Yesterday, we left Queen Esther as she tried to convince her family member to help her cover the family secret. Fearing her own death, and that of those she loved, Esther hoped she could hide, therefore preventing a need for further action. Let’s see how things are working out.
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Shortly, the group returned with the garments in hand. Her eunuch bowed, “My most gracious queen, we took the clothes and did all that you asked, yet Mordecai, your father, refused. He would not accept the clothes.”
That stubborn old goat, what is he doing? Doesn’t he realize this may be our only chance for survival? Wait, I know, I’ll send the king’s eunuch Hathach. He is loyal to me, and will find out what’s going on and why.
“Summon Hathach at once.”
So Hathach found Mordecai outside the king’s gate. He learned exactly how the law was written, and even took a copy of the edict from Mordecai to Esther.
When Esther finished reading the scroll, she said, “You must tell Mordecai, “Everyone knows that for any man who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death. Unless the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live, he will die. I have not been summoned to come to the king for thirty days.”
The servants ran swiftly with Esther’s message. When Mordecai heard her words, he said, “Tell the queen, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows whether you have come to this royal position for such a time as this?”
Upon hearing his words, Esther sent her reply to Mordecai, “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther feared, but she ultimately found courage in God’s way. She agreed with Mordecai on a fact-based plan, and kept her promises. As a result, the Jews were saved because Esther made the brave decision to trust God more than her fears. She was given the job of queen for just that moment in history.
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Tomorrow, I’ll share how Esther’s actions affected my choices at work. The segment above is based on Esther 4:9-16. After reading it, what are your thoughts?
How could Esther’s example be applied to your work?
Anita FreshFaith @ Work
Anita Agers-Brooks is a Business Coach, Certified Personality Trainer, Communications Specialist, national speaker, and author. She lives in Missouri with her family.
Contact her via www.freshstartfreshfaith.org or anita.freshfaith@gmail.com
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