And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

Esther 4:1-18

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

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.

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?”

“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.”

The entire fate of the Jews now depends on Esther. She alone has access to the king. But she has not been summoned to him for a month. The only way open to her is the dangerous step of going to him unbidden.

Why?

Mordecai and all of the Israelites were so sad and worry about this disaster. They were not leaders and they didn't know what they can do.

The talk between Mordecai and Esther makes them can do something, even it is a difficult mission. 

Esther devoted her life to this issue. If she perishes, perish. How great her brave and like to take the responsibility of her people.

Mordecai thought only Esther has the power to save his people. For she is the queen, no one higher than she in the nation.

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撕裂衣服，披麻蒙灰，表示人要死，事實上猶太人也好像在等死。莫底改披麻蒙灰在城中行走，要讓猶太人看到。可能許多人只知道過日子，沒有注意公告。如今天許多人不知道末世快到，如瘟疫已經橫行兩年。不要再迷糊過日子，趕快甦醒，禱告祈求。

以斯帖代為傳話的太監路他革，以斯帖身邊的太監哈他革，這名字很可能是從波斯文「哈他卡」（hataka）​來的，意思是「良善」。人如其名，是位可靠的太監，。他忠心的傳話，沒有向其他人打小報告。

先禱告，然後也找辦法。有的事，如過紅海，我們不能做什麼，只有交給神來做。神的恩典中，人有必須盡的本份。神要我們參予神的工作中。神願意透過我們的手來做。1.更多人一起禱告 2.做該做的事，3.結果交託給神

以斯帖其實可以等，還有11個月，國王一定會召見她。莫底改認為事關重大，一天都不能再等。

耶穌要人跟隨他，卻有人說要去埋葬他的家人，耶穌說法讓死人埋葬死人吧！很多人使用類似藉口，我的父母還在，他們反對，這只是拖延的藉口。如果我們知道這是多麼重要，我們就是不會有藉口。這次埋葬父親，接著埋葬母親，永遠埋葬不完。

莫底改的話：1)必有人可以來替代以斯帖，一般人認為王的命令不能改，但是他相信神可以使不可能的變可能，不能用常理來判斷。2)神邀請人做大事。以斯帖若不言，她也是猶太人的事實，不可能逃避。不要以為我的成就、功名可以萬無一失。離了主我們什麼也沒有。3)神給我們的身份有神的旨意。神保護以斯帖學分沒有暴露，成為王后。我們得到恩典，難道就到這裏為止嗎？神給我們榮耀、權柄是要我們為主、顯明神的義，神的榮耀。焉知你得了王后的位分不是為現今的機會嗎？莫底改這句話對每個人都有其深遠的含義。

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How?

When we do not afraid dead, there is nothing fear. But we need to find a way to make it. First, it is to pray to the Lord.