What If Esther Had Walked Away?

 The parallels are eerily similar. Like the Jews in the Persia of that time, the Tea Party faces an existential threat in America. There has been much fasting, weeping, and wailing as we see what has happened to this country. We are mourning in sackcloth and ashes. Like Esther, Palin has found herself raised up from nowhere, perhaps by God, for such a time as this. And like Mordecai, Palin's family could face danger should she speak up in defense of her people - but is almost sure to face danger if she doesn't. From Esther 4:

¹⁰ Then [Esther] instructed him to say to Mordecai, 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 they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
 ¹² When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, ¹³ he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ 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 your royal position for such a time as this?”
 ¹⁵ Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “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 attendants 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.”

And yet, metaphorically speaking, Palin has chosen to remain silent. Relief and deliverance may arise from another place, but she and her family will not escape the attacks. What happened to "if I die, I die, politically speaking"? She has decided not to challenge the man who threatens to eliminate conservatism, despite having come to her position for such a time as this. Saying that she can accomplish more by cheer leading from the sidelines is a weak excuse for not fulfilling her God-given role as the champion of true grassroots, Tea Party conservatives, and I think in her heart of hearts she knows this.

As Palin is fond of saying, in politics you are either eating well or sleeping well. And the Palin family is certainly eating well these days. But I do not think she has been sleeping well the last few nights. After having prepared to run for the presidency for several years, she knows just how much she is letting down herself, her supporters, and the country. I hope and pray that the burning desire God has placed in her to lead her people out of brokenness and despair does not allow her to sit on the sidelines for long, and the she is compelled to reconsider running. After all, God was eventually able to get Jonah's attention.

And what would have happened to her family had she chosen to lead her people instead of abandoning them to the fate of disorganization and disarray?

Esther 8

¹ That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. ² The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.

Esther 9:

³ And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. ⁴ Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.

Esther 10:

³ Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.

 Maybe it's time to start fasting and praying.