5 observations from the story of Esther and Mordecai
If I perish, I perish!
Are you prepared to soldier on in your purpose in the face of death? It’s effortless to love your life when everything is going as expected, but can we confidently remain steadfast in our cause when we encounter resistance or turbulence?
Before studying the book of Esther, I thought I knew the whole story of Esther, the popular and favoured woman. The woman whose influence saved her community. However, I was stunned after reading the book. I thought to myself, “I wonder if those who are eagerly tapping into Esther’s anointing in their lives fully appreciate her story and the risks involved. I doubt they do.” I know there was a time when I definitely wished for this favour in my life.
There are a number of things I noted down for further study and research in the book of Esther, like Queen Vashti and whether her refusal to appear before the King was right or wrong and whether the whole drama as a result of her refusal was necessary in the first place. Some other examples include the twelve months of beauty treatments that the ladies underwent before appearing before the King.
Today, however I feel inspired to focus on Esther, the ‘well-endowed’ and beautiful orphan ‘mentored’ by and strategically positioned by her relative, Mordecai.
Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. Esther 2:7
I also felt Mordecai was not given much credit for his heroism and mentorship after studying the book of Esther. These are the salient points, I would be sharing with you today:
1. Esther was initially afraid (Esther 4)
When Mordecai heard of Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews, he wailed loudly and bitterly and wore sackcloth and ashes. Esther’s concern prompted her to send one of the King’s Eunuchs, who must have been either a Jew or a highly trustworthy individual, to check on Mordecai. In response, Mordecai urged Esther to go before the King and plead for mercy on behalf of her people, the Jews. She knew appearing before the King without being summoned could lead to her death. And she communicated this challenge to Mordecai without hesitation.
Let’s assume Mordecai was selfish and thought of himself and no other person, he could have left the city to save himself or got Esther to persuade the King to protect them. That did not happen because the good thing was that he was not that kind of person and he did not have an entitlement mentality. Without Mordecai, Esther’s story won’t be as beautiful as we read today. He had Esther and the Jews at heart.
Food for thought: Who is the Mordecai in your life? Who are the trustworthy people you surround yourself with?
2. God’s plan will always work. He will find the next willing vessel (Esther 4)
When Mordecai received feedback from Esther, he quickly made it known to her without mincing any words. In summary, his response was (in my own words), “My dear, don’t think that you will be exempted from the repercussions because you are Queen.” He also spoke about the implications for her family and the purpose of her becoming Queen. However, he didn’t say, ‘You must obey me, considering all that I have sacrificed for you.
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:12-14
Food for thought: Why are you positioned where you are? How does your purpose fit in and benefit the larger community?
3. It’s not by might or power but by the Spirit of God
The response from Mordecai must have snapped Esther back to reality. She sent word back to Mordecai to gather the Jews to fast on her behalf with no food or drinks for 3 days, night or day. She also did same with her maids back at the palace. After the fast, she would go to the King barring all consequences. You can say Esther was literally stepping out of her comfort zone and she did it with God.
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:15-16
Personally, I would have been afraid and probably said my last prayers before approaching the King.
Food for thought: Who do you give credit to for your achievements? Yourself or God?
4. Patience is also a strategy (Esther 5)
Knowing myself, after fasting and getting the vim to go before the King I wouldn’t want to delay my anxiety; I would not beat about the bush. Straight to business!
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7
By God’s grace, she found favor with the King. Instead of getting straight to the point, as I might have, she chose to invite the King and Haman to a banquet. She essentially disregarded the tempting offer dangled before her—half of the kingdom for the asking. She stayed focused! No distractions!
Faith requires you to play your part. Esther fulfilled her role with the Jews, and behind the scenes, God took care of the rest. That night, the King couldn’t sleep and ordered the chronicles. It dawned on him that he had never honoured Mordecai for saving his life. Consequently, he asked Haman to pay tribute to Mordecai, by parading him through the streets while proclaiming the King’s delight in him.
I don’t think Haman was a bad person, he had his faults like we all do and possibly suffered from insecurities, power and self-esteem issues. It was the bad company he kept that helped him fan the bad flame.
Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife. Esther 5:9-10
Food for thought: Do those close to you have a positive or negative impact on you? Are you respecting the process and patiently journeying towards your goals?
5. There are heroes behind the scenes too! (Esther 7)
Haman was hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai and the edict against the Jews was later reversed. Mordecai was eventually elevated and made the second in rank to King Xerxes. Mordecai was highly respected in the Jewish community too.
The wealth of Haman was given to Esther (Esther 8), who later appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman. Mordecai displayed low-key yet strategic leadership skills, although it is not clear whether he was appointed by the Jewish community to do so. His decisions consistently reflected his commitment to his community. Interestingly, the book of Esther comes just after Nehemiah (another book where I discovered very key leadership principles!).
3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews. Esther 10:3
Food for thought: Are you a selfless leader? Are you ready to sacrifice when there is no audience? Do you know that not everyone has to be in front of the camera to make a significant impact?
Conclusion
With these insights, I hope that the next time you are tempted to tap into the anointing of Esther, you remember to also pray for a mentor like Mordecai. A self-less mentor who is determined to help his or her community. Also pray for wisdom, discernment and courage as well. The big question is, “In your purpose-driven life, when faced with adversities can you confidently say, ‘If I perish, I perish?’
Have you studied the book of Esther? What lesson or insight would you add?
Lots of love,
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