Genesis 28; Esther 4; Matthew 27; Acts 27
Esther 4:16-17 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.
Even though Esther was the queen, it was against the law for anyone to approach the king without his royal summons. The death penalty was associated with this unless the king extended his scepter showing mercy to the one coming. Mordecai had uncovered Haman's wicked plot to destroy all the Jews and the only person in the kingdom that could do anything about it was Esther. She too would be found out and killed since she was a Jew. Mordecai recognized God's providence in placing Esther at a strategic place to be able to intervene and bring about the deliverance of their people. Mordecai instructed Esther to go and make supplication to the king on behalf of the Jews. She was reluctant knowing the consequences for approaching the king uninvited.
When Esther made up her mind to go she asked for help in the form of a three day fast. She asked Mordecai to get all the Jews in Shushan to fast along with her and her maidens. What is the purpose of a fast? Why would she do this?
Isaiah 58:6-9 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. 9
Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity.
Esther was enlisting prayer support. They were humbling their souls before God and asking him to make them successful. Was the fast necessary? Was the fast the thing that made Esther's entrance to the king successful? We will never know for sure, however, God in his Word has included this narrative for our benefit. When you have a BIG decision that the outcome is uncertain, fasting and prayer is a tool the Lord has given to us. Use it!
In Christ,
Rody
