The next scene shows the effect that the edict has on Mordecai and the Jews. Mordecai tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth and ashes, then wails loudly and bitterly in the middle of the city (Esther 4:1). But something seems to be missing in Mordecai's response. It also seems to be missing in the response of the Jews across the Persian Empire (v. 3): prayer. In fact, outward signs of inward faith are not mentioned in the book of Esther, including prayer. Maybe they were God's people in name only, and didn't pray at all.

But even if that were the case, at least in times of crisis we would expect them to turn to God in prayer. In other books of the Bible, a national crisis usually leads to mourning and fasting, and often triggers repentance and prayer (e.g. Lamentations 3:40-66; Nehemiah 9:1-5). The enormity of the impending disaster probably did prompt Mordecai and the Jews to repent and pray. But it is not mentioned, so the one to whom they turn is hidden.

Mordecai is mourning at the king's gate (Esther 4:2) but Esther is isolated in the harem and needs to be told of his predicament. Upon hearing of it, she is deeply distressed, and tries to soothe him by sending clothes (v. 4). Or, perhaps sending clothes will enable him to access the palace to speak to her directly, since he can't enter the king's gate while wearing sackcloth (v. 2). In any case, he flatly refuses (v. 4). Yet through Hathak, one of the king's eunuchs assigned to attend her, she finds out that Haman has issued a decree to destroy the Jews (vv. 5-9).

Mordecai then commands Esther, ″to go into the king's presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people″ (Esther 4:8). But there's a hitch. Esther can't just approach the king whenever she likes. Just like everyone else, she needs to be summoned. According to Persian law, if she appears before the king unannounced she can be put to death, unless he forgives the intrusion by holding out his golden sceptre (v. 11). And the problem is that Esther hasn't been summoned by the king for thirty days (v. 11).

Remember, the king chose Esther out of all the women in his empire to be his queen. But now it seems his affection for her has gone cold. Esther hesitates because she is not sure whether the king will accept her approach or not.

The tendency to be God's people in name only is found throughout the Bible. God often reminds His people to keep choosing to obey Him (Deuteronomy 30:15-20) and to keep passing on a fresh faith to the next generation (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, 20-25; Joshua 4:21-24). We must ensure that we have a genuine faith in our Lord Jesus so that we can pass it on.