Theological Commentary: Click Here
When
Mordecai hears of the edict against the Jews, he puts on sackcloth and
mourns. He is inconsolable. Esther tries to send him clothing with which
to dress, but he refuses to wear it. He has
no desire that his people should be killed.
He has even less desire that such a fate should come about because of
his own actions.
This leads
us to Mordecai’s conversation with Esther through the servant Hathak. Mordecai tells Esther that she is in a
position to do something about this threat against her people. Naturally, Esther is afraid. She doesn’t want to extend herself, make herself
vulnerable, and then feel the consequences.
Her fear is natural, if not unfortunate.
I love
Mordecai’s point when Esther is afraid. Mordecai says that redemption will come
from somewhere. But if she does not
allow herself to become the agent of God’s salvation, why would she expect
herself to be saved by God? In other
words, she’s as good as dead if she does nothing. Why should she not try to save herself and
her people?
To be fair,
though, in getting to Esther’s conundrum I have easily skipped over a significant
point in the story. Mordecai has
incredible faith in God. He doesn’t doubt
that redemption will come. He doesn’t
worry that if Esther doesn’t act that God’s people might be lost. For Mordecai, salvation is assured! God will work. For Mordecai, the question is
whether or not God will be able to work through Esther or through someone else.
In hearing
this, Esther’s heart is changed. She
realizes what she must do. If she wants
to be a part of God’s salvation, she must be willing to do her part. Esther asks Mordecai to fast for three
days. After the fast, she will go into
the presence of the king and risk her own life for the benefit of being part of
God’s plan. Esther responds to the
challenge offered to her by Mordecai.
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