royal position for such a time as this?”

Mordecai learns of the wicked plan to exterminate his people. He calls on the queen for help.

Esther is in a really tough spot as she can’t just go to the King. Apparently she had to be invited or she could die. However, if she remains silent, she could loose her life along with her people anyway.

Much like Esther there are moments in our lives when we must choose between easy and whats right. We can choose easy, but its rarely the right thing to do.

God’s big plan often requires difficult choices. Our lives are filled with moments that are God ordained.

You were chosen for such a time as this!

“ And who knows if you may have attained royal position for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:15–17 MEV

Then Esther replied, sending back to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who can be found in Susa, then fast for me. Stop eating and drinking for three days, night or day. I and my young women will fast likewise. Only then would I dare go to the king since it is not allowed by law, and if I perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went away and did exactly as Esther had commanded him.

Again we see the importance of fasting and prayer. These should be our go to stance in the face of tough choices.

God has placed you where you are for a time such as this! What will you do?Remain silent and hope that someone else steps up, or fast and pray and ask the Lord what you are supposed to do.

Esther was willing to give her life in order to save her people. She would do the right thing and trust God with the out come. God will never honor silence in hopes of self preservation. Those that remain silent in the face of persecution do not demonstrate the character of God.

John 15:13 MEV

Greater love has no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends.

In this battle between good and evil God demonstrated His character when He sent Jesus to save us. He could have chosen an easier path, but He didn’t. He gave His son so that you could have life today!

God will bless and honor those who stand up in the face of trouble for His will and His word. Those who will speak the truth even at the risk of their own loss. Mordecai and Esther were examples of loyalty and obedience. They would risk it all for His character and convictions.

What about you today? Are you facing some tough decisions? God will give you strength and courage! Are you choosing to follow Christ today, no matter what may happen?