Courage in Crisis

GOLDEN TEXT: “If thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” —Esther 4:14

ESTHER 4:1-3, 10-16; 9:20-22

THE Book of Esther is the last of the predominantly historical books of the Old Testament; its historical facts being set forth as a beautiful story. It records an effort that was made to destroy all the Israelites, and the remarkable manner in which this was prevented. The principal purpose served by the book, as a segment of the Word of God, is to call attention to a bitter attack made against the people of God in an effort to thwart the divine purpose centered in them.

When, in the Garden of Eden, God said that there would be a “seed” which would bruise the “serpent’s” head, he also said that there would be enmity between this “seed” and the “seed” of the serpent. (Gen. 3:15) The “serpent” is a symbol of the great adversary of God and of men, Satan the Devil. His seed would be all those who, wittingly or unwittingly, lend themselves to the accomplishment of his wicked designs against God’s promised “seed.”

Satan has not always known just who might be a part of God’s promised “seed,” so he has bitterly opposed, and has even sought to destroy, those upon whom God’s favor has been manifested; and he knew that this was the case with the children of Israel. He knew that all the descendants of Abraham were specially cared for by God, so they became the objects of his envious and bitter attacks. The incident in the Book of Esther is one of these.

The experiences related in the book occurred after King Cyrus gave the Jews permission to return to Palestine, at the close of the seventy years of captivity which began under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Only a remnant actually returned, the majority preferring to remain in the land where they were once captives. Babylon had fallen, and the Medo-Persian Empire was in control.

The story centers around the king, Ahasuerus; Haman, appointed by the king to be chief among the princes of the realm; Mordecai, a Jew, who was a guardian at the king’s gate, and Esther, Mordecai’s adopted daughter, actually his cousin. Esther became the king’s wife after he had put away Vashti for disobeying him. At the time, however, she did not reveal that she was related to Mordecai, therefore a Jewess.

Haman became incensed at Mordecai because he refused to bow down in his presence, so he induced the king to issue a royal edict calling for the destruction of a certain group of people living within the realm, who, as Haman misrepresented them, were a menace to the empire. Haman did not reveal the identity of the people he wished destroyed.

When Mordecai learned of this, he sent word to Esther, his cousin, and now the queen, to petition the king to have this decree set aside. The rule of the royal court was that even if the queen sought an audience with the king without an invitation she would be risking her life. Mordecai reminded her that if she did nothing, being a Jewess, she would certainly die. He also sent word to Esther, saying, “If thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”—ch. 4:14

Here is an important lesson for every servant of God. Whatever his purposes may be they will be accomplished. He gives us the opportunity to co-operate with him, as he gave it to Esther; but if we do not accept and use the opportunity, it will not interfere with whatever God desires accomplished. But if we fail to co-operate, it is at great loss to ourselves.

Esther courageously decided to do what she could, saying, somewhat fatalistically, “If I perish, I perish.” She sought an audience with the king, and was favorably received. The manner in which she presented her petition to the king led to her own identity as a Jewess; and it also led to the death of Haman, on a gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai.

The laws of the Medes and Persians, and the decrees signed by kings, could not be changed. However, Mordecai arranged that the Jews would have ample opportunity to protect themselves when the time came for their slaughter. So it turned out that the enemies of the Jews were the ones destroyed. Then a great feast was ordered by Mordecai, which is still commemorated—the feast of Purim. God had saved his people.

QUESTIONS

What is one of the important lessons emphasized in the Book of Esther?

Relate the circumstances leading to the threatened destruction of the Jews?

Does God depend upon us to accomplish his purposes?

How were the Jews delivered in this crisis?

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