Pleading on Behalf of Others

Esther 8

Main Idea: Much like Paul in Romans 9, Esther has unceasing pain and anguish at the thought of her people perishing; therefore, she pleads with Ahasuerus for their preservation.

1. What’s Going On in the Story (8)?
   1. Esther’s rewards and Mordecai’s responsibilities (8:1-2).
      1. Esther received the estate of the enemy.
      2. Mordecai received a ring and responsibilities.
   2. Esther’s repeated request (8:3-6)
      1. See her perseverance.
      2. See her passion.
      3. See her pleading.
   3. Ahasuerus’s response (8:7-8)
      1. He was content.
      2. He lacked compassion.
   4. Mordecai’s regulation (8:9-14)
      1. See the hope.
      2. See the horses.
   5. Jewish rejoicing (8:15-17)
2. What Can We Learn from This Passage?
   1. Let us not be so content with our own salvation that we lack compassion for those without it.
   2. Let us persevere in pleading to the Lord for others to come to salvation or to grow in sanctification.
   3. Let us announce the good news of the gospel for the joy of all peoples.
   4. Let us always remember our position of victory.
   5. Let us always remember our participation in the battle.
   6. Let our discipleship be our loudest declaration.
3. What Can We Learn about God from This Passage?
   1. God administers the power and placement of his people.
   2. Jesus is a better mediator than Esther.
   3. Our Father was contriving and completing our salvation.
   4. God’s love transforms us.

The hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” has been a favorite of mine for a long time. It was not the first hymn I learned, though; that was “Trust and Obey.” There are videos of me singing that hymn when I was three or four in our home in Port Arthur, Texas. My mom may have had several reasons for making sure I knew that song at such an early age.

As for “It Is Well,” I can remember singing it frequently with the congregation in which I grew up. As I joined the adult choir in tenth grade, I particularly loved singing the bass part of the chorus and hearing the piano and organ compete. When I was a senior in high school, I sang “It Is Well” as a trio with my mom and sister in what some know as a Fifth Sunday Singing. When my father died during my senior year of college, the Spirit empowered me to sing the hymn while I prepared to preach his funeral—it was my first funeral to preach. Another powerful moment of God using “It Is Well with My Soul” in my life came at the end of the first Together for the Gospel gathering in 2006. As the room filled with mostly pastors belting out the truth of the gospel proclaimed in those lyrics, I was moved to tears, so I called my wife, put my cell phone on speaker, and let her join us in that moment.

If you have ever heard Brian Regan, the comedian, talk about snowcones, you will know what I mean by saying I am thankful for each verse in the hymn, but these are my two favorites (and I am bolding my favorite parts of my favorite verses):

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought:

My sin—not in part but the whole

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! (Spafford, “It Is Well with My Soul”)

I never grow tired of singing the gospel as recorded in this song. By God’s grace I am not desensitized to Christ’s substitutionary atonement when these lyrics appear on a screen, but I am moved afresh that I was helpless but Christ was not. I can also sing with confidence that all of my sin has been covered. No lurking transgression will prevent me from being reconciled to God because it is greater than Christ’s finished work. No, I can lift my hands and my voice in praise because not just some of my sin has been paid for but all of it!

As much as I love the hymn, I did not know its history until my great aunt gave me a book about hymns and how they came to be written. She thought there might be some good illustrations for sermons in there. (Thanks, Sissie! Thanks also for knowing what should be an illustration and what should be a sermon.) What hymn do you think I turned to first to get its backstory? You guessed it. Only then did I learn the painful providence experienced by Horatio G. Spafford (1828–1888) that led to his penning my favorite hymn.

Spafford lived in Chicago, was happily married, had four daughters, was a successful attorney, held extensive real estate investments, was a supporter of D. L. Moody, and was an active member of a Presbyterian church (Osbeck, Amazing Grace, 202). In the Chicago fire of 1871, Spafford’s real estate fortune was consumed. But that would not be the worst of Spafford’s problems. Two years after the fire, and while D. L. Moody and Ira Sankey were leading evangelistic meetings in Great Britain, Spafford thought it would do his family good to vacation in Europe.

