#EstherChallenge – Day 4 Chapter Four

Posted on by Kanayo Dike-Oduah Situ in Bible Challenges, Esther Challenge

Hello Beautiful People!

Time for Day Four! Please remember to hashtag #EstherChallenge when you tweet about it. In addition, email estherchallenge@outlook.com with your notes for each chapter, or a summary and I will put it up on this blog page.

DAY FOUR- CHAPTER FOUR

Main People in this Chapter:

  • Queen Esther
  • Mordecai
  • Esther’s Maids
  • Hathach (aka Hath)
  • All the Jews in Susa

CHEEKY SUMMARY by Kanayo: Mordecai was so upset about the message sent out to kill all the Jews, so he removed his Louis V garments and put on rags and ashes to display his sorrow. He was weeping and wailing at the King’s gate when Esther’s maids saw Him and reported his behaviour to Esther. Queen Esther was shocked and sent her messenger Hath with Prada and Versace clothes for Mordecai and also to find out what the problem was. Mordecai told Him everything that Haman planned for the Jews, and said that regardless of Esther living in the King’s palace she and her family would not be spared. Esther was aware that it was forbidden and resulted in DEATH to go to the King without an invite and she hadn’t been invited for 30 days! Nevertheless, she was courageous and instructed all the Jews in Susa and her maids to join her in fasting for 3 days before she planned to go before the King. Uncertain of what would happen she said ‘If I die, I die, a remarkable display of Self-Sacrifice!

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS CHAPTER:

  • ESTHER HAD A PURPOSE, SHE WAS AWARE OF THIS PURPOSE AND SHE BEHAVED ACCORDING TO HER PURPOSE! “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?, she wasn’t just there to be a ‘pretty’ queen. God placed her in that position at the appointed time!
  • ESTHER WAS COURAGEOUS! A lot of people doing the challenge touched on this, so refer to their comments because they are all powerful!
  • ESTHER CONSULTED GOD BEFORE ANY ACTION! Although God is not explicitly mentioned in the Book of Esther His presence was surely there! Esther knew that she ought to consult her Father with fasting! So on top of her self-sacrifice she also denied her flesh so that she would completely be used by God! I imagine her prayer may have been ‘LESS OF ME LORD AND MORE OF YOU’.
  • ESTHER HAD GOOD GOD-FEARING PEOPLE AROUND HER that were willing to join her in her supplications to God! Who do you surround yourself with? If you told your friends to pray/fast with you would they? #FriendCheck
  • ESTHER WAS NOT IRREPLACEABLE. This may be controversial for some to understand. But Mordecai said something quite profound in verse 14 , “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”. Mordecai was confident that God would deliver the Jews with or without Esther as a vessel!

I found that to be soooooo important! A lot of us think way too highly of ourselves relative to God. God will get the job done with or without you, but we should DESIRE to be used as His vessels, not because it benefits Him, but because it benefits us!! Especially when it comes to worship and prayer. God is still God without our worship, He does not depend on it, even the stones will rise up to worship God if we don’t (Luke 19:40). Worship is for us to enter his presence, to connect with Him, to receive those spiritual blessings. Hebrews 11:40 says “since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect”.

WHAT EVERYONE DOING THE ESTHER CHALLENGE THINKS:

Firstly, I love how even though Esther is now a Queen. She has not forgotten who she is, where she came from or most importantly her people. There are many on this earth who Progress in life, forget their senses and refuse to humble themselves. I think that’s something we should definitely remember to do. Secondly, she said ‘If I perish I perishh’! Can you imagine? She is willing to risk her life for her people COURAGEEE IS WHAT SHE HAD & IS WHAT WE OURSELVES NEED! I think also the fact she has told everyone to fast and pray for 3 Days and that she herself and her crew in the palace will do the same, says alot. Like she’s consulting God before she goes to the King. Guisee, before we do anythinggg big, even small sometimes, GO TO HIMMMM! – Precious, @PhreshOnline

