Esther's Plan

Usually when we know we must do something we just settle in and do it. If

the situation presents itself without enough time to plan, we just see what

needs to be done and do it. Often when we look back we will see that we

needed to plan better. For how we responded was not what it should have

been.

In the book of Esther, we read about a young woman who knew how to

plan, and her name was Esther. Esther was the wife of King Ahasuerus and

she was also a Jew, although her husband, the King, had no idea of her

ancestry. One day Esther found out through her cousin, Mordecai, there was a

plot to assassinate all the Jews who were in the surrounding areas. This plot

had come from inside the castle and Mordecai wanted Esther to go to the

King about it, in hopes he would stop the order to have them all killed. Now

in that time there was a custom in which one was not allowed to go to the

king unless one was called for. To do so meant that unless the king decided to

show you favor, you would be killed. Mordecai knew that time was running

out for the Jewish people including himself and Esther, and he asked that she

go to the King, and go in even though she wouldn’t have been called for.

Esther’s response at first was that she couldn’t because the King had not

called for her. Mordecai reminded Esther that perhaps she was Queen for a

reason- to help set the people free. He also reminded her that this plot also

meant her life was in danger because she also was a Jew. Esther, upon hearing

this, decided the only thing she could do was what Mordecai had asked and

that was to go to the King. In verses 15-17 we read, “Then Esther told them

to reply to Mordecai. ‘Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and

fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens

also will fast in the same way. And thus, I will go into the King, which is not

according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.’ So, Mordecai went away and

did just as Esther had commanded him.”

It ended up that the King did show Esther favor and did not kill her.

Through a few events, she was able to expose the person who had the plan to

assassinate all the Jews, and she could openly say she herself was also a Jew.

The King then put a stop to the plan, and the Jewish people were saved. All

of this happened because of one woman who dared to risk her life and go

against the law for what was right- for her own people.

Another thing to remember is not only did Esther, as we read, take this

risk, but ahead of time she asked people to fast for three days and nights, and

she and her maidens would do the same. She knew the severity of this mission. She knew the danger involved, and above all, she knew she needed covering. She knew the prayers and fasting of the people were what was needed before she could go forward. How smart of her to not go forward too quickly, but to take time and involve fasting and prayer. I do not believe that she was asking for prayer to show her if she was to do this or not, but rather

prayers and fasting were for protection. For favor with the King and for the

saving of the people, and that is what she received. The people who were

covering her were the same people she was to save.

You see, too often we can react too quickly – to see the goal and just

move ahead. We fail to take the necessary time for fasting and prayer. We fail

to ask others around us to fast and pray as well for us before we move

forward. The Bible does not tell us to pray if we feel like it, but rather it tells

us many times ,“when you pray”. You see, everything we do needs to be

covered in prayer, in fasting, and involving Godly people around us. We are

the body of Christ and we need each other. We need the covering of one

another, and from Esther’s story we are reminded of this again. So, the next

time you find yourself in a battle, big or small, remember to pray. To fast if

needed, and always ask for prayer from others, and always in turn pray and

fast for those around you.

From The Noble Woman Book by Gina Burns