More Important Than Living

Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” [Esther 4.13-16]

Mordecai made it very clear to Esther that if she thought for one moment that she would be safe from persecution of her people because she was in the palace, that she was most definitely wrong.

Esther was, in fact, in a position of authority. Esther did, in fact, have an authoritative role in Xerxes kingdom (although still subject to Xerxes). Esther could choose to say nothing or be proactive in defence of her people. However, Mordecai was clear that her choice of what she did would directly affect her as well.

Esther embraced Mordecai's words and concluded that she was probably the only person in such a position to do anything about the destiny of an entire people group. She realized that she would die if she did nothing and may even die if she did. So, she resigned to the reality of death and stated, "If I must die, I must die."

Esther's statement is a lesson for all of us. God's enemy has always made it his goal to wipe out God's people (whether Jew or believing Gentile). True believers must face the fact that death is our enemy's goal and that death, ironically, is the only way he will be defeated (If I must die, I must die).

Esther was willing to die. She came to grips with the idea. She recognized and took responsibility that she too was an enemy of Haman in this case and that preservation of her people was directly tied to her own life and actions. And, while it was not certain that her people would live if she risked her life in going to the king uninvited, it was certain she and her people would die if she did not.

What are we willing to do in order that our family might live? What are we willing to do that our city might live? What are we willing to do in order that our nation might live? What are we willing to do in order that humanity might live?

Father, help me - help us all - to evaluate what is important and understand that some things are more important than living...