Teaching on the power of the corporate fast to the youths today, God led me to see something in Esther's life that I had not seen before.
She was actually afraid. She was very fearful. She was afraid to die. Yet she took the step of faith willing to endure the threat of death rather than see an entire nation destroyed! She also knew that she had no power in herself to overcome the fear of death. Her only help was to trust in God.
Here was a young lady upon whose shoulders rest the destiny of the nation! Indeed a stressful position and a heavy burden!
In the capital of Sushan, King Ahasuerus who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia decided to gather all the beautiful women in the kingdom to be presented to the King. The King had decided to de-throne Vashti as his queen as she had refused to come before him when he summoned her to show her beauty to his guests at a banquet.
Among the parade of beautiful women was one called Esther who was brought up by Mordecai, her uncle (her parents have passed away). She was chosen to be part of the harem, to be given beauty preparations and an allowance. She was highly favored among all the woman in the harem and was given 7 maidservants to attend to her needs.
But Esther was a Jew and kept her identity a secret on the advice of her uncle.
Esther 2:10 "Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it"
Esther 2:20 "Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him"
Mordecai kept a watchful eye on her.
Esther 4:11 "And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women's quarters, to learn of Esther's welfare and what was happening to her"
After one year, Esther was chosen to go in to the king and when the king saw her, he loved her and made her queen.
Esther 2:17 "The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgin; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti"
Then arose a man called Haman who was promoted to be the king's second man. Angered by Mordecai who refused to bow and pay homage to Haman at the king's gate, Haman was filled with wrath.
He made the decision to destroy all the Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus - the people of Mordecai. Haman plotted to get the king to declare a law to destroy the Jews (Esther 3:9)
The command was to kill and to annihilate all the Jews both young and old, little children and women, in one day and to plunder their possessions (this is happening in Mosul, Iraq today)!
Many of the Jews went into a season of praying and fasting starting with Mordecai.
Esther 4:1 "When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes and went out in the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry"
Many of the Jews also fasted and wept, wailing and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. Thus nationwide prayer and fasting had started even before the 3-day fast and pray!
Mordecai told her what had happened and commanded her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people (Esther 4:8)
I can almost sense the fear in Esther's voice as she responded to Mordecai. It was the fear of death!
Esther 4:11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live...."
Esther who had been obedient to Mordecai all her life suddenly was gripped by fear for her own safety. She could even be struggling with the fear of letting go of her position as queen.
Mordecai reminded her that if she did not go in to plead to the king, she herself would not escape the destruction commanded by the king.
For the first time Esther commanded Mordecai instead of the other way around. Esther was afraid. The destiny of the Jews was in her hands. If she kept quiet, she will surely die!
So she asked for courage to go before the king. She knew that she did not have it in her. Her spirit was willing but her flesh was weak. She had to gain the courage to go before the king for the sake of her people!
She asked Mordecai to gather all the Jews in the capital to fast and pray for her, neither eat or drink for 3 days night and day.
Esther 4:16 "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish"
With that statement, Esther defeated the fear of death in her. Prayer and fasting strengthened her resolve! She went in to the king even though she had not been called and he held out his golden scepter to her as a sign of favor!
As we all know, Haman was hung on the very structure he had erected to hang Mordecai and the Jews were allowed to defend themselves against their enemies. Mordecai was later promoted to prime minister because of his advice and counsel and he honored God by not bowing to Haman!
Prayer
O Lord may the fear of death be put away from us during these 40 days prayer and fasting. In Jesus Name. Amen.
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