Sunday, December 15, 2024
Scripture: Esther 4
Esther is the story of a Jewish woman named Hadassah, who was hiding her Jewish heritage. She went by the name of Esther after she was chosen by the king of Persia, Xerxes, to be his queen. An orphan, she was raised by her uncle Mordecai. In this dramatic passage, Mordecai sends word to Esther of evil Haman’s plan to kill all the Jews and implores her to go to the King to try and stop his plot. No one can go before the King unless he summons them or they risk being killed, and Esther had not been summoned by the King in a month. She hesitates at first, but Mordecai tells her that she may be living in this very place, at this very time, to be used by God to save the Jewish people. She tells Mordecai to have all the Jewish people fast and pray for three days, and her servant women around her in the palace did the same. At the end of those three days, she goes in to see the King and he receives her. She tells him of Haman’s plot, and Haman is put to death. Mordecai is moved into the palace as an advisor to the king and the Jews are saved.
Some have likened Mordecai to the Holy Spirit. He stayed constantly present near Esther, keeping an eye on her and how she was doing after she became queen. He was her adoptive father who watched over her just like God watches over his children, but he was also the voice of God like the Holy Spirit within us, prompting her to act, to face her fears, and stand up for what is right. She was afraid, but she was willing to respond. She enlisted many to pray and fast on her behalf before she acted, which is always a good idea as we face the hard things that life puts in our path. Mordecai told her that God would accomplish what he needed, but that she may be the person whom God intended to use. God could accomplish it through her. We have the same choice, to sit back and wait for God to work through others, or to step forward in faith and let God use us to share his love, to stand up for what is right, to fight injustice, to be God’s hands and feet, and salt and light to our needy world. It is okay to be afraid, but with prayer, and the support of other believers, we can step forward in faith and do hard things. May we receive Jesus anew this season and be more like Jesus, and Esther, in our needy and hurting world.
Barri Payne is a Yates member of about 17 years, an attorney, and mom of a college sophomore.