Esther 4:16
“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan,
and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I
also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the
king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”
The Jews found themselves in a serious situation. The ruler of
their day was a wicked man. The laws of their land had turned against
them. The politicians of their day already decided what needed to be
done. Their lives were literally at stake because a law had been enacted
that on a certain day every Jew in Ahasuerus’ kingdom should be killed.
There was one man and one woman who changed the course of history
when there seemed to be no hope. Mordecai understood that the hope of
his nation didn't lie with the elected officials. He didn't run for
office, nor did he endorse anyone who was running for office. He didn't
involve himself in politics to change the nation, neither did he try to
establish a relationship with the leader of his country. It’s not that
any of these things are sinful, it is just the fact that he knew these
things could not save his nation.
Mordecai and Esther understood that there was only one action that
could save his nation: fasting and prayer. When he sent word to Esther
that it was time for her to stand for her people, she responded with the
action that did change the nation, even while being ruled by a wicked
king. She said, “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present
in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days,
night or day…” They both understood that the only hope for their
nation was to get God to change the heart of the king, and that could
only be done through fasting and prayer.
There is no doubt that Christians worldwide live in times that seem
to be pretty dark. Many can see the writing on the wall that the laws
being enacted will eventually put Christians in a spot to either
compromise or stand for truth and be punished by the law. In many
nations, Christians are already paying the ultimate sacrifice for their
stand for Christ with their lives. The only hope to change your nation
in these times is for God’s people to fast and pray for a divine
intervention.
Christian, you can bemoan who is running for political office, but
how much time have you spent lately fasting and praying for your nation?
Running to Capital Hill won’t change your nation; prayer is what is
going to change your nation. You can waste your time trying efforts that
have never changed a nation, but the only thing that changes a nation
is fasting and prayer. It is prayer that gets God to change the heart of
a wicked ruler. It is God Who works where you cannot work. God is the
only answer to change the course of a nation headed for destruction, and
He responds when His people get serious enough to fast and pray.
Esther and Mordecai’s actions were the saving actions of their
nation. There is coming a day when Christians will not be able to depend
on the courts or the politicians to save their nation, and when that
day comes, they will finally realize that God is the One Who changes
nations. You can change your nation before that day comes if you start
fasting and praying for your nation now. Let the words ring true, “… if I perish, I perish.” Fasting and prayer becomes your only hope when these words become your mindset.