Esther's Courage

Esther 4:6-17

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever been in one of those moments where you knew you should say something, but every part of you screamed, “Just stay quiet and maybe this will blow over”? Maybe it was a meeting at work where everyone nodded at a bad idea, and you thought, “I should speak up,” but then remembered you enjoy having a job. Or maybe it was at Thanksgiving, when Uncle Larry brought up that crazy government conspiracy again, and you heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “Be the peacemaker,” but all you wanted to do was grab another roll and hide in the kitchen.

We all know what it’s like to wrestle between comfort and courage. Between what’s easy and what’s right. That’s where brave faith is born: not when life feels safe, but when silence feels safer.

Last week, we talked about Abraham, a man who stepped into the unknown and trusted that God was already there. Abraham’s story showed us that brave faith walks when the path isn’t clear. This week, Esther’s story shows us that brave faith speaks when the cost isn’t cheap.

Now, let’s be honest: Esther’s life started out looking like a royal fairy tale. Crown, palace, servants, wardrobe. She was living the ancient version of The Bachelor: Persian Edition. However, God didn’t put her there for luxury; He placed her there for leverage. When her people were facing genocide, she had to decide: stay silent and safe, or speak up and risk everything.

That’s not just an ancient dilemma: it’s our daily one. The world today runs on fear and silence. We cancel people for speaking truth, reward those who say nothing, and applaud those who twist morality into whatever feels comfortable for the most vocal. But faith, real faith, doesn’t hide behind comfort. It steps into uncomfortable spaces because God’s purpose is waiting to speak through us.

Esther didn’t have a microphone, a social platform, or even full authority. What she had was influence, and that’s often what God uses most. Influence isn’t about power; it’s about purpose. It’s about realizing God put you where you are not just for your benefit, but for someone else’s breakthrough.

Think about it. Maybe God gave you that classroom, that office, that team, or that neighborhood not so you could blend in, but so you could speak up. Leadership isn’t just about titles and positions; it’s about courage because obedience to God matters more than approval from people.

So today, we’re going to learn from a young queen who found her voice when the world told her to be quiet. We’ll see that brave faith isn’t loud or seeking attention, but it is clear and committed. This story reminds us that when God’s people break their silence, His purpose breaks through the darkness.

Esther 4:6–17 ESV

Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate, and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

SCRIPTURAL ANALYSIS

VERSES 6-8

Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to Esther, acts as a messenger between the queen and her cousin Mordecai. Persian royal courts operated with strict separation between the king’s household and the general public. Esther’s position meant she could not appear publicly without permission. Mordecai’s presence in the open square near the gate shows both his distress and his protest. It was an act that risked punishment under Persian law for approaching royal space in mourning attire. This sets in motion a tension between the world’s power and divine purpose. God’s people, the Israelites, were to be killed.

Historically, the Persian Empire thrived on tribute and taxation. Haman’s offer of silver, ten thousand talents, would have equaled two-thirds of the empire’s annual revenue. It was an enormous bribe designed to finance the genocide of the Israelites. Mordecai reveals the true political depth of evil: injustice wrapped in economic gain. In the ancient world, money often justified cruelty; yet God’s people were called to measure worth not in wealth but in righteousness.

The written decree to destroy the Jews was irreversible under Persian law once it was sealed with the king’s signet. Persian bureaucracy made evil feel permanent. Mordecai’s message places a moral and spiritual burden on Esther: she must intercede, even though the law forbids an unsummoned approach to the king. God’s providence often positions His people where courage and calling collide.

VERSES 9-11

The repetition of intermediaries underscores Esther’s isolation. Despite being the queen, she remains powerless in many ways. Persian queens, although honored, had limited access and influence. Their primary purpose was to enhance royal prestige, rather than shape policy. Esther’s hesitancy reflects both cultural constraint and human fear.

Persian kings were treated almost as divine figures; unauthorized approach equated to treason. The golden scepter symbolized grace and survival. Esther has not been called in thirty days, which was a subtle sign that her favor is fading. From a cultural standpoint, the Persian court prized loyalty and timing above sincerity. From a spiritual perspective, Esther’s dilemma mirrors our own when obedience seems suicidal.

VERSES 12-14

Mordecai’s reply pierces the illusion of safety. In Persian culture, ethnic identity could be hidden, but divine identity could not. Mordecai reminds Esther, and every believer, that proximity to power does not guarantee protection. Faith cannot remain private when injustice reigns publicly.