Due to a business matter, Spafford was unable to travel with his wife and four daughters but promised to join them as soon as he could. In November 1873, the Spafford women boarded the S.S. Ville du Havre and set sail. Four of the five of them would never make it to Europe. As they crossed the Atlantic, their ship was struck by another vessel. In the chaos that ensued, Anna Spafford led her four children on deck and prayed for the Lord to spare them if he was willing but, if not, to grant the grace they would need in their final moments. The S.S. Ville du Havre sank in twelve minutes. The four Spafford daughters were among the 226 passengers who drowned.

When the survivors arrived on shore, Anna Spafford sent Horatio a telegram that began with “Saved alone what shall I do” (“Telegram from Anna Spafford”). Spafford later framed the telegram and hung it in his office.

Osbeck says, “Horatio Spafford stood hour after hour on the deck of the ship carrying him to rejoin his sorrowing wife” (ibid.). When the ship passed the place where his daughters drowned, Spafford received such a measure of grace and peace from the Lord that he was led to write, “When sorrows like sea billows roll. . . . It is well with my soul” (ibid.). He had no idea in those moments how God would use what he was writing to help the generations who have come behind him to praise the Lord for his peace that passes understanding even in the deepest pain.

I have often considered Anna Spafford’s telegram message of “saved alone.” How difficult it must have been for her to send that message. I do not know the details of the twelve minutes it took for their ship to sink, but she was unable to save any of her daughters and was devastated by it. I assume she did everything in her power to rescue them, even pleading for others to help her, but there was no help.

At the beginning of Esther 8, we may find ourselves wondering whether “saved alone” will be all Esther can say as well. Will she have to report, “I was rescued, but not the rest of my people”? We will see in Esther 8 that “saved alone” is certainly not what she wants to say. Just as Anna Spafford most likely did in the icy waters of the Atlantic, Esther will plead for her people to be saved. Because though Haman is dead, his edict is not.

Esther’s pleading will be reminiscent of other intercessions in the Old Testament. When the Lord determined to wipe out Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness, Abraham pleaded for the righteous ones living in those places to be delivered (Gen 18:22-33). The Lord agreed that if there were ten righteous people in Sodom, then he would not destroy the city. As we know, there was not even half that number; nevertheless, the Lord rescued Lot and his daughters. Many years later Moses would intercede on behalf of Israel, asking the Lord to spare their lives (even after they wanted to end Moses’s life) and not wipe them all out right at the edge of the promised land (Num 14:1-19). God would discipline the older ones as they wandered through the wilderness for forty more years, but he would deliver those nineteen years old and younger and lead them into the promised land. The Lord responded to Abraham’s intercession, and he responded to Moses’s intercession, but would Ahasuerus respond to Esther’s?

This scene makes me wonder how much pleading we do on behalf of others. I hope we are not just content that we have been delivered but also care and are active for the sake of those still in darkness and death. Much like Paul in Romans 9, Esther had unceasing pain and anguish at the thought of her people perishing; therefore, she pleaded with Ahasuerus for their preservation.

What’s Going On in the Story?

Esther 8

Esther’s Rewards and Mordecai’s Responsibilities (8:1-2)

Have you ever received a gift that was good, but it was not what you really wanted? (If you are reading this, Mom, I am still waiting on that four-wheeler!) Ironically, after the fireworks at the feast (7:1-6) and the eradication of the enemy (7:7-10), it would be Haman’s possessions that were plundered (8:1-2). Esther received the estate of the enemy, which would have included all of his property, slaves, funds, and even family. Once his relationship with Esther was revealed, Mordecai received a ring and responsibilities. Ahasuerus’s signet ring was probably still warm from being on Haman’s finger when it was placed on Mordecai’s for the first time. Esther then placed Haman’s assets under Mordecai’s charge. But while these rewards were amazing considering the situation, neither Esther nor Mordecai asked for them. There was, however, something Esther really wanted, something far more important than the king’s ring or Haman’s house. For what she desired, she was willing to put her life on the line one more time.

