Ripple Effects Reading Plan – W4D2

Check out all the previous Ripple Effect readings here.

Ripple Effect Reading | Week 4 | Day 2

Prayer

Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Thank God for time to spend with Him and ask Him to meet with you.

Bible Reading: Esther 4:6-17

Today’s reading is from Esther. Esther was an adopted Jewish girl who became queen to King Xerxes. Xerxes didn’t know she was Jewish. Xerxes also didn’t know there was a plan afoot by Haman, a prominent man in his kingdom, to exterminate all the Jews in their land. Mordecai, Esther’s adoptive father, had learned of this plot. We pick up the story with one of Esther’s servants, Hathak, speaking to Mordecai. Read these verses three times slowly.

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.”

When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

Reflection & Questions

In our Ripple Effect readings this week we are looking at the ways serving requires us to step out in faith. The story of Esther is such a clear example of this. When her people are under threat of extinction, she alone is in a position where she could step in. However, it could cost her her life.

Mordecai instructed Esther to “ go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.” However, Esther knew that entering the king’s presence without being summoned could spell death. Mordecai’s response: “who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

The reality is that we have seats of influence to help others everyday. We know God is calling us to step out and serve, but we also know it will cost us time, money, reputation or even at times put us in danger. We have a choice, to shrink back in fear or to step forward in faith. Esther faced this choice at the highest level. She could lose her life to serve her people. What did she do in the end? She called her people to fast and pray for her, and then she stepped up in faith.

1. Where do you have influence around you? It might be in your home, workplace, community?
2. Where do you see needs around you that you could make a difference with? Are you willing to step out in faith to meet those needs?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?