Fast

 "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish."

Esther 4:16 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/est.4.16.ESV


Esther's last phrase might seem rather fatalistic. When we consider that the book of Esther never explicitly mentions God, we might be tempted to come to that conclusion. But read in context, I think we see Esther's faith rather than fatalism.


Esther's Jewish people have been condemned to death by the genocidal politician Haman. She however is wife to the king, although she is out of favour, and has kept her ethnicity a secret. When her cousin tells her of the planned holocaust however, and informs her that she may well be her people's only hope, she steps up to the mark.


Esther's call for her people to fast isn't fatalistic, it's faith filled. When we fast, we demonstrate that food isn't our number one priority. For God's people at this time, the overriding concern was for Him to intervene, and the fast was their way of expressing their utter dependence upon Him.


What do we do when we're in dire straights? Do we despair? Do we rail against the sovereign Lord? Or do we entreat His mercy?


'Sovereign Lord, we plead with You to have mercy upon us, for the sake of Your great name, amen'

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