This post is Day 16 in a series of studies about “Esther”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Esther – Day 16

Naturally the reaction amongst Jewish people to the news of their planned annihilation was one of great anguish. Since the beginning, the race that God chose as His own has faced much opposition and many attempts at elimination. As always, their reaction was to immediately begin to fast and pray.

Esther 4:1,4

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.
When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes to him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

The Thought

Naturally the reaction amongst the Jewish people to the news of their planned annihilation was one of great anguish. Since the beginning, the race that God chose as His own has faced much opposition and many attempts at elimination.

As always, their reaction was to immediately begin to fast and pray, but also, as was the custom at the time, they wept loudly in the streets. It must have been an awful sound to hear so many people wailing and crying in fear of the tragedy that was about to come upon them.

The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?Proverbs 18:14

The coming tragedy was crushing the spirits of everyone in Susa, not just the Jews.

Of course the news reached Esther and she responded as most of us would, by sending Mordecai clothes to wear. I don’t suppose he was short of clothes, but Esther needed in her own heart to do something to change the situation, at least for her only family member.

Action

Ask yourself today how you would feel if everyone you know and love was suddenly sentenced to death.

It happens still today to Christians in many parts of the non-christian world.

Pray for believers who dare not even tell their families that they have met Jesus.

Pray for peace and encouragement for those who have seen their churches burned down and their pastors killed because of hatred encouraged in other faiths.