Esther, A Faithful Hero Who Didn’t Let Fear Prevail

Esther had good reasons for fear during her life. Orphaned, she was raised by her older cousin Mordecai in a foreign land where her people lived as exiled subjects to a foreign and pagan government. When the King banished his queen and began an empire-wide search for her replacement, Esther was taken from her family to live at the palace in preparation for the king’s consideration. She would have one night with him, in which she would undoubtedly lose her virginity. If not chosen queen, she would then live out her days as a concubine.

But through the hand of God, Esther was chosen as queen. Then came the news from Mordecai that Haman had enacted an irrevocable decree to pay a handsome price for killing Jewish people on a set date. 
 

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Mordecai begged Esther to use her position as queen to plead with the king for her people. However, to do so, she would have to approach him without an invitation, which might cost her life. Persian law stated that anyone who approached the king in his inner court without an invitation would be put to death, even the queen. There was one caveat to the law. If the king extended his golden scepter toward the person, their life would be spared. There was no guarantee he would welcome her, especially since she hadn’t seen him for a month.

At first, and understandably, Esther was afraid to agree to Mordecai’s plea. She returned a message reminding him of the well-known risk, but Mordecai persisted. He replied with a reminder of his own, and it was sobering: Esther was Jewish too, and Mordecai warned her not to think she would escape the massacre just because she was of the king’s household. 

Esther listened and weighed the words of her trusted father figure. Something had to be done. It appeared that her life was in danger either way. She was determined to seek the Lord and committed to fasting and praying for three days, asking others to fast for her as well.

“Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.”
 — Deuteronomy 7:21

We don’t know how much Esther wrestled with fear during those three days, but it seems safe to presume she did. Her life was at stake, as were the lives of her immediate family and her people wherever they lived in the empire. Surely, Mordecai’s words echoed in her mind as she prayed. “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” he said (Esther 4:14).

Fear can sway our hearts from God and block our ears from hearing His voice. That’s the time to lean in close to seek the Lord with our whole hearts, asking Him for clarity, wisdom and courage. He understands our fears but doesn’t want them to keep us from seeing Him do marvelous things through us. He invites us to pour our hearts out to Him in prayer and rest in His care while we obey and let Him use us. On this side of fear, you never know what one act of courageous obedience might accomplish in God’s kingdom.