Year 2, Day 64: Esther 4

Reality Dawns

Esther 4 is really an inspirational chapter.  Mordecai realizes the scope of what he has done and enters into a state of public mourning.  Esther comes to Mordecai to find out what is wrong.  And then we begin the journey of faith that will sustain us throughout the rest of the book.

Let’s start with Mordecai.  Mordecai hears about the decree.  He tears his clothes and puts on sackcloth – a typical sign of mourning, especially regarding some kind of impending destruction.  {Remember the Ninevehites reaction to God when Jonah told them that God would destroy Nineveh?}  Now, it is true that we cannot be sure whether or not Mordecai’s mourning is because he personally understands that his refusal to bow is what brought about Haman’s wrath. It is possible that Mordecai is simply mourning the impending destruction.  But my hope is that Mordecai realizes how this edict is coming against the Jews because of his own adherence to pride.

Either way, Mordecai begins to mourn publically.  The people around him are aware that there is some great tragedy in his life.  To this end I really give Mordecai some credit.  So often it seems like human nature tells us that we should put on a stiff upper lip and stoically go through life without letting other people into our troubles.  The problem with this is that when we become stoic we deny God’s community to be the presence in our life that God has designed them to be.  So Mordecai shows us a better path.  Rather than stoically resigning himself to his fate, Mordecai makes his trouble known and allows the community around him to help.

Mordecai’s In

This brings us to Esther.  Esther comes to Mordecai in his pain.  She could have forgotten about lowly Mordecai once she became queen, but she does not.  Esther accepts her new status as queen but does not allow it to become a barrier.  Esther comes to Mordecai and discovers what is wrong.  We know that she is troubled by the news as is Mordecai.  However, she is unsure of what she can do about it.

I personally believe that the conversation between Esther and Mordecai about the role that Esther can play in God’s plan is a great example of discernment.  Esther knows the problem, and she knows that as queen she is perhaps the only Jew who can do anything about it.  However, she doesn’t get a lot of time with her husband – only when he calls for her.  She makes it know that he hasn’t called for her in a while.  If she doesn’t act quickly, people are going to begin to die.  But if she goes to the king unannounced, she could die herself.  This is where the discernment comes into play.  Is God really calling her to put her neck on the line and put herself in a position where she could die?

God Acts; Are We Open To It?

As Esther discerns, I love Mordecai’s advice.  Mordecai trusts God.  Mordecai knows that God will save His people; He always has, after all.  Mordecai reminds Esther that she has the choice of being God’s vessel for that help.  Esther can open herself up to God’s will, or she can stand by and watch as God raises up someone else who can be the vessel of God’s salvation.

I really think this is a profound way of putting this thought.  God will act, that much is certain.  But how many of us are preparing ourselves to be the vessel through which God acts?  How many of us are taking the time to make sure that we are ready when He calls us into action?  How many of us are too busy in our own lives so that we end up watching God pass us by as He goes off and acts without us because we were not ready?

This is really the crux of the end of the chapter.  Esther discerns the place where God has placed her.  She begins to recognize the level of sacrifice that God is calling her to accept.  She begins to realize what truly being God’s servant is all about.  Anyone can be willing to be God’s servant when they are being made queen and elevated in life.  But who is willing to be God’s servant when He asks us to put our life on the line?

Here we see something neat.  Community plays a part in God’s action.  Esther knows what she has to do, but she doesn’t have the courage to do it all on her own.  She asks the whole rest of the Jews to come together and fast as she prepares to approach the king and put her life on the line.  Esther does not fight the battle alone.  Esther asks the Jewish community to embrace her much like we saw Mordecai do in his mourning at the beginning of the chapter.  Sacrifice, community, courage, and God’s will are all interconnected.

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