This verse is the heartbeat of the book. The phrase “another place” reflects Mordecai’s faith in divine providence even without naming God. The Hebrew text never mentions God directly, yet His unseen sovereignty saturates every moment. Mordecai’s question is rhetorical and prophetic: divine positioning always carries divine purpose. In Persian society, fate was tied to stars and omens; for Israel, destiny was tied to covenant and calling.

VERSES 15-17

Fasting in Jewish culture represented total dependence on God. Though the text omits the word “pray,” fasting was inseparable from prayer. The three-day fast mirrors moments of death and resurrection, themes later echoed in Scripture. Esther’s response shifts from fear to faith. She stops asking if God will act and begins preparing for God to act. Her statement, “If I perish, I perish,” is not despair: it is devotion.

The roles now reverse. Esther, once responding to commands, now gives them. Leadership transfers to the one willing to risk everything. Mordecai’s obedience marks the moment when influence becomes authority born from courage.

TODAY'S KEY TRUTH Brave Faith breaks the silence so God’s purpose can speak.

APPLICATION

Esther’s story unfolds like a divine drama set behind palace walls. She was a Jewish orphan turned queen in the mighty Persian Empire, living in a palace built on power, privilege, and fear. The decree had gone out: her people, the Jews, were marked for destruction. Outside her gate, Mordecai was dressed in sackcloth and ashes, crying out against the injustice. Inside, Esther sat in royal robes surrounded by luxury, servants, and silence. Between them stood a law that made speaking up a death sentence.

When Mordecai sent word about Haman’s plot to eliminate the Jews, Esther’s initial reaction of fear was understandable. Speaking up could cost her everything. In the Persian world, even queens were replaceable. However, Mordecai reminded her of a truth that echoes through eternity: “If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise from another place.” It was as if he said, 'God doesn’t need you to fulfill His plan, but He invites you into it.' Then came the words that define her legacy: “Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

That question became her turning point. Esther shifted from fear to faith. She called for fasting, not feasting; for prayer, not planning. When the moment came, she stepped into the throne room uninvited, unprotected, but unstoppable. She risked her position, her privilege, and her life to fulfill a purpose greater than her comfort. She eventually saves her people.

The uniqueness of Esther’s story is that God’s name is never mentioned, yet His presence is everywhere. His fingerprints are on every coincidence, every conversation, every decision. The silence of God is not the absence of God. His providence moves in shadows, arranging moments and positioning people to accomplish His will. Esther’s life reminds us that divine silence never equals divine neglect.

Brave faith is steady, trusting that even when we cannot see God, He is still speaking through those willing to act. Esther teaches that courage is not the absence of fear; it is obedience in the presence of fear. It is the conviction that God’s unseen hand is guiding the story, even when our world feels like dysfunctional chaos.

The theological weight of this story is simple yet profound: God places His people in positions of influence not for their own survival, but for the salvation of others. Influence is not meant to protect our comfort; it is designed to advance His purpose. When we speak up for truth, justice, and mercy, we become instruments of divine providence in a world that often mistakes silence for peace.

We live in a time when silence feels safer than truth. In workplaces, classrooms, social media, and even churches, courage often comes at a cost. Speak truth about morality, and you risk being labeled. Stand for biblical values, and you risk being canceled. Defending the most vulnerable comes with the risk of being publicly criticized. The temptation is to blend in, to stay quiet, to protect our “palace.” But silence never saved anyone.

The modern church stands in Esther’s shoes. We are surrounded by cultural powers that seek to reshape truth and redefine righteousness. Yet, in the midst of moral confusion and spiritual apathy, God still whispers, “Who knows if I have not placed you here for such a time as this?”

Perhaps God has placed you in your position, whether it's your business, classroom, platform, or community, because someone needs a voice of truth. Maybe your influence is the very thing God wants to use to turn hearts back to Him. Leadership in the kingdom is never about personal gain; it is about spiritual responsibility.

Like Esther, we must decide: Will we protect our comfort or pursue our calling? Will we preserve our safety or serve God’s purpose? The easy choice is to stay quiet and hope someone else will step forward. But brave faith refuses to delegate obedience. It moves, even when trembling. It speaks, even when violently opposed.

In the current political and cultural environment, where deception is often celebrated and integrity dismissed as outdated, the church must recover Esther’s courage. We must fast and pray before we speak. We must also speak when God says go. Our words, guided by the Spirit, carry the potential to expose evil, defend truth, and deliver hope.

