14 day plan

A Child Shall Lead Them

Day 8 of 14

NIV

Esther 4:14

14For 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?”

Reflection: Esther and desperate times    Further reading: Esther 4-5

Esther, an orphan whose uncle raised her, was born into a desperate time for the people of God. It’s a familiar story of marginalisation, power struggles and (near) genocide. Esther and her uncle lived in Persia, among exiled Jews, under the rule of a self-obsessed, drunken king – whose chief advisor is a maniacal narcissist. These two men toss about the fate of the Jewish people carelessly. But God is at work behind the scenes, orchestrating the safety and victory of his people.

And, once again, we see God choose the least likely candidate to fulfil his purpose – a young woman. Esther, at great risk to herself, steps in and speaks up for her people, ‘I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’ (Esther 4:16). Scholars estimate she is between 14 and 20 years old during this time. Even at this young age, she risked her life, and because Esther trusted this was what God had positioned her to do, the Jewish people were saved from annihilation.

Children and young people often take a much simpler view of the times they’re living in than the adults around them. Whereas adults too often lament the challenges that befall us, young people have a pragmatic capability to ‘roll up their sleeves and get on with it’. We can all learn something from this proactive acceptance and trust in God’s timing.

Esther’s story reflects how God is always at work, even when we cannot see him – even when we cannot see evidence of him. He is always sovereign. And in the life of a young girl, we see his authority on display.

Question:  God is always at work even when it might not be evident. Can you recall a time when God was at work even though you didn’t recognize it at the time?

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, we trust that you are always at work through your people everywhere. Even when things seem desperate. Help us accept the times you have placed us in and play the part you have positioned us to play in your restoration plan for all people. Amen.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

Days

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Esther 4:1-17

Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help

1When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

6So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

9Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11“All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

12When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14For 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?”

15Then 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.”

17So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.