Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help
Esther 4:1-17
When 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.
2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.
3 In 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.
Psalm 35 – Prayers Against Unjust Enemies
Deuteronomy 28 – Blessings of obedience
4 When 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.
5 Then 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.
6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate.
7 Mordecai 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.
8 He 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.
9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.
10 Then 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.”
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?”
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.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Esther Chapter 4 explained / meaning
The book of Esther Chapter 4 is a very unique and interesting one. It is short, but full of lessons. Many times, we don’t take risks because we are too afraid of failure. Don’t be afraid to fail, failure is a raw material to success.
Queen Esther was giving excuses to justify the fact that she was afraid of going into the king’s presence without invitation.
But after Mordecai told her the reality of the situation, she decided to take the risk. Until you’re ready to take risks, you will never go beyond the level where you are.
No risks, no advancement. Do you know why? Because nothing unusual happens in a comfort zone. All you see is the usual.
Being afraid of losing her conform zone, she tried to give excuses but thank for Mordecai who happened her eyes. The truth she didn’t die, rather she was elevated and was honored.
Many of are like Queen Esther. We want more, but we are afraid of taking risks. Life does not answer to wishes, but to those who are ready to say: I’m doing this, if I perish, I perish and they never perish.
Esther Chapter 4 Summary
Esther Chapter 1:1-4:
In first 3 chapters of the book of Esther, there was a great mourning and crying amongst all the Jews, in all of the province of King Ahasuerus because they found out a very great conspiracy planned by Haman against all the Jews in the land.
Esther 4:5-9
Esther finds out about the conspiracy.
Esther 10-12
Now Esther sends out words to Mordecai, letting him know the consequences of going into the king’s presence without being invited.
Queen Esther was giving excuses without knowing that her own life too at stake.
Esther 4:13-14
Mordecai replies Esther, letting her know that what ever happen, will affect her too, that she will not be spared, and also that God will raise help from someone else, but she will never escape.
Esther 4:15-17
Esther decides to do the impossible, by going to see the king after Mordecai’s reply, requesting them to fast while she does same with her servants.
Esther Chapter 4 lessons Mordecai
- Don’t be afraid to fail, Fear itself is Failure.
- Don’t give excuses or procrastinate, but take risks, because life itself is a risk, and nothing supernatural is birthed in a comfort zone.
- Life does not answer to wishes, but only those who are diligent enough to take risks.
Please don’t forget to share with your friends and family, and I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.
