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Esther, as a go between, an intercessor was to lay her life on the line She was the only one in all the kingdom who could be a savior to her people. Through her plea to her husband, the king, she was to give new life to a whole nation. It was a case of dying with them, as one of them, or the possibility of dying trying to save them. The request of Mordecai for her to represent her people before the king was also an extremely humbling act. She was to, ìbeg for mercy and to plead for her people.î Est. 4:8 NIV Until now, she had not revealed to Ahasuerus the fact that she was a Jewess. Her appearance before him would be a shocking experience for both of them.
The law of the Medes and Persians did not allow anyone, not even a wife, to enter into the court of the king unceremoniously. In order to appear before him they had to have been invited to enter into his presence. The people all knew this, including Mordecai. The risk was tremendous, especially considering that she had not been called into his company for the past thirty days. Thirty is an interesting number, it is the number of dedication and consecration. The old testament priesthood were consecrated to the ministry at the age of thirty. Num. 4:3 Jesus was about thirty years of age when He was baptized by John the Baptist, and filled with the Spirit. Ahaseurus had the most beautiful woman in his kingdom as his queen but did not seek her companionship and presence for one whole month. There could not have been much love in that marriage. Est. 4:11.
The sentence of death was automatically passed on anyone who would dare show up uninvited before the king. The exception was if the king would hold out the royal golden scepter to them as an act of acceptance. On hearing this report brought to him, by Hatach, from Esther, Mordecai reminded her of her family tree. By walking into what could be certain death she was gaining life for herself and her people. Est. 4:12-13.