Esther’s Repeated Request (8:3-6)

Esther did not want to be “saved alone.” Despite the relief she must have felt when Haman was hanged and even some measure of vindication when she received his possessions, Esther remembered the plight of her people. She was not distracted, nor would she be deterred from seeking relief for the Jews from Haman’s edict of death. See her perseverance. She had not received her full request, so she addressed the king once more.

When we do not see God moving or answering, we are often tempted to stop praying. For instance, there were plenty of times I was tempted to stop praying for my father’s salvation, especially when he would say hateful things about my mother. Perhaps there’s been a particular struggle in your journey, and you may be worried your prayers are not going past the ceiling. Keep praying (Luke 18:5). God hears our prayers, and he answers them according to his wisdom.

We can also see her passion. Esther’s burden for her people could not be hidden, and she made no attempt to conceal it. Not caring what anyone else around might think, Esther fell before the king. Her tears saturated his feet. The full depth of her emotions was on display. This should make us think about what moves us to such emotion when we make our requests to the Lord. When do we cast off all restraints and let our full emotions out before him (and anyone else who might be around)?

God has never asked us to conceal our feelings. Perhaps your prayers have been filled with emotion as you’ve asked the Lord to save your marriage, to provide health for a loved one, or to help you fully repent of a sin. This morning our faith family prayed over a couple who is moving to another city. Before we even started praying, though, there were tears streaming down the cheek of the wife. We thanked God for the time he entrusted their family to our care and asked him to help them find a new faith family in the city to which they are relocating. Never fear being transparent before the Lord with the depths of your feelings. From whom do you think you received those emotions?

Besides Esther’s perseverance and her passion, we can see her pleading. She was literally begging Ahasuerus to intercede and stop Haman’s genocidal plan. There was nothing cold, distant, or reserved in Esther’s actions. She was not ashamed to beg and plead with the king if that was necessary to help her people. Death was averted for her (once again) as Ahasuerus extended his golden scepter and allowed her to stand and make her request. But how would Ahasuerus respond?

Ahasuerus’s Response (8:7-8)

Ahasuerus’s response reveals he was content. He was not totally unsympathetic to her cause. After all, he had Haman killed and then gave Esther all of his stuff. Perhaps, though, he wondered why she was not satisfied. He had done his part, and his own wrath was settled with Haman’s death. Haman did not manage to take Ahasuerus down with him, so the king felt good about how things stood. He was ready to shift back into passivity. On his own he would do nothing further, but he allowed Esther and Mordecai to write an edict of their own and sign it with his ring.

Ahasuerus’s response also reveals he lacked compassion. Esther was pleading with Ahasuerus on the basis of what was morally right, but the king tended to do what was most advantageous rather than what was right (Smith, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, 274). His granting permission to write a new edict was based most on how he felt about Esther rather than how he felt about the Jews. For them Ahasuerus had no particular concern. I am thankful God grants our requests mostly because of how he feels about Christ, but this is not to suggest God lacks concern for us. Christ did not have to convince the Father to care about us; Christ was sent because the Father cared already.

Of course, even if the king did care, Haman’s edict could not be revoked. So what was the next best option?

Mordecai’s Regulation (8:9-14)

Because Haman’s edict could not be changed, a new edict needed to be created. Where only death had been decreed, there was now opportunity for defense. Though the Jews throughout the empire may have felt all was lost, the new edict allowed them to see the hope. Smith notes,

For all practical purposes, the effect was that the new decree gave the Jews legal protection to fight back, stripping any attackers of a favored legal position. Nevertheless, it did not remove the threat against the Jewish people. (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, 275)

The Jews still faced an uncertain outcome, but at least now their resistance would not be interpreted as rebellion.

