Day 64 – Decision

Esther 4:1 When Mordecai learned everything that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 In every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

 4 Then Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them.

 5 Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was.

 6 Then Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, and the sum of money Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people.

 9 Thus, Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 11 “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 everyone to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.”

 12 Then they told Mordecai Esther’s words. 13 Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than the other Jews. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather the Jews present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. Thus, I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

 17 Then Mordecai went his way and did according to everything Esther commanded him.

God’s names:

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Protector

People face life and death situations every day. However, it doesn’t happen often that it depends on decisions they make.

Esther learned about the death threat against her people. Mordecai told her to go to the king on behalf of her people. Her reply has resounded through the ages: If I perish, I perish, as she decided to go to the king without his asking for her.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, you committed your life to His service, which means when He calls you to go to the nation’s hostile to Christians, He will protect you in your calling.

Christianity isn’t easy. Missionaries face death every day and often die for their faith. Yet, like Esther, their response is the same, if I perish, I perish.

Every disciple except John died a martyr’s death. They would rather die than renounce their faith. Christians in the early church died martyr’s deaths in the Roman arenas, yet they gladly died for the name of Yeshuwa than renounce Him and face the eternal consequences of separation from Him.

Esther’s decision to go to the king wasn’t made lightly. She told Mordecai to fast and pray for three days and she would do the same.

When called to go into hostile territory for the gospel, you need to fast and pray for Yeshuwa’s protection, knowing He wouldn’t call you if He wasn’t going to protect you. Yet even death holds rewards for Christians who stand steadfast in their faith.

In 1956 five missionaries to Ecuador, South America died for the gospel. Yet, Jim Elliot’s wife and daughter returned to the same people who killed her husband and the other missionaries and brought the gospel to the people. They accomplished what her husband and the other missionaries couldn’t as the same people who killed the missionaries accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord.

You don’t know what will await you when Yeshuwa calls you to go to the nations. Your only duty is to answer the call and go.

Esther knew the risk she took for her people and told Mordecai she would go to the king.

Yeshuwa is your King. He will protect you in life and death. You only need to be obedient to Him.

Let’s pray: Father, help me stand firm in my faith, knowing that no matter what You require from me, the rewards for obedience far outweigh everything this life offers. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 23 March 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux