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Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
You and I have both seen pictures, maybe even movies, which tell the story of D-day and what happened on those beaches 81 years ago TODAY. I wonder if you’ve imagined yourself standing in one of those ‘landing craft’ with dozens of other soldiers, approaching the beach? Within minutes, that drawbridge would drop down in front of you, and the soldiers would rush out, into the water, pushing ashore as quickly as possible, but knowing that you are wading into a shower of gunfire and the chances are very high you’ll be shot or even killed?
That was EXACTLY what Queen Esther was feeling as she stood in the inner court of King Xerxes’ palace in Susa, capital of the Persian Empire in 474bc. Esther knew the protocol of the palace. Uninvited persons who dared to enter that courtyard, would be executed by heavily armed guards protecting King Xerxes…UNLESS, and there was ONLY one possible exception to this cruel death. That exception was if the King saw the person and extended his golden scepter giving the intruder permission to approach the throne!
I trust you remember Esther had sent a message to Mordecai calling all Jews in Susa to fast for three days, while she and her attendants did the same. (Esther 4:16) Why a three day fast? Because Mordecai had discovered a terrible holocaust plot designed by Haman, one of King Xerxes most trusted officials.
That holocaust plot would empower all non-Jews, all across the entire Persian kingdom, to kill any Jewish person, of any age, on one particular day. Haman’s plan was simple and brutal. In one day the Persian kingdom would be cleansed of every living Jewish person in the entire empire! It was the ultimate ‘ethnic cleansing’ plan! (Esther 3:13)
While Esther’s request that all Jews would FAST for three days does not contain the word PRAY, that is assumed. In the Jewish culture Fasting was a highly regarded practical experience which only had true spiritual value if accompanied by serious prayer and petition to God. Each ‘fasting’ experience was unique in duration and exactly what would be abstained from. In this case Esther requested all Jews to fast (abstain) from BOTH food and water for three days. (Esther 4:16) Obviously the prayer focus would be this evil plan of wicked Haman’s and seeking God’s direct intervention to spare the lives of the Jews in Persia.
Esther also had a specific prayer which I’m sure she was earnestly praying. If she would risk entering the king’s courtyard uninvited, God would need to intervene, or she would be executed. Thus, after three days, I’m sure fearful but trusting in God, Queen Esther arrived at the palace. The record says this: “On the third day Queen Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. King Xerxes was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So, Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.” (Esther 5:1,2)
Pause and catch your breath for a moment, as I’m sure Esther was doing. So easily things could have been very different and Esther could be dead within moments. But she was alive and invited to approach the most powerful man in the world at that time. God had remarkably answered her prayer and moved the heart of the king to compassion.
Of course, Queen Esther had also been praying that God would give her a plan and a strategy for presenting to King Xerxes the reality that if this one day, kingdom wide ‘ethnic cleansing’ did happen, it would also mean death to Esther, for her true identity was “Hadassah”, a Jew girl by birth. Can you imagine the wrestling, the sleepless nights Esther must have had trying to figure out the best way to inform the king and request a rescue for Esther and her people. The big problem, of course, was that any law issued by the king was irrevocable in this era of the Persian kingdom.
Not only had God softened the heart of the king who invited Esther forward, but God had given Esther a plan! As Esther came forward to accept the King’s permission to enter, the record says: “Then the king asked, ‘What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.” (Esther 5:3) Oh my, what do you see here my friends in this extravagant offer to Esther? Whatever her plan was, should she change it now and in response to this offer should she amend her plan to request great wealth, or vast territories, or significant power? We need to pause right here and ponder some important questions…
1. How well do you understand the spiritual discipline of fasting & prayer?
In what situations have you felt led to fast & pray? What was your experience? If you’ve never fasted and prayed, why not? Would you consider seeking God’s guidance on what role fasting & prayer should have in your life?
2. When you face very serious, complex situations, what is your process of bringing it to God and discerning His response?
How well are you able to make a plan of action based on God’s response to your prayers?
3. If ever you’ve stood before an unexpected wide-open door of opportunity, what have you done and what does that say about your character, your relationship with God, your humility?
Let’s worship with this song and tomorrow we’ll see how Esther responded to this incredible, unexpected open door of opportunity, with King Xerxes.
Today’s Scripture: Esther 5:1-3.
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
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Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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