Like Haman, Mordecai made sure the decree was written in every language and delivered as quickly as possible throughout the empire. In describing the method of delivery, the author lets us see the horses. Baldwin says, “These then were the equivalent of today’s racehorses, bred from the royal stud (lit. ‘sons of the royal mares’)” (Esther, 96). If it were possible, Mordecai would have paid extra for same-day delivery. Good news was on the way for God’s people. How beautiful were the hooves delivering it!

Jewish Rejoicing (8:15-17)

As I contrast Esther 4:1-3 with 8:15-17, Isaiah 61:3 comes to mind. There the prophet says the Lord’s people will receive “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair.” Also the psalmist rejoices, “You turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness” (Ps 30:11). Selfishly, where the author of Esther describes the reaction of the Jews throughout the empire, I wish what is written in Psalm 30:12 would have been added: “I can sing to you and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.” The author notes their gladness, but if they expressed gratitude to God specifically, it is not recorded. Regardless, as the new edict advanced through the empire, so did joy among the Jews. For them fear was replaced with feasting, but for others feasting was replaced with fear. Professing to be a Jew became all the rage at that time in the empire, but that did not make such claims real.

Speaking of real, when Mordecai left the palace and walked among the people, my man was sporting some new threads. His new robes led to the entire city rejoicing. Talk about a transformation! It was a makeover he could never have imagined but one the Lord had completely planned.

What Can We Learn from This Passage?

Let Us Not Be So Content with Our Own Salvation that We Lack Compassion for Those Without It

If Anna Spafford had been given her preference, she never would have chosen to be “saved alone.” We have seen in our text where Esther stood. She was not just concerned about her own survival but for the survival of her people as well. Our salvation is not just an end in itself. May God use our being reconciled to him as a means of advancing the gospel in and through us, and then God will receive great glory.

Do you have a genuine concern for non-Christians? Or are you content with having your own Willy Wonka-like golden ticket to heaven but feel no compassion for those who do not? Some people claim to be concerned about those who are outside of Christ, but Paul genuinely was, and he called on the Holy Spirit to be his witness:

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood. (Rom 9:1-3)

Now that is concern. If it were possible, Paul was willing to trade his own salvation so that none of his people, the Israelites (9:4), would perish. And Paul’s burden never dissipated. His sorrow and anguish over their spiritual state was unceasing. Sometimes we have seasons of concern for the lost, but then something else captures our attention, and our regard for them wanes.

In Philippians 3:18, Paul told the believers in Philippi, “I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.” He added, “Their end is destruction” (Phil 3:19). Even as Paul wrote that, he was weeping for the many people who were living as Christ’s enemies and, if they failed to repent and believe, would be destroyed. Paul wept for those who needed to be delivered. Esther wept for those who needed to be delivered. But do we weep for those who need to be delivered? Esther told Ahasuerus she could not “bear to see the disaster that would come on” or “the destruction of” her people (8:6). This should make us question whether we are living as if we can bear with people perishing. Like Paul and Esther, Adoniram Judson certainly could not. 

Soon after he became a Christian, Judson felt burdened to serve the Lord as a foreign missionary. In the early 1800s in America, however, not only was there no missions-sending agency within his own Congregationalist denomination, but there was no other mission board from which he could seek support. In his passion for those who were perishing without Christ, Judson penned an article titled, “Concern for the Salvation of the Heathen,” which was published in two magazines (Benge and Benge, Adoniram Judson, 52). In it Judson expressed his frustration with so many “Christians” who seemed unconcerned for those dying without having an opportunity to hear the gospel. He wrote,

How do Christians discharge this trust committed to them? They let three-fourths of the world sleep the sleep of death, ignorant of the simple truth that a Savior died for them. Content if they can be useful in the little circle of their acquaintances, they quietly sit and see whole nations perish for lack of knowledge. (Anderson, To the Golden Shore, 63–64)

God would use Judson to help form one of the first missions organizations in America and then to serve as one of the first missionaries to be sent. Driven by deep concern for the souls of others, Adoniram and his wife, Ann, would sacrifice greatly for the sake of the gospel in Burma.

