When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

–Parallel verses:
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭7‬
[Jesus speaking]
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Fear of anything in this world disables and can paralyze us from accomplishing the will of God. The Devil and his human instruments are counting on this fear to control our actions and oppress us into abandoning our calling in Jesus Christ.

This is why Jesus clearly spells out who we are to show reverence to and give weight or glory to — God alone! Nevertheless, these attacks of fear come into our minds from time to time. So how do we combat these? God has given us great power to defend ourselves and ward off fears of many kinds. We have the power of: 1) prayer, 2) his mighty promises, 3) his past faithfulness, and 4) our brothers and sisters in Christ. Fear never, in my experience, stops attacking us. But we can learn to draw close to God through the study of his Word and prayer, and lean on our brothers and sisters for help.

Esther allowed the fear of death to give her pause in what she knew in her own heart she must do. God, as we shall see, wanted to teach her a valuable lesson to never doubt him again.

How has fear given you pause in life or paralyzed you from taking action, or from seeking out God’s heart before taking action? What fears do you wrestle with? I have wrestled with the fear of rejection. But thanks be to God for allowing me to focus on him for my identity and approval.

Esther had a tough decision to make. The last queen who disobeyed the king was punished. The punishment for approaching him without permission was death. But the lives of her people hung in the balance. She was safe for now, because her nationality was hidden. What would I do?

Lord, I claim Jesus’ words here: I will not fear man. I will fear only God. Man cannot do anything to me not allowed by my Heavenly Father to test me and build my faith. So I will wait on him, stay true to his ways, and stand for truth and justice!