God’s People on Mission
Esther & Mordecai:
The saying goes: ‘behind every great man, there’s a great woman.’ (I know you are probably wondering what kind of hole I’m going to dig for myself). Well, it turns out that the opposite can also be true.
The story of Esther in the Bible is a great tale of courage, sacrifice and salvation. God is truly glorified in the special way He chose to raise up Esther to save the Israelites from another of the many plots of the enemy to wipe out the Jewish people.
Mordecai is mostly known for uncovering the plot to assassinate King Ahasuerus, and then, of course, his encouragement of Esther to stand up for the Jewish people, and his famous quote:
Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
What is less well known, but possibly more important, was the part he played at Esther’s plea. She said:
16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him. (Esther 4:16 – 17)
It is easy to think that it was the courage of Esther that God used to save the people, but no less was the importance of Esther and Mordecai in leading the people to intercede on Esther’s behalf to bring about the favour of the King.
Intercessory prayer has always been at the heart of God’s plan to bring salvation. Paul requests the prayers of his beloved Ephesian brothers:
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful tothis end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and forme, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly tomake known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador inchains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:18 –20)
When it comes to intercession, we often think of Paul’s request to Timothy:
Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (1 Timothy 2:1 – 2)
When thinking of this verse, our focus is often on the ability to lead a ‘quiet and peaceable life,’ that’s what we are praying for, and we are right to make that request. But that isn’t the ultimate goal here. The following two verses demonstrate that Paul is thinking of the lost when making this plea:
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3– 4)
The value of intercessory prayer seems not to be what it ought to be in our churches today. Certainly, the devil understands the power here in the way he keeps people from praying, alone and together.
But we know better, so as we continue to be active in reaching out to those who don’t yet know Christ as Saviour, let’s remember where the battle is won. It might have been prayer, not Mordecai’s memorable statement, that kept Esther alive; certainly, our prayers have the ability to bring others to Christ.
You and I are called ‘for such a time as this!’ And our calling begins by interceding for the lost.