Are we in any way like those who aggravated and grieved Adoniram Judson, those who seemed so unconcerned that so many perish in our world without knowledge of Christ? How much does our concern for non-Christians impact our weekly agendas? May our attitude never be, “Chill on that evangelism topic; I’m good!” or, “I’m saved—that spreading the gospel thing is someone else’s problem.”

Referencing Jesus, Matthew says, “When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt 9:36). If you currently lack compassion for the lost, I know who can help you. In fact, I often pray, “Jesus, please help me feel as much compassion for the lost as you felt for me.” How awful it would have been that night in college when my apartment caught fire if I had just said, “I am safe,” but then done nothing for my roommate sleeping upstairs. Esther could not have demonstrated her concern for others more clearly. Could the same be said about us?

Let Us Persevere in Pleading to the Lord for Others to Come to Salvation or to Grow in Sanctification

In light of Esther’s perseverance in pleading to the king, I want to challenge you to keep praying in three ways. First, maybe you are close to giving up on praying for someone or about something today. Keep praying. Keep pleading. Keep travailing in prayer.

Second, keep asking “the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest” (Matt 9:38). One of the requests I bring before the Lord most often is that he will send believers out who love him, who love his Word, and who want to see all peoples have Scripture in their languages. Every youth/college event I preach, I ask those present to consider, as a possible career choice, immersing themselves with a people group and translating the Bible into their language. One of the families from our congregation, I am happy to report, will be coming home soon on furlough from where they have been serving with the Wycliffe Bible Translators. I am thankful for their obedience and sacrifice.

Third, like Paul, I hope we will not just pray passionately for people to come to Christ but also for them to grow in Christ. Paul prayed just as fervently for the sanctification of those he knew as he did for their justification. A great example of Paul’s prayer for Christians postconversion is Colossians 1:9-14. He prays for new believers to know what God wants (1:9) so they will do it (1:10) in God’s power (1:11) and because of the gospel (1:12-14). May the Lord empower us never to grow weary of praying and pleading for others.

Let Us Announce the Good News of the Gospel for the Joy of All Peoples

Wherever the proclamation written by Mordecai was read, joy followed, and that was just for an announcement that gave God’s people the right to defend themselves. How much more joy will come from our announcing not just a victory that is possible but one that has already been won? Like the couriers we should carry this great news as far and as quickly as possible. As Jerry Bridges said,

We are not to be a terminus point for the gospel, but rather a way station in its progress to the ends of the earth. God intends that everyone who has embraced the gospel become a part of the great enterprise of spreading the gospel. What our particular part in this great enterprise may be will vary from person to person, but all of us should be involved. (The Gospel for Real Life, 166)

May our prayer always be, “Let the peoples praise you, God; let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations rejoice and shout for joy” (Ps 67:3-4). Our High King has decreed deliverance from the curse of death. Joy spreads wherever this good news is announced. Who needs to hear it from you today?

Let Us Always Remember Our Position of Victory

The edict that Mordecai sent out informed the Jews the king granted them permission to defend themselves. If the Jews celebrated in hearing that they could at least fight for victory, how much greater should our rejoicing be since Christ has won ours? This great news has implications for our celebration. Our hope is certain. In fact, I often say our hope is not fingers crossed (hoping my team will win the game) but thumbs up (our hope is definite). We have no doubts Christ has already won the war and, in him, so will we.

The news of Christ’s victory also has implications for our sanctification. We do not fight from a defeated position but from a delivered one. Christ has broken the power of our enemies. If we find ourselves feeling defeated, we need to consider two possibilities: We may be returning power where it has been relinquished (like those who still choose to obey a deposed leader). Or we may not be relying on Christ’s power.

