Slices
Prepare
What is the most momentous decision you have ever had to make? Was your decision to go ahead, or to turn to a different path? What ensued from the choice you made?
Bible passage
Mordecai persuades Esther to help
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai 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. 8 He 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.
9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then 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 sceptre to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.’
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: ‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 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?’
15 Then 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.’
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Explore
Mordecai’s faithful action in refusing to kneel to Haman has resulted not just in potential harm to himself, but to his whole nation (3:13,14; 4:1). The Jews respond accordingly (v 3). And in Susa, when Esther hears about Mordecai’s actions resulting from his grief and despair and realises what the implications are for her, she is presented with the challenge described in verse 11.
Verse 14 (‘For such a time as this’) is the pivotal verse of the whole of Esther’s story. Events have led up to this challenge, and then ensue from her response and decision. Esther found herself in a unique position – the one and only person who can do anything to remedy the situation the Jews are in, and the one and only person who will pay the price, should the king refuse to be merciful. So she asks for prayer in the form of fasting to support her, and fasts herself to prepare for the visit (vs 16,17). In her faith, she is ready to face the possibility of death.
Respond
Pray for anyone you know who is facing a life-impacting decision, that God’s grace and assurance will surround them as they consider the right course of action. Pray too that in every circumstance you will turn to God and seek his wisdom.
Deeper Bible study
‘This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best.’1
The storytelling skill of the writer of Esther is remarkable. Look out for all the extra little insights that explain the situation – there is material here for a great film! The news of Haman’s actions made Mordecai distraught. Was this just because of the devastation to come, or because he was aware that it was his decision to insult Haman that had precipitated such a dreadful outcome. We see clearly the isolation of Esther’s life – she had eunuchs and female attendants to support her but no idea of what was going on in the city – but she was kept informed of Mordecai’s state of mourning and was able to send and find out what was going on. We note Esther’s quick grasp of what was involved – it is interesting to note the way that the situation moves from Mordecai instructing Esther to Esther herself taking the initiative. The action she was taking may have been the only way forward, but it was risky.
‘…for such a time as this’ (v 14): this is probably the best-known verse in the book, but we can’t be sure whether Mordecai is really saying ‘maybe God has put you in this position so you can take this action’ or just making a general statement. Esther calls all the people to fast – normally in Scripture fasting and praying go together, but fasting would be a normal action in the local culture to persuade the powers-that-be to give you what you want, and we can’t be sure whether the lack of mention of prayer here is incidental or significant. We do know that, whatever Mordecai or Esther’s own understanding, God was concerned for those in Persia as well as those in Israel, but ambiguous narratives like this one do challenge readers to work out for themselves the lessons that God might want us to learn!
The events are clear, their significance less so! Try making a list of all the different lessons that we might possibly be intended to learn from this story!
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jeremiah 15,16; Psalm 116
Pray for Scripture Union
The SLAM (Sport, Life and More) Mini holiday for 8-11s takes place this weekend led by Susan Williams and Helen Franklin. Some of the children may not have been away from home before; pray that they will settle, enjoy it and make new friends as well as learning more about Jesus.
