Esther 4:13-17 – “Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him.”  NASB

We all know the story of Mordecai and Esther and how the evil Haman convinced the king to allow him to slaughter the Jews.  Haman had effectively purchased the destruction of God’s people out of his hate and animosity over not being respected as he thought he should.  His estimation of his worth far exceeded reality and in this account, we find his being held accountable.  That comes toward the end of the story but is not the heart of what Esther’s words reveal.

No one could go before the king without being summoned and to violate that protocol could and likely would mean death.  Esther knew that based on what Haman had done, the money he agreed to pay into the king’s treasury and uncertainty as to how the king would respond meant she was taking her life in her hands.  Her uncle, Mordecai made her aware of the issue and the certain death and destruction that would come to him, the other Jews and could impact her life too. 

Esther’s approach was to call for a time of fasting and prayer.  It was a corporate prayer meeting that included all the Jews in Susa and they were to fast and pray for three days.  She not only requested the prayer for God’s protection and intervention but made a commitment.  Her position reminds me of those in American’s beginning history that knew rebelling against the king would mean certain death if they failed to win.  It reminds me of the three Hebrew children standing before the king and saying, “Sorry, king, but whether we are delivered by God or not we are not going to bow.”  Their commitment was complete, and it was “If I perish, I perish.”

In our Christian walk, there must come a point when we say, “Sink or swim, live or die, I am going to do what God wants.”  I will either see His hand of deliverance or I will be ushered into His eternal presence, but “If I perish, I perish.”  When we make that level of commitment to God and His purposes, no devil in hell can stop us.  No edict from man can discourage us.  No difficult, trial, tribulation, or obstacle seems too large.  We reach a point that we have a settled confidence in God’s Ability, Person, Power, and Promises.  At that point, we are ‘vessels’ God can and will use for His purposes. 

I urge you to examine your heart and dig deep inside and draw out the commitment to God that, “If I perish, I perish” and begin your journey toward the fulfillment of His purposes for your life.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!