Let me give you even more good news. In John 15:5 Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” The fact we can do nothing without Christ is not all I want you to see here. The fact he never asks us to do anything without him is what I do not want you to miss. Christ does not expect us to obey a single command of his in our own strength. He knows we cannot. In him, however, we are not just hoping things will turn out for our good and God’s glory. We know they will.

Let Us Always Remember Our Participation in the Battle

For the Jews in the Persian Empire, preservation would not come just from an announcement but from action. We will discuss more about this when we cover Esther 9:1–10:3, but it is worth noting here as well. If God’s people were going to be saved, they would have to fight those who attacked them. While Jesus has done all of the fighting necessary for our atonement, it does not mean we are passive in our sanctification. Yes, we strive from a position of victory, but also yes, we have to strive and to put forth effort for our advance in what Christ has achieved.

Those to whom God in his power had given “everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness,” Peter exhorted to

make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (2 Pet 1:3, 5-7)

They were not to make every effort in hopes of having what they needed for life and godliness but because they already had it. For Paul the gospel did not produce passivity but a pressing on toward the “prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14). He pursued this goal not in hopes of Christ taking hold of his life but “because [he had] been taken hold of by Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:12). The Jews had permission to defend themselves, but they would still have to do their part. In Christ we do not just have permission; we have his power and his promises that fuel our progress in him.

Let Our Discipleship Be Our Loudest Declaration

In Esther 8:17 the author notes that after the new decree was distributed, “many of the ethnic groups . . . professed themselves to be Jews.” Were these declarations genuine? Only God knows. We certainly see Rahab’s conversion to the people of God when the fear of God seized the inhabitants of Canaan (Josh 2). But were the ethnic groups in Persia just switching to what seemed to be the winning team without experiencing true heart change? Again, we cannot know for certain. All we can know is what the biblical author tells us: fear of the Jews had seized them, and thus they declared themselves Jews.

I do not know where all those people are now, but I hope their declarations were real. Even more, I hope our discipleship is not just profession but practice. I once was at a special event at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Kelley, the NOBTS president, said our denomination had seen a lot of people make decisions about Christ, but we had not produced a lot of disciples for Christ. His words hit me like a lightning bolt that night, and I have never forgotten them. I hope your conversion is genuine and that you are not declaring yourself to be something you are not. May our discipleship be our loudest declaration.

What Can We Learn about God from This Passage?

God Administers the Power and Placement of His People

In the beginning of the book of Esther, the author informs us that Ahasuerus reigned over 127 provinces, and in the first chapter we get no news about any Jews at all. But when we arrive at Esther 8, two of the three most powerful people in the Persian Empire are God’s people. No matter how perceptive any reader might claim to be, only God saw that coming because he was an active participant in making it happen.

But like the late-night salespeople who hawk their wares on television and continue to sweeten the deal, I have even more for you to consider. God does not just place his people in positions of power, but he places his enemies in their positions as well. As God told Pharaoh, “I have let you live for this purpose: to show you my power and to make my name known on the whole earth” (Exod 9:16). Jesus told Pilate, “You would have no authority over me at all if it hadn’t been given you from above” (John 19:11). And consider this verse that I taught my oldest daughter, Arabella, one morning while we were having pancakes and Proverbs: “The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster” (Prov 16:4). Take just a moment to bask in God’s omnipotence and sovereignty. And be encouraged that no matter who is the “current ruler of the land” in any land and at any time, God not only brings a person up but also brings a person down and moves his people into positions of power for his purposes.

