COME WHAT MAY (3).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*COME WHAT MAY (3)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Esther 2: 5-9

*Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;*

*Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.*

*And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.*

*So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.*

*And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

At times, a believer's cry for help may not be out of fear but out of an urgent call for justice.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

The carrying away into captivity of the Northern and southern kingdoms, (when the nation was divided, namely Israel and Judah by Assyria and Babylon respectively 1 Kgs 22:31-36, 2 Kings 17:5-23, Ezk 39:28, Jer 29:4-7), echoed the trend of elite and chaste captives, especially from the Southern kingdom of Judah, excelling in foreign lands.

The trend of captives like the maid in the house of Naaman the leper, 2 Kgs 5, Daniel,

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Dan 3,6, etc, were troubling, but the way they stood out was outstanding.

It can be troubling to see how compelling they were after being subdued by their captors due to the sins of their nations

If they could achieve such exploits in foreign lands, how much would they have done if they were in the hands of Israel and Judah.

Esther was another captive who displayed tremendous fortitude and resistance while she battled with life-threatening situations in Shushan.

She found herself in a situation that was unfolding so quickly that her uncle, Mordecai, told her *"......Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.*

*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?* Esther 4:13-14.

Esther instantly saw herself as a part of the Jewish people needing deliverance rather than a royalty in the cozy palace of King Ahasuerus needing no deliverance.

She became like Moses in Heb 11:23-27 who *".....when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.*

*".....when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;*

*Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;*

*Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.*

Esther forsook the law of the king just like Moses who *"....forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."*

She set the king's law aside because she considered the *"....the king's business required haste."* ref 1 Sam 21:8.

She said in Esther 4: 15-16 *Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,*

*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.*

A daring statement by Esther which some or many Christian may find difficult to replicate. She goes in the same breath as the others who come what may, would do anything regardless of fatal consequences surrounding them.

While some people would be judgmental condemning Esther's display of tremendous courage, they and we all should spare a thought for these two brave Jews, Mordecai and Esther, before passing any judgement and must not forget that they, especially Esther, had just a few seconds or moments of thoughts to declare a three-day fast for what they intended to do.

Whether or not a believer's cry for help is out of fear or with fear, he or she must be moved by their responsibilities to pray for an urgent call for justice.

We have a responsibility to pray, come what may.

Psalm 50:15 *And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.*

We have a responsibility to pray even in our fears. It is the only way our fears can be taken away. Daniel, Esther, Shadrach Meshach, and Abednego, etc. all trusted and prayed in their time of trouble.

Psalm 34:4 says *I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

The stories of the Hebrews in captivity teach us that if we prioritize our responsibilities to serve and honor God over our fear, we will conquer, come what may!

*Remorse corner.*

Mordecai called Esther for her intervention. A request for urgency and why she must realize the importance of fulfilling her responsibilities to God and the Jews.

*Call to Word action.*

Esther's final call to fast in Shushan may also be described as not out of fear but of responsibility. A fear not that she would be killed along with the Jews but a responsibility to protect her people.

*The Christian clarion duty.*

While Mordecai may have called Esther out of fear for the plot to kill the Jews, realizing the importance of why we are called to serve plays an important role in our and others' deliverance, Esther 4:14 ref Rom 8:19.

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me and do not allow fear to rob me of my responsibilities to You and others in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and be blessed as you go today.

God bless you.

Shalom.