Contemplative Bible Reading

Esther 4:15-16 (New Living Translation)

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

Esther is about to do something that may mean her death.  What does she ask the Jews of Susa to do?

fast

What? Don’t eat or three for three days and nights. What? What good will that do? Is she kidding? Doesn’t she know they need to keep up their health and strength? What is wrong with her?

What would be the reaction if someone stood in a church today and said, “I am about to do something for Christ that might mean my death. Please, don’t eat or drink for the next three days. I’ll do the same in preparation.”

Of course there are all sorts of reasons and reasonings that will tell us that Esther was in a different context and that we just don’t do that sort of thing today and … and … and (I don’t want to fast for three days).

And perhaps I am a bit ashamed of being able to justify why we in America don’t do this sort of thing.