Part Two

Yesterday we looked at the story of Sarah, a woman who is listed in the hall of faith in Hebrews 11.  Today we are going to look at a young girl who God would raise up to save the nation of Israel.  Her name is Esther. 

You may want to read her whole story in the Bible.  It is truly an amazing story.  For our purposes today we will look at Esther 4:11 – 5:2.  When we begin Esther is considering the request Mordecai has made.  Although he is her cousin, he took Esther as his daughter and cared for her when she was made an orphan.  Esther loves Mordecai and she knows he has a father heart for her.  But he is asking her to go before the kKing.  The king may be her husband, but she is still not permitted to go before him unless he calls for her.  Should she go to him when he hasn’t invited her, he may put out the golden scepter, but if he does not put out the golden scepter she will surely die.  Here is her response to Mordecai:

11All 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. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.

Let me pause here for a moment.  Esther knows that a decree has gone forth from the palace that all the Jews shall be killed.  Her cousin Mordecai believes Esther is the only one who can save the Jewish people.  Esther seems filled with fear.  Who wouldn’t be…she knows how ruthless these people can be.  She is young and has found herself in the palace, serving as queen to the people who hold her people captive.  Now lets read on…

13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely 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?”
I can almost feel Esther say – “Ouch”.  Conviction comes, revelation comes, Holy Spirit courage comes and Esther shifts from a place of fear to amazing faith, wisdom and courage.
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.[a]
5:1 Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.[b] 2 So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.

Satan loves to attack God’s people with fear.  Dear one, in this world we are in a battle for faith.  At times it seems we have to fight for the revelation and wisdom we need to face the challenges of life.  It was clearly wisdom that led Esther to call for the body of believers to assemble in prayer and fasting.  Together they created a prayer shield of faith that extinguished the flaming arrow of fear.  God released the strategy to Esther and He used her to save a nation. 

FEAR is a natural feeling of alarm caused by the expectation of imminent danger, pain or disaster.  Fear can hinder and prevent us from advancing into God’s plan for our life.

FAITH is an expectation that God is faithful.  It expects that God will keep His promise.

Whatever your challenge today, don’t give in to fear.  Lift up your shield of faith.  Call on a few of your friends in Christ to pray for you.  Lift up your shield of faith again and extinguish fear!! (Eph. 6:16)  Declare and believe that the promises of God are YES and AMEN (2 Cor. 1:20). He will never leave you or forsake you (Deut. 31:6).

Be blessed,
Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Scripture given is New King James translation from www.biblegateway.com