Esther 4:15-16
‘Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather 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 attendants also will fast in the same way. And then I will go in to the king, which is not in accordance with the law; and if I perish, I perish.”‘
Esther is stepping up to accept Mordecai’s challenge. He told her last time that she should go to the king and ask him to help. Her response was that she wasn’t allowed to approach the king in his chambers without being invited. Otherwise she could be executed. Mordecai’s response was that God may have exalted her as queen for this very reason.
Esther is going to approach the king. So, she asks Mordecai to bring all the jews in the city together and fast for her. She and her attendants will do the same thing. This is important. She is going to the almighty for assistance.
This is what is done when facing a dire situation and one wants God’s help. Jesus gives us more insight in Matthew 17:19-21, ‘Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out? So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”’
This is a big problem. Once again the devil seeks to exterminate the jews. There is panic and fear amongst the people. En mass they are gathering together and fasting to get God’s help.
Jesus was in constant communication with the Father. At times He needed to withdraw himself to commune with God. He needed refreshment, but He also needed to check in with God and get the relationship clear.
Sometimes one puts aside food and other things that might distract and focus on God and bring the need before Him. This was a serious and grave matter.
The queen did this with her attendants. I’m not sure if they were jews or not. She recruited them to go to God with this matter. They were praying for favor in the eyes of the king that she may approach him.
We are to do what we can. The queen could approach and Mordecai could fast and pray. We will have our own problems that God allows to happen to us. He wants us to go to Him for help. He also wants us to have faith that He will intercede and help us.
Jesus said that we don’t need to have a lot of faith. Only that the size of a mustard seed. Keep this up. Continue to pray and fast. What comes to mind is an example in which David continued in fasting and prayer. It’s in 2 Samuel 12:22, ‘And he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’” Be persistent in fasting and prayer.
Something else Esther did was to share her burden with others. There is power when the community comes together before God. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.” You honor the gathering of Your children together when we come together to pray. Help us to share our burdens to others as we come together in Your name.
Thank You, Lord, that You want to help us. We learn from James that “we have not, because we ask not”, (James 4:2). Help us to be in constant communication with You like You did with the Father. Help us to bring the big matters to by prayer and fasting. Help us to share these burdens with others as we come together in Your name.