What to do in a crisis

Text Esther 4 Time 12/01/14 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church

“Crisis? What crisis?” This is a famous headline from The Sun newspaper back in the so called “Winter of discontent” of 1979. The actual words were never spoken by then prime-minister, Jim Callaghan, but he did say when asked, in the middle of a series of union strikes that left rubbish bins unemptied and graves undug, about what others saw as a crisis “I don't think other people in the world would share the view there is mounting chaos”.

People say that one man's crisis is another man's opportunity and that we shouldn't turn a mere drama into a crisis. However, whatever we may call them crises large and small do come on us all at different times. A crisis is literally a judgement and it is the word we use to refer to troubling times when the outcome is uncertain and may be either bad or good, probably bad. Crises cane be personal, they can come to families, they can affect a neighbourhood, a nation, they can even be international.

I raise the subject of crises because here in Esther 4 we find the people of God in a crisis. In Chapter 3 we read how their enemy Haman, who is a very powerful man, has managed to get a law passed that will give the right to people to kill all the Jews throughout the Persian Empire at a certain time on a certain day. Humanly speaking it looked as though the entire Jewish race was going to be wiped out meaning no more people of God and no more hope of Messiah. If it had happened we would not be here now. There would be no hope. There would be no Messiah to proclaim.

The Book of Esther explains both how the crisis came about and how the crisis was averted. In Chapter 4 we learn how they reacted to the crisis, how they coped with it. Here we can learn what to do in a crisis. You may say, “Crisis? What crisis?”. Well, if you are not in one now then you probably will be in one at some point. And even if you escape most crises on the way through life you will still have to face the final crisis when the world comes to an end, the judgement day itself. It pays to be prepared then. $ Remember that story Jesus told about the wise man and the foolish. They both built houses – one on sand, one on rock. For a while all was well with both houses but then a crisis came – a terrible storm and flood. Then it became clear which one could stand the test of time.

I think there are at least five things we can say from this passage on what to do in a crisis?

1. Don't be afraid to engage in legitimate forms of showing grief

We are told in verse 1 that 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. Tearing ones clothes, wearing sackcloth, putting ashes on your head and wailing loudly and bitterly in public were all legitimate forms of showing grief. We may not engage in them now but we may leave our hair unkempt, wear black or sombre clothing, be sad faced, bury that face in our hands, quietly cry.

A stiff upper lip is traditional in these islands but it is not necessary for us to hold everything in. In fact there is evidence to say it is not good for us to do that.

We must not get out of control, of course. We read that Mordecai (2) went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. No doubt there was a law that meant that no-one was allowed to be sad in the king's presence. Many powerful kings have had such rules.

Mordecai's reaction was a common one all over the empire. 3 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. Here fasting is added to the list. Remember that one of the themes in this book is feasting and fasting. In our culture going without food in a crisis is again typical whether by design or just because the desire for food goes.

We read in verse 4 that When Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. We do tend to try and cheer people up when they are in a crisis and that has its place and sometimes works. If Esther had known the problem from the beginning, of course, she would not for a moment have thought she could cheer Mordecai so easily.

So that's the first thing – let it out. Show your grief in a crisis. Don't be afraid to do that.

2. Look for a solution

We read next that back in the palace (5-8) Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. There follows a series of exchanges between Esther and Mordecai who had brought her up through Hathach.

So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 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 urge her to go into the king's presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

Perhaps Mordecai should have tried to contact Esther first. Anyway, Esther contacted him and he was able to set before her the terrible news of the expected pogrom. He emphasised Haman's offer of money to the king and by sending in a copy of the edict he made sure that Esther knew exactly what was going to happen.

That is a reminder that sharing our problems with others is right. We must do it with care, of course but again we must not hide it all inside. Not only did he tell Esther the situation but he began to try and get Esther to go into the king's presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. This seemed to him the only solution and, of course, he proved to be right on that.

The simple point we want to make here is that in a crisis, although we may weep and grieve we also need to try and do something to sort out the problem as well. Our immediate solutions may not be the right ones but we must not neglect to try and think of a way out.

3. Be realistic

The next thing to say is that we need to be realistic in a crisis. Hathach takes Mordecai's answer back to Esther and she sends word to him saying (11) All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold sceptre to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.

