As soon as he learned about the evil plot that Haman, the enemy of the Jews hatched to annihilate all the Jews in the province, the first thing Mordecai did was to come before the presence of God in fasting and prayer. God-fearing man like him and what our church is learning in our sermon series from Nehemiah are individuals whose hearts are sensitive to God and concerned about the things of God. When God’s work is being blocked or when man hinders God’s will, their response is similar. They turn to God and plead before the Lord Almighty for His divine help and intervention.

To counteract the wicked plan of Haman, Mordecai and Esther were confronted with two laws from the king – not one but two. They had to find ways to address these two laws before they could attempt to thwart the work of the evil one. First, it is the decree that Haman had instigated the king to issue in killing and destroying all the Jews. Second, according to the law of the royal court, the Queen could only be able to seek the king’s audience upon his invitation. Sentence of death awaits anyone who breaks the law.

This sets the stage for the challenge that confronts them; it is tantamount to impossibility. And it is in this breathtaking turning point where the readers get to appreciate the divine providence of our God Almighty. God meets the needs of His people especially when they are in crisis which only God can deliver them. In the same way that how God raised leaders like Joseph, Moses and even Nehemiah in the past, Mordecai and Esther were the man and woman of the hour in this chapter. As a Jew, Mordecai was passionate towards God and with the things of God. When he first knew about the evil scheme, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes. He mourned, fasted and prayed. Verse 3 tells us that besides him, some other Jews in the province also joined him in crying and pleading God for His divine intervention.

As a man who is intimate with God, God endows him with wisdom to do what is needed and that which is by faith. When Esther sent Hathach the eunuch to him, Mordecai took the opportunity to seek help from Esther, using her status and influence as a queen to seek the audience from the king. As a Jew herself, verse 4 tells us that Esther was also deeply distressed by both the plight of her people and her cousin’s safety as he was mourning at the entrance of the king’s gate (Esther 2:7; 4:2).

Initially, Esther was not confident that she could appear before the king without his invitation. Though she had concern for her own life, she was prepared to do what was needed for her people. As a woman who feared God and entrusted her life in His sovereign rule, she asked Mordecai to mobilize all the Jews in Susa to plea God on her behalf by fasting and praying for three days. The next chapter unfolds with how God shows His favor to her.

Against all odds, these two laws are entirely not in the favor of the Jews at all. But it is heartwarming to read the persevering spirits of these two cousins, Mordecai and Esther. Two persons whose hearts are totally committed to God and dedicated to what God would have them do despite the possible calamities before them, especially as their lives are in grave danger.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us be inspired by the faith and fervor of these two God-fearing individuals – let us come before God and ask Him to grow our love for Him and to have the kind of faith that pleases Him.

PRAYER : Our Father in heaven, we bless your holy name. Thank you for showing us the godly examples of Mordecai and Esther - the kind of faith that pleases you. Help us also to honor and please you in our life. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.