Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
Esther 4:12-17
12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 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?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “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.”[c] 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
The story of Esther is one which speaks to the sovereignty of God at work amongst His people. Esther was a Jewish woman, adopted at a young age by her cousin Mordecai, living in a pagan land as her people had been exiled. She was chosen to be the next queen by King Ahasersas and was now living in the castle. In Esther 3 we see Mordecai and Esther encounter a staunch enemy of the Jewish people named Haman who plots to essentially annihilate the entire population who resided in Persia. The only solution there was to stop the decree given was for Esther to enter into the King’s court and beg for favor from Him. The only issue was deciding to enter into the court was dangerous. If you entered without being called you would be put to death. Mordecai reassures Esther of God’s hand on her life and how He had perhaps placed her in the season of life she was in to be a part of His great work in protecting the Jews. Esther’s response was amazing. She called for a time of fasting and prayer before choosing to go all in and speak to the king.
Esther was faced with quite the decision in Esther 4. She knew she had to defend her fellow Jewish people but she also saw and understood the potential risk in doing so. She knew the influence she had, yet knew even with said influence a bold move to enter into the king’s courts could cost her life. Instead of wallowing in indecision, or sulking in the sea of worry, her first response was to seek the Lord. She called for all the Jewish people in Susa to fast and pray for three days. Wow! She knew how big of a decision this was for her and her people so she was not rash in her decision making, but instead she decided to seek the Lord for wisdom, direction, and strength to make her decision.
What if we as believers when big decisions arise decided to follow Esther’s example and seek the Lord before making the decision? It is so easy for us to simply go off of our own intuition, or what we have done in the past before fervently seeking the Lord. The first move we need to make when we come across having to make a major decision is to pause and spend time seeking His face. God is the expert at life. He knows what we ought to do so we ought to ask Him to give us wisdom, direction and strength to make the right decision He is leading us to make. I have come to discover when we choose to do so, though it may not make the major decision any easier, what happens is that our anxiety begins to wane because we are entrusting ourselves to the Lord.
Any major decisions looming over you today? Hey friend, choose to go to the Lord. Are you walking in stress and anxiety today due to indecision? Choose to follow Esther’s example and take some time to pause, seek the Lord and listen for His answer. I am glad we serve and follow a God who is near to us and is willing to give us wisdom and direction when we seek Him. So choose to seek Him today friend.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for me! I am so thankful you hear me when I call out to you! Help me today to follow Esther’s example of seeking you first as major decisions come up in my life. Help me to understand that you are the expert at life and are willing to guide me as I seek you. Help me in my decision making today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Philippians 4:6-7- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.