Esther is not unwilling to go to the king but there are certain things that Mordecai should know or be reminded of. In those days kings had to be careful about who gained access to them. Someone might easily have evil in mind or just waste his time over some triviality and so a system had been developed. Esther like others could only gain access to the king if he summoned her to his throne room or if she went to him there. A month has now passed, however, since she was last summoned into his presence and she fears that he is not likely to summon her any time soon. If, on the other hand, she goes to him then she will only be heard if he extends his golden sceptre to her showing his favour. If he fails to do that then she will be put to death.

The situation then is that she is unlikely to be summoned and if she goes in through the pillars of the great throne room in Susa on her own initiative she may lose her life and what is apparently their one opportunity to save the Jews will be gone.

When we are in a crisis we need to employ the same sort of careful and thoughtful logic, wisely assessing the options and the likely outcomes. There is no case for acting and then thinking later. Gut reactions can be right but they are not to be followed regardless of consequences.

4. Rely on God but remember that he uses means

In verses 13 and 14 we have Mordecai's further reply to Esther Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape he warns 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 royal position for such a time as this?

It is a wonderful Scripture and show the keen powers of a mind that is fully anchored in Scripture. Notice his logic.

1. Esther is Jewish and so if she remains silent she and her father's family will perish even though she is in the king's house.

2. Relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from somewhere. The outcome cannot be the one that seems to lie ahead - that all the Jews will perish.

3. Given the situation then it is right for Esther to give careful thought to why she has been given the power and privileges she has. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?

We must never doubt that God will do all his holy will. He will have a people to him who he will save. That is why we can be confident when we preach the gospel – someone somewhere will be saved. If we fail to play our part and act responsibility with regard to this crisis or that, God is not hampered. He can bring about his will by any number of means. It is well worth thinking about our situation though - who knows but that you have come to the position you are in for such a time as this?

God brings people to power for his own reasons. Think of the story of Winston Churchill. In many ways it is a story of failure. Yet he was the man who led the country during the war and he was the man God used to preserve the country through those dark days. Churchill was no Christian but he was raised up, undoubtedly, for such a time as that.

So says Mordecai

What if God had brought Esther to be queen so that he could save his people through her intercession?

And I say

What if God has brought you here tonight so that you could hear about Jesus Christ and the need for faith in him and be saved?

What if he has called me to be a preacher so that you might be saved through hearing this message?

5. Pray pray pray

The final part of the story in this chapter is when Esther sent this reply to Mordecai (16,17) 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. So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.

It was a real crisis. People had already been praying and fasting but now they had a realistic plan – dangerous but realistic. Esther was committed to it – even though it may cost her her life. All that was left to do now was to pray and Esther made a special request for this in abundance, which she got. There are many things we do not know or understand about prayer but we do know that it is something God takes note of and that can make a difference. We should never try and face any crisis without it. It must be central. Pray, pray, pray – who knows what a difference it may make!

So the next time you face a crisis keep these things in mind. There may be a few tears at first, you may feel grief stricken. That's okay as long as it doesn't get out of control. Look for a solution, a realistic solution, one that at least has some likelihood of succeeding. If your ever going to succeed you have to rely on God but God uses means. If your crisis is a financial one then there will have to be money, if it is to do with getting someone to change their mind someone will have to speak to them and persuade them. Once you have a possible solution then pray, pray, pray. Don't assume that it will all work out.

We can apply these ideas to the judgement itself, the final crisis we will all have to face. Don't be surprised that thinking about death frightens you, that standing before God to be judged is unnerving. One day we all have to stand before God and give an account. It is only reasonable to think ahead and decide what to do. Some are trying to get ready for the judgement by doing good deeds. But be realistic? How many have you done? How good are they really? What about all the bad deeds you have also done? The truth is that you are really like Esther – you can got to the king when you want but you do not know how he will receive you. Will he be pleased and hold out the golden sceptre or will he be angry and damn you? If you go to him alone there is no guarantee of anything but if you go to him in the name of Jesus then there is hope. Jesus has already died, He has already laid down his life. Anyone who comes with him will not die then. They will be safe, Such a person can face the judgement with confidence. They can be sure that God will protect them then.