Bible in a Year - Women’s Thematic Reading Plan | Day 57

FEBRUARY 26 / Day 57  

Mordecai and Esther: Called in a Time of Crisis 

📖 Esther 3-4 

A Minute of Grace

Esther Chapter 3 tells us that Haman was promoted by the king, and all the king’s servants bowed before him. But Mordecai would not bow or do him reverence. Haman was filled with wrath, and instead of seeking only Mordecai’s life, he plotted to destroy all the Jews throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus. Through money, manipulation, and accusation, he persuaded the king to issue a decree that the Jews should be destroyed, killed, and caused to perish on a set day, and that their goods should be taken as spoil.

In Chapter 4, when Mordecai learns what has happened, he rends his clothes, puts on sackcloth with ashes, and cries out bitterly in the midst of the city. In every province where the decree comes, there is great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing. Esther, inside the palace, does not at first know what has happened. She only knows that Mordecai is in deep distress. Later, she learns that her entire people are facing destruction, and that Mordecai is asking her to go in unto the king and make supplication for her people.

But Esther has real fear. According to the law of the palace, anyone who enters the king’s inner court without being called has only one law: death—unless the king holds out the golden sceptre. Esther has not been called to come in unto the king for thirty days. She is not without compassion, and she does not lack concern for her people. She is standing before a real danger.

At that moment, Mordecai speaks one of the most important lines in the book: “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” His words do not deny Esther’s danger, but they lift her eyes beyond self-preservation to God’s larger purpose. Mordecai believes that deliverance will come for God’s people. The question is whether Esther will respond to the position and calling God has placed before her.

Esther then asks Mordecai to gather all the Jews in Shushan to fast for her three days, night and day. She and her maidens will also fast. After that, she says, “If I perish, I perish.” This is not reckless courage. It is obedience shaped by fasting, prayer, dependence, and surrender. Esther moves from fear to responsibility, from hidden identity to open identification, from palace safety to standing for her people.

Today’s theme, “Mordecai and Esther: Called in a Time of Crisis,” invites us to reflect: Has God placed us in certain families, roles, relationships, workplaces, communities, and seasons for a purpose? When crisis comes and someone must stand, are we willing to ask the Lord: Could the opportunity, position, resources, and influence I have received be for such a time as this?

Whispers for the Heart

1 Esther was in the palace, and at first she seemed distant from the crisis outside. But Mordecai reminded her that her position as queen was not accidental. Where has God placed you right now—in your family, workplace, church, friendships, online platform, or a particular relationship? Could that place be a field where God is calling you to watch, pray, speak, or act?

2 Esther faced real danger, and she was not fearless at the beginning. Are there things you know you should face but are afraid to face? Perhaps speaking for truth, standing with the weak, openly identifying with your faith, repairing a relationship, or responding to a burden God has placed in your heart. Are you willing to bring those fears honestly before God?

3 Esther did not act alone. She asked the Jews to fast for her, and she and her maidens fasted as well. When you face major decisions or spiritual battles, do you tend to carry them alone? Could God be reminding you that prayer, fasting, spiritual companions, and community watchfulness can help you respond with greater clarity and courage?

As you read Esther Chapters 3–4 today, do not see this only as a palace story. Let it shine into real life. Some positions are not accidental. Some opportunities must not be missed. Some silence may cause us to miss the calling God has entrusted to us. May Esther’s response help us ask: In this time of crisis, is God also calling me to stand courageously for Him?

Take a quiet breath before you begin. Bring your identity, position, fears, responsibilities, and present crises before the Lord, and let His Word meet you there.

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Esther 3-4 (KJV) 

3 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.

9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.

12 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.

13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

4 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

2 And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

5 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.

7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

💡 Closing Thought · For Such a Time as This 

After reading Esther Chapters 3–4, we see that Esther’s position as queen was not only a matter of personal honor or palace security. In a national crisis, Mordecai helped her see that the place she had received may have been for such a time as this. Esther did not instantly become fearless, but she chose fasting, prayer, and obedience. She was finally willing to say, “If I perish, I perish.”

As we close this page and return to real life, perhaps you are not standing in a palace, but you do have a place God has given you. You may not wear a queen’s crown, but you do have an identity, influence, relationships, and opportunities entrusted by God. Perhaps a family, a relationship, a community, or someone who is suffering needs you to watch in prayer, draw near in love, or stand in truth.

May today’s Scripture remind you not only to ask, “How can I keep my life safe?” but also, “Lord, have You placed me here for such a time as this?” May you not be bound by fear in crisis, not remain silent in calling, but live with faithfulness and love in the place God has given you.

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