While a large contingent of Jewish people returned to their homeland, many remained in exile where the kings of Babylon and Persia had taken them. Some exiles rose to positions of authority and power and made lives for themselves in foreign lands. Most importantly, they remained committed to the God of Israel. They refused to give in to the practices and customs of the people among whom they lived, even when it meant persecution.

Esther was one individual who faced persecution. Married against her will to the king of Persia, she found herself in a position of dubious influence. Her people were under threat of annihilation, and she was the only one who could do something about it by speaking to the king about the matter in an official capacity.

Esther knew that approaching the king brought great risk; she could be killed for breach of protocol (v. 11). But she had great faith, believing that the God of Israel was not bound by borders, procedure, or protocol! Gathering the Jewish community in Susa she invited them to fast, which often was accompanied by prayer. She would entrust herself to God as she took a risk for His people. Her declaration, “If I perish, I perish” (v. 16), should not be interpreted as a nihilistic expression of defeat. Rather, it was an expression of faith that, having done all she could, she was now entrusting herself to her God who controls all things.

Esther’s commitment was rewarded. The king looked upon her with favor and granted her requests. God delivered the Jewish community from certain death and destroyed their enemies in dramatic fashion. “For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor…and many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them” (8:16–17).