Esther’s courage changed the course of a nation. She did not storm the gates with weapons; she entered them with godly words. She didn’t demand power; she used influence. Her bravery was not loud, but it was committed.

That is the call for us today. Brave faith is not about shouting louder; it is about standing firmer. It is the quiet strength that says, “If I perish, I perish,” because the cause of Christ matters more than my comfort.

God still writes His purposes through people who dare to speak when silence is easier. He positions you where you are not by chance, but by calling. When you step forward in obedience, His unseen hand moves visible mountains.

Brave Faith breaks the silence so God’s purpose can speak.

CONCLUSION

Courage always looks easier in hindsight. We celebrate Esther now, but in her moment, she didn’t feel brave. She felt afraid, uncertain, and unqualified. She wasn’t a trained diplomat, a prophet, or a warrior. She was just a young woman caught between the comfort of her crown and the calling of God. That’s where most of us live every day: between the safety of silence and the cost of obedience.

It’s easy to admire courage in others and justify compromise in ourselves. We scroll through headlines filled with corruption, injustice, and confusion, and think, What difference could my voice possibly make? But every movement of righteousness in history began with someone who decided silence was no longer an option.

Esther didn’t save her people by having all the answers. She saved them by showing up. She walked into a throne room where the law said she should not be and found that God had already gone before her. That’s what brave faith does. It steps forward before it knows how the story will end, trusting that the Author has already written the victory.

If we’re honest, our culture has made silence a virtue. We are taught that truth is offensive, that conviction is arrogance, and that faith should be private. We’ve replaced courage with caution, righteousness with relevance, and integrity with image. But there comes a moment when being quiet is no longer holy. Silence becomes harmful. Esther reminds us that when the world grows loud with lies, God’s people must boldly speak the truth in love.

Look around today’s landscape. We live in a time when morality is mocked, evil is excused, and good is called intolerant. Politicians make promises that shift like sand, corporations preach values they don’t live by, and social media rewards outrage over righteousness. It’s easy to feel small, powerless, and unheard. But Esther’s story whispers through history: You are not powerless when you are positioned by God.

Brave Faith breaks the silence so God’s purpose can speak.

God placed Esther in a pagan palace to accomplish a divine plan. She wasn’t there by coincidence, and neither are you. You might not stand before a king, but you stand before culture every day at your job, in your classroom, on your social media feed, and at your dinner table. Every conversation, every decision, every moment of influence is a throne room where God invites you to speak truth with grace and conviction.

Perhaps courage today means standing for biblical values in a boardroom that mocks them. Maybe it’s defending life and dignity in a culture that devalues both. Possibly it’s refusing to laugh at jokes that degrade others, or speaking truth when it’s easier to stay quiet. Maybe courage means loving your enemies publicly, forgiving the unforgivable, or praying for leaders you disagree with.

We need a new generation of Esthers, men and women who understand that faith and silence cannot coexist when injustice reigns. Who will say, “If I perish, I perish,” not because they want to be dramatic, but because they know eternity is worth more than applause.

The call of Esther’s life is a call to every believer who has grown weary of watching the world drift further from God’s truth. This is not the time to retreat. This is not the time to blend in. This is the time to fast, pray, and speak. Not with arrogance, but with authority; not with anger, but with anointing.

If we live for approval, we’ll remain silent when truth offends. But if we live for purpose, we’ll speak even when it costs us something. Influence without courage is hollow and produces shallow people. Power without conviction is dangerous and produces death. But faith that speaks and faith that acts changes the world.

Esther didn’t live to see all the fruit of her faith. She didn’t know how history would remember her. But her courage opened the door for deliverance. That’s how God works. He uses ordinary people to create extraordinary change.

Brave Faith breaks the silence so God’s purpose can speak.

So here’s the challenge: stop waiting for the world to be safe before you speak. Stop waiting for consensus before you stand. Stop waiting for permission to live out your faith. God already placed you here for such a time as this.

When you find yourself in moments where silence feels easier, remember Esther’s courage. Remember that divine silence never means divine absence. God is still working behind the curtain, positioning you to make a difference that echoes in eternity.

So speak the truth even when it’s unpopular. Live boldly when the crowd chooses comfort. Love deeply when the world expects hate. When the moment comes to take a stand, do it knowing you are not standing alone.

Because brave faith doesn’t whisper, it publicly declares. When you open your mouth in obedience, the God who wrote Esther’s story writes His purpose through yours.

Brave Faith breaks the silence so God’s purpose can speak.