Esther is that woman!! Come and see courage!!! #EstherChallenge Day 4! – @GenieBaybee
We can see in this chapter that Esther was clearly afraid of the law that was put in place by king Aha (death) and Mordecai replied and reminded her that although it looks as if she is in a safe place, she shouldn’t be quick to assume she can escape from death also, she is at a royal position at such a time where she can do something.
I believed Esther meditated on Mordecai’s words and immediately sought to seek help from her people to fast for her.
– There has been times where many of us have come to a situation where we are placed in a position (most of the time by God) to change the ‘system’ or take a stand. As I’ve said before, even though we are aware of the Persecution we must trust God, remember his ways are not are ways and we are vessels no matter how high our position we are simply put on this world to do the work of the ministry. Let’s not let fear triumph over that remember
– “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”
2 Timothy 1:7
“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;..” Psalm 1
Are you blessed?
– If it wasn’t for Mordecai’s wise words we don’t know if the Jews of Susa could be saved.
– We need to make sure as Christians although yes we are a light to non-believers, we need to ensure we are walking with people who are Godly, sitting at the seat of the scornful and standing in the path of sinners would be difficult for us to make Good decisions because we could be relying on the advice of the ungodly.
When were faced with adversity we need our brothers and sisters to agree in prayer, as the bible says; “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 2:18
Esther had her people FASTING on her behalf, talk about loving thy neighbor as you would love yourself! We need to make sure we are SURROUNDED by ACTIVE CHRISTIANS who are ready to pray with/for us through the good and bad.
Quick Point – Seems like the theme for the book of Esther is Obedience. – @LamiSimpson
Esther. Not only beautiful, but obedient, bold and courageous. I LOVE THAT. She’s more than a pretty face and an hourglass figure. She oozes substance… She’s more than meets the eye! I love this, and desire to see that in every woman; substantial beauty that radiating from the inside out!
Esther was definitely afraid of what Mordecai had ordered of her. After all, she had been keeping her identity a secret for so many years and if she was to go and reveal her identity and enter into the King’s presence without permission, who is to say she wouldn’t be hung or dethroned? But Esther put her fears aside and remembered her people. She was ready to die for her nation but she also understood that this could be very well be what she had been called to do.
For me I believed that this affirms in 1 Corinthians 10:13 which it expresses that God will not give us more than we can bear. I believe that this was a huge test for Esther and it’s as if God trusted her to do this and at the right time too. God knew exactly what He purposed her for. We are faced with so many opportunities that God knows we are ready for… but because of our lack of boldness and courage we allow it to pass us. Imagine the blood that would have been on Esther’s hands had she tried to do her own thing? It would be so terrible. Lets copy Esther’s example and be of good courage!
I love Esther commanded a nationwide fast! This was imperative as it provided unity for the Jews. She forgot not her God and her customs… Don’t allow your new position to draw you away from God!
PS: Esther was ready to be killed because she was not going to allow the blood to be on her hands. It makes me wonder, what would we be willing to die for? Our families? Friends? Our Kingdom? Are we completely sold out?
We serve a King who died for us… would we be willing to perish for His name’s sake? Thousands of members of the Body have lost their lives because they refuse to renounce Christ… are you going to exercise that same boldness that Esther did in standing for the Jews and stand for Christ? – @GenieBaybee
Esther was the queen surely she was supposed to be allowed in the Kings presence. The laws in this time are really strict. She had a duty to save her fathers family by speaking to the king. I think its very important that they fasted before going to the king and even though she would die she would still go anyways -@beccatemitope

The purpose for which Esther..came to be started unravelling in this chapter..the Purpose for deliverance, to safe her people and give them the right treatment they deserved as God’s people…it was a real state of trauma for the whole of God’s children…but Esther been the lady who she is took matters up as the moses of her time…the chosen one…she declared a fasting and Prayer session…with a true heart..and a focused mind..she was willing to die for its cause..now that’s the spirit!!!
….Nothing powerful than a determined woman
…..Prayer is the key!!!#lessons learnt #Estherchallenge. @saved_nicolee

“Some of us are quick to deal with things in the natural when it’s a spiritual battle with both a spiritual victory and natural manifestation.”

– Let me expand on this statement: (Esther 3&4) Haman had a plot to wipe out the Jews, it is correct that Haman was in a prominent position but this position was never going to wipe out the sovereignty of God and His promises. So the ratio was 1: Alpha&Omega. Immediately Mordecai placed sack cloth and ashes (when this was done it usually illustrated humility and a sign of repentance). Thereafter Esther understood that naturally it was impossible to get the decree revoked, unless the hand of God was involved therefore leading her into Prayer and Fasting, it wasn’t her merely denying food but denying self, self strength and total reliance on a God that is all knowing. Sometimes in some situations all we need to do is deny ourselves be humble, seek His face and pray. (NO LONG TING) What can you do? You couldn’t even control the situation occurring so what more can you do? Be still and know He is God!i -@SusanDeborahs

Unknown's avatar

Published by Kanayo Dike-Oduah Situ

Dr Kanayo is a multi-award-winning woman of faith, passionate about God's Word. She's authored numerous devotionals on the YouVersion Bible app, reaching nearly a million readers worldwide. With her website, doctorkanayo.com, she merges psychology with scripture, shares on edudational research and opens up a lens into her life experiences attracting thousands of visitors. Kanayo is a leader in education and works as Director of social sciences, and has held previous roles, including deputy head of sixth form, lead practitioner and head of Psychology. She holds degrees in psychology, teaching, a Masters in educational assessment and has recently completed her doctorate in education at UCL. A worshipper in every aspect of life, she's also a singer-songwriter. Kanayo is a survivor of Stevens Johnson syndrome, using her experience to address systemic racism in healthcare. She's spoken on major media platforms and educates medical students globally.

2 thoughts on “#EstherChallenge – Day 4 Chapter Four”

Leave a reply to Kanayo Dike-Oduah Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.