Esther 4 Such a Time as This
Haman has the order he wants, to annihilate the Jews. Esther is their only hope, for such a time as this, she has become queen of Persia.
Haman is furious because Mordecai won’t bow to him. Mordecai says it is because he is Jewish and Jews don’t bow down to men. Haman decides to kill ALL the Jews. Haman now has the authority from the king to do it.
Mordecai cries out in great distress. When Esther finds out, she tries to help. Scared as she is, she commits her life to helping her people. Let’s rejoin our story as the Jews deal with Haman’s hatred. Holy Spirit, lead on and we will follow.
♥ ♦ ♥
Mordecai is sitting in the gate when the messengers depart from the king’s presence to spread his latest edict. Haman follows them out of the palace. As he passes by Mordecai, an evil smile is plastered on his face, which he turns and graces Mordecai with. Haman follows the messenger to the people of Susa right into the city square.
Haman watches Mordecai out of the corner of his eye as the decree is read. The blood drains from Mordecai’s face as the words of the edict lodge deep within his heart. He had no idea that Haman was so devious. Mordecai refuses to let Haman see his distress; for now.
When the last words of the decree are read, Mordecai hurriedly gathers his wares and retreats to his home. In the privacy of his own home, Mordecai allows his grief to be released. With a great mournful cry, he tears his clothes and puts on sackcloth. He covers his head with ashes from the hearth.
Once Mordecai is attired in mourning clothes, he returns to the streets. His mourning is not for himself alone, but for all his people. Mordecai has to reach Esther. Maybe she can help. He knows that he cannot go back to sitting beside the gate, dressed as he is. The king wants to project a picture of perfection to those who would visit the city and its great places.
Mordecai goes to the city square where he cries out bitterly. He isn’t the only one crying out. Everywhere Haman’s edict is being read, Jews tear their clothes and cover themselves in sackcloth and ashes. Many fall to their knees and stay where they fall, mourning. Susa is filled with those who are mourning.
Esther, as secluded as she is, can hear the sounds of crying. She has no idea what it means or that it will impact her as well. Esther paces the floor, wishing she had the ability to leave the palace and find the source of the people’s pain.
As Esther is contemplating what to do, one of her female servants comes rushing in.
“Mistress, I saw the man Mordecai in the center of the square. He is covered in sackcloth with ashes covering his head. He is the one crying out in a voice of deep mourning.”
“I need to speak with him. To see what is going on. But one wearing sackcloth cannot enter the king’s palace.” Esther rushes to her wardrobe and picks out a robe that is more masculine than any other she owns. “Take this to Mordecai and tell him to take off his mourning clothes and come to me, for I am forbidden to go to him.”
Esther’s servant takes the clothes and hurries out the back way. She circles around the guards and approaches Mordecai.
“My mistress, Queen Esther, sends these to you. She says; ‘Take off your mourning clothes and come to me.’”
Mordecai looks at the clothes like they might rise up and burn him. “I cannot do as she asks. For my heart is breaking.”
Esther’s maidservant hurries back to the palace and runs straight to Esther’s chambers. “My lady, Mordecai says that he cannot accept the clothing for ‘his heart is breaking’.”
Esther goes to her window and looks down on the square. She cannot see her uncle, but she can hear echoes of his cries. She wraps the end of her headdress around her fingers as she thinks. She needs more information. Her uncle would NEVER behave this way if it were not a serious problem. Taking a deep breath, she pushes away from the window and drops the fabric she has been worrying.
“Call Hathach to me” she instructs her maidservant.
Esther paces the floor while she waits. When Hathach arrives, she immediately gives instruction. “Go to Mordecai. He is in the city square. Find out for me why he is in mourning clothes and what is causing him such distress.”
Hathach bows, then hurries off to meet with Mordecai. Hathach has no trouble finding Mordecai in the square. He knows him by sight, but he is also the loudest mourner. A few others have joined him.
“My mistress; Queen Esther asks me to find out why you are wearing mourning clothes and what is causing you so much distress.”
Mordecai looks at Hathach with eyes filled with sorrow. “Haman has secured an edict from the king. He even paid 10,000 talents to have ALL the Jews executed throughout the land! Here” Mordecai says as he pushes a letter containing the decree towards Hathach. “Take this to the queen so that she may see for herself the evil of Haman. Ask the queen to beg the king to act on behalf of the Jews. To save them from annihilation!”
Hathach takes the letter from Mordecai and hurries back to the queen. As soon as he enters the queen’s chambers and the door is shut behind him, Hathach tells the queen everything Mordecai told him. He hands her the edict so that she may read it for herself.
After finishing the letter, Esther begins pacing again. “I cannot go to the king uncalled” she says as she paces. She has to tell Mordecai. To let him know the situation. She turns to Hathach. He will be her voice to Mordecai again.
“Speak to Mordecai and tell him this; ‘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’ (Esther 4:11).”
Hathach hurries from Esther’s presence and back into the presence of an expectant Mordecai. “My mistress cannot do as you have said. She has told me to share this with you; ‘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’.”
Mordecai shakes his head. Esther doesn’t understand. This is a dire time for the Jews. “Speak these words to the queen; ‘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?’ (Esther 4:13-14).”
Hathach hurries back to the queen and repeats word for word what Mordecai said to him. He had no idea that the queen was a Jew. Though Mordecai’s words were veiled, they were also quite revealing.
Esther begins pacing around the room again. Hathach stands silently watching; waiting to see if the queen will have another message for him. Esther finally stops in front of Hathach. “Speak to Mordecai these words; ‘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’ (Esther 4:16).”
Hathach is in awe of the queen’s bravery and resolve. He bows before her again. This one, more than just formality. Hathach leaves to deliver the queen’s instructions to Mordecai. Mordecai is waiting for Hathach
“The queen has instructions for you. She is placing her life in the hands of your God, and hers apparently. She says to gather ALL the Jews in Susa. She calls you to fast and pray for three days and nights. She will do the same with her maidservants. Then she will approach the king. Be patient and trust in the Lord.”
Mordecai’s face shifts. The deep sorrow is replaced by hope. He hurries off to round up every Jew he can find. They will meet at his home and do exactly as she commands.
While Hathach is delivering the final message to Mordecai, Esther is gathering her female servants. Before the sun has reached its zenith, Ester and her maidservants begin their fast and Esther begins to earnestly seek the Lord in prayer.
Mordecai and over a hundred Jews crowd in and around his home. The begin their portion of the prayer and fasting.
(to be continued)
God places us in specific places for specific purposes too. Maybe not as glaring, but just as important. And He can turn ANY circumstances around for His plan. Esther did not choose to be taken as a young girl for the king’s pleasure. She probably wouldn’t wish her experience on even her worst enemy. Her faith remains strong and she goes to God for help.
Father God, help me to lean into You in every situation I am in. Even as I fight for alertness during our time together. You know my heart and my desire to honor You. I do not know how to combat this, but I trust You do. And I trust that, sometimes, letting my eyes close for sleep is part of Your blessing.
Be with my son-in-law’s family as they are going through a difficult time. Hold all of them close to You. Even my daughter, who has wandered, thanked me for the prayers being offered to You on her father-in-law’s behalf. Use this time to draw them ALL to You.
