Mordechai's response
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “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 maids 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.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Esther responded to the admonition of Mordecai. The closing verses of this section are the closest thing to an expression of faith that can be found in the book of Esther. Esther’s request that all the people join in her fast implies that they should also pray for her, since fasting was regularly a preparation for prayer. On this basis Esther was now determined to go to the king. The words “If I perish, I perish” could be fearless courage or mere resignation. In either case she had made her decision. The showdown was inevitable.
The key principles taught in this section apply also to us. God may provide us with positions, possessions, or talents that enable us to serve the cause of the gospel. We should not let opportunities pass us by. We dare not squander our chances to be of service because we are too fearful to risk our positions or even our lives for the sake of Christ and his gospel. If we are fearful and unfaithful, God will take the opportunities away from us and give them to someone else who will use them for God’s glory. If we don’t cling to the truths of God’s Word, the Lord will raise up someone else who will. If we neglect the task of worldwide missions, the Lord will pass his Word on to other people, who will be eager to share it with others.
God’s kingdom will come, either with us or without us. God’s will shall be done, either with us or without us. But each time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we are praying that his will may be done by us and that his kingdom will come, in part, through our efforts. God gives us opportunities to be his coworkers in the work of the gospel. Let us pray that we never let our golden chances slip by. If we do, we ourselves will be the losers.