40
Daughters of God
and decisive victories. More than once, in times of emergency, He
brought them to the front and worked through them for the salvation of
many lives. Through Esther the queen, the Lord accomplished a mighty
deliverance for His people. At a time when it seemed that no power
could save them, Esther and the women associated with her, by fasting
and prayer and prompt action, met the issue, and brought salvation to
their people.—
Special Testimonies, Series B 15:1, 2 (1911)
.
A study of women’s work in connection with the cause of God in
[46]
the Old Testament times will teach us lessons that will enable us to
meet emergencies in the work today. We may not be brought into such
a critical and prominent place as were the people of God in the time of
Esther; but often converted women can act an important part in more
humble positions. This many have been doing and are still ready to
do.—
Loma Linda Messages, 570 (1911)
.
The great majority of the Israelites had chosen to remain in the
land of their exile [Medo-Persia] rather than undergo the hardships of
the return journey and the reestablishment of their desolated cities and
homes....
Through Haman the Agagite, an unscrupulous man high in au-
thority in Medo-Persia, Satan worked at this time to counterwork the
purposes of God. Haman cherished bitter malice against Mordecai, a
Jew. Mordecai had done Haman no harm, but had simply refused to
show him worshipful reverence....
Misled by the false statements of Haman, Xerxes was induced to
issue a decree providing for the massacre of all the Jews “scattered
abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces” of the
Medo-Persian kingdom....
The plots of the enemy were defeated by a Power that reigns among
the children of men. In the providence of God, Esther, a Jewess who
feared the Most High, had been made queen of the Medo-Persian
kingdom. Mordecai was a near relative of hers. In their extremity
they decided to appeal to Xerxes in behalf of their people. Esther was
to venture into his presence as an intercessor. “Who knoweth,” said
Mordecai, “whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as
this?”
Esther 4:14
.
The crisis that Esther faced demanded quick, earnest action; but
both she and Mordecai realized that unless God should work mightily
in their behalf, their own efforts would be unavailing. So Esther took