Esther 4:16 (NKJV)

Bible Commentary

Esther 4:16 is a Bible verse in the Old Testament where Queen Esther answers Mordecai’s plea to go to the King on behalf of the Jews.

There is a significant quote by Beth Moore in her Esther Bible study workbook which says,

“Just to know we are significant to God and He’s willing to orchestrate a holy set-up to speak to us is monumental to every woman who ever feared she was invisible or unremarkable.”

All of us—man or woman—have a time in our lives when we ask ourselves, “What am I doing here?” or “What is my purpose?” We struggle with the fear we might never accomplish something grand and we’re just going through the motions of life without ever really living.

We fear emptiness, or as Beth Moore said so well, being invisible or unremarkable. Esther, a Jew, had experienced tragedy early in her life when both her mother and father died. Emptiness…loss.

Or was it?

God gave her Mordecai, a relative, who took her in and raised her as his own daughter.

Take a moment and reflect on something lost in your life. Is there really emptiness or loss there, or did God give you something else in its place?

When the king’s command was issued to gather all the beautiful young virgins, Esther was one of the young women who was taken to the king’s palace. Panic! Misfortune!

Or was it?

A Holy Set-Up

Esther was taken from her home, from her beloved Mordecai to live at Shushan the citadel under the custody of Hegai the custodian of the women. Quite a different atmosphere. She was surrounded by women and attended to by Hegai, who was pleased with her.

She obtained his favor, and he regularly provided beauty preparations for her in addition to her allowance. Then he assigned to her seven choice maidservants from the king’s palace and moved her to the best place in the house of the women.

A holy set-up.

When it was Esther’s turn to go in to the king, she obtained his favor and everyone else who saw her. The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen.

Then evil Haman, the king’s second-in-command cooked up a plot to destroy all the Jews because Mordecai would not bow down to him in the gate. Mordecai refused to bow to anything or anyone because as a Jew he worshipped God alone.

Then the news came—the decree that all Jews were to be destroyed in one day. Mordecai cried out with a loud and bitter cry. Esther also was deeply distressed. Tragedy!

Or was it?

Mordecai sent word to Esther that she should go to the king and make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. The king did not know she was a Jew.

A holy set-up.

Tragedy Turned Triumph

The king had not called her to him in 30 days, and it was against the law to approach him without being called, even for the Queen. To break the law was certain death, unless the king held out the golden scepter.

Then came Mordecai’s famous words to the young woman who was like a daughter to him, “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14)

A holy set-up by God, the tragedy became her opportunity.

It was after hearing Mordecai’s words that she looked fear square in the face. At that moment, she went from being just a young woman with a crown on her head, to queen. In Esther 4:16, she called for a 3-day fast among the Jews and made the decision to move forward.

Fear Lost Its Grip

When she became willing to face the fear and walk through it, no matter what the cost, fear lost its grip on her.

The king indeed held out the golden scepter to her, and she became the connector between tragedy and triumph. Not only were the Jews spared, but they conquered their enemies, and justice was done to all who hated the Jews.

What looks like a tragedy in your life? What feels like a loss?

Look closer. It is actually a holy set-up.

Look through the eyes of God, and see your opportunity. Face the fear and then walk right through it, willing. The King is sitting on the throne waiting to hold out the golden scepter to you.

He calls you to triumph. Join Him there so you can celebrate together. Study the Bible verse of Esther 4:16 to turn your tragedy into triumph.

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