Jesus Is a Better Mediator than Esther

Without doubt Jesus is a better mediator than not just Esther but anyone. There is no one more qualified to plead on our behalf (Heb 4:14–5:10). And he longs to do this job instead of loathing it! Let that wash over you for a moment. His role as intercessor is full of delight for him rather than drudgery. Esther could barely gain access to the king for herself, but through Christ our access to the Father is never in doubt. His passion, however, is not just evidenced in his supplications on our behalf but also in his substitution. He does not just ask; he acts.

Our Father Was Contriving and Completing Our Salvation

Throughout the book Ahasuerus seems ambivalent about who lives and who dies except for when Esther’s life was threatened. Were it not for Esther’s persistence in interceding for her people, he most likely would not have had anything else written concerning the Jews. Unlike Ahasuerus, however, our heavenly Father is not in need of being convinced and is not merely contemplating our salvation; he is contriving and completing it. Our salvation was not only his idea but his achievement. Paul says,

Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. (2 Cor 5:18-19)

As a matter of fact, it is not Jesus who is giving us to the Father but the Father who is giving us to Jesus (John 6:44). We come to Jesus because the Father gives us to him. How amazing is it that we do not have to try to persuade God to rescue us, but he is working to overcome all of our rebellion?

God’s Love Transforms Us

The picture of Mordecai walking through town in his splendid new robes cannot contrast any more starkly than with the earlier image of Mordecai wearing sackcloth and mourning at the King’s Gate. Change occurred, and Mordecai would never be the same again. In even more dramatic fashion, God’s love transforms us. He comes to us when we are dead in our sin, but then he makes us alive in Christ and empowers us to go forth as his workmanship (Eph 2:1-10). In Ezekiel 16 God reminds his people that when they were abandoned (16:1-5), he adopted them (16:6-8), and then he adorned them with his extravagant and transforming love (16:9-14). He says, “Your fame spread among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through my splendor, which I had bestowed on you. This is the declaration of the Lord God” (Ezek 16:14). Mordecai’s transition was caused by another, and so is ours. May we always join Paul in saying, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain” (1 Cor 15:10).

Conclusion

What should we do in response to this text? Here are a few suggestions: (1) Plead to our King on behalf of someone or even on behalf of an entire ethnic group right now. (2) Persevere in your pleading. Do not be discouraged and do not quit. (3) Be positive you are in Christ. There could be no greater tragedy than to think you are in Christ only to find out in eternity that you were not. (4) Praise God for his power, his always doing what is right, and his desire to save you long before you even knew he existed. (5) Praise Jesus for his great intercession on our behalf.

Reflect and Discuss

1. Esther could not bear to see her people destroyed; Paul had unceasing pain and anguish at the thought of his people perishing. How would you describe your concern for those who are outside of Christ?
2. Why is it difficult to consider the needs of others as being more important than our own? Name someone you know who is particularly good at putting the needs of others before himself. Explain.
3. Esther was persistent in her request to the king to rescue her people. Why is perseverance in prayer often difficult for us?
4. Is there something or someone you are currently tempted to stop praying for? Why should you not quit interceding about that matter?
5. While the Jews in Persia gained the hope of victory with Mordecai’s edict, in Christ we are certain of victory. What does it look like to engage in our sanctification from the position of his victory? Why do we sometimes struggle as if the battle were lost?
6. While Christ has won the victory for our atonement and reconciliation, we still have a role to play in our sanctification. Why isn’t our sanctification just a “let go and let God” process?
7. Fear of the Jews prompted the conversion of some in Persia. What/whom did God use to bring you to Christ? Why is being certain we are genuinely converted so important?
8. God placed Esther and Mordecai in two of the three most powerful positions in the Persian Empire. What does this tell us about God? Are you ever prone to think his involvement in your current placement in life is less important to him? How can we steward well what he entrusts to us?
9. What makes Jesus a better mediator than Esther? How often do you express gratitude to him for his mediation on your behalf?
10. Esther had to plead with the king to do the right thing regarding her people. Why do we never have to convince God to do what is right? How can you show God how thankful you are that he did not have to be convinced to save you but was working for your conversion even before your birth?