Favor to a Nation

By Brittany Vasquez

For how could I bear to see the disaster that would come on my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my relatives?”

Esther 8:6

These were the words of the young Jewish Queen Esther. These words were spoken from boldness, courage and a made up mind, while walking in God’s grace.

In the story with Esther, a decree had been made against the Jewish people by the King’s highly honored, and highly positioned right hand man. The name of this man is Haman, as we westerners tend to pronounce it. It sounds like “hey man” and rhymes with hangman, which enough correlates to interestingly Haman’s story, but I digress. The Jewish people had their principles of reverence and honor they kept before God, those who did not compromise at least, and the act of bowing and showing high reverence and worship to someone other than God, was not in the cards.

Queen Esther had an uncle named Mordecai who took care of her as his own daughter seeing as both her parents were absent. At the king’s gate, all the royal staff bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had granted him high favor and commanded this to be done. Scripture tells us Mordecai would not bow down. The members of the royal staff at the king’s gate asked Mordecai about his acts and gave warning to him day after day. As Mordecai continued, they told Haman, in order to see if Mordecai’s actions would be tolerated since he had told them he was a Jew. When Haman took notice, the Word tells us that he was filled with rage!

And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, Haman decided not to do away with Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.

Esther 3:6

 Matthew 11:12 reads, The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. While we may not live in a kingdom structured society, to the visible eye, Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is not something observable; no one will say, ‘See here! ’ or ‘There! ’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” ( Luke 17:20‭-‬21 CSB) It is here and It surrounds us. The Word of God also informs us about the prince of the air, of the unseen, who in which we once walked, or possibly to some reading may still be following the course of this world, and therefore following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2 ESV)‬‬

God created everything in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16 CSB) The work of the spirit in the sons of disobedience is to cause enmity and separation between God and His children. This same spirit seeks to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10) Likewise, Haman expressed his vengeance this way towards the people through his letters sent to each of the royal provinces under the king’s rulership. He wrote telling the officials to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jewish people young and old, women and children  and plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. (Esther 3:13 CSB) Jesus, on the other hand, belonging to the Kingdom of God, speaks that He comes that we may have life and life more abundantly! For the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17 CSB) Hear these words from Jesus.

The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Luke 4:18‭-‬19 HCSB ‬‬

We know that Jesus did what the Heavenly Father took delight in. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me He says. (John 6:38 HCSB) As Jesus and the Father are one, John 10:30 reads, Jesus being the Son, expresses the truth in that He is not able to do anything on his own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things. (John 5:19 CSB) It is the heart of God to see the captives free and the blind receive their sight, (both physically and spiritually speaking) to see the oppressed set free, to comfort all who mourn and to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, to give the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, to see a people restored, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor!

A ceremony for a King or Queen to be is called a coronation. A coronation oath takes place as the new upcoming royal leader is set to take their rightful place and rulership. This oath is like unto vows. The royal ruler in place pledges their life and loyalty to the nation and commits their life to its well being. The Word of God continually calls the Church the “Bride of Christ,” whom Jesus willingly laid His life down for. We are called to be God’s Holy Nation. God has already done the ultimate act of sacrifice to make way for whosoever would choose to be restored back unto His Kingdomship, on earth as it is in heaven. There is much purpose behind Jesus teaching us to pray this way.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

I Timothy 1:17 NKJV

God is King and ruler over All and Jesus sits at His right hand the Word tells us. God’s pledge to the world is shown completely in His immeasurable love! Through His excellent and pure love, loyalty and devotion God was willing to sacrifice Himself personally. God greatly adores His nation, and His will is that All would enter under Him! (none should perish) God speaks out blessings and favor to the Great City of Jerusalem often as the people would unite with the Kingdom way. Hear these words God speaks to His nation.

For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.

Isaiah 62:5 NKJV

Over the great city, God greatly rejoices as a Bridegroom rejoices over his beautiful bride, the sons walking in unison marry and commit themselves to the land as they would marry and commit themselves to a virgin,– representing one who is purely and wholly his.

Listen to the title God gives to those who choose to call upon His name, pronouncing Him in Spirit and in Truth as God over their life. Firstly He says, those who call on Me shall be saved. Secondly over His saved people He declares you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (I Peter 2:9‭-‬10 NKJV) You are a royal priesthood, having access to God and offering spiritual sacrifices. Priests of a high Kingly rank; exalted to a moral rank and freedom. Devoted to God’s rein. This bares witness to the truth of a Kingdom that exists that we have a royal place and position in. Romans 8:17 calls us joint heirs with Christ, heirs who now acquire the portion allocated to them by the right of sonship. That which is of the Kingdom is now your portion! As priests of Kingly rank, we have a relative position in society. If we should seek the King’s favor, we will find it. Haman was promoted by the king and had his favor. In his rank, when he was filled with rage he sought to annihilate a whole nation of people. Esther went before the king both humbly and boldly, seeking his favor from the posture of being his queen and bride. She received the king’s favor and sought to save and defend the nation. These following words birthed in Esther’s spirit are as a reverenced anthem to my heart. When Esther clothed herself, spiritually speaking, in boldness, went before the king in grace and did in fact receive his favor, she spoke from her petitioning heart the following words to the king that bares repeating.‬‬

How can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my nation?

Esther 8:6 JUB

As God allows our eyes to see and our heart to feel the reality of destruction that comes upon a people surrounding us, will our hearts not petition on behalf of a nation? On behalf of people and family? Did not Jesus teach us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these things shall be added unto you? All of what things one would ask? All of which you need. I will share a personal and intimate prayer I prayed a time ago, but only because it is part of the heart of this read, otherwise I would keep it to be me and God’s special secret. Seeing that it is fitting, a few years ago, in my time of prayer with God, I told Him “I wanted to take Him at His Word! I wanted it to be quite literal as Jesus was the example of being the walking, living, breathing, embodied living authoritative Word of God. I told God If He says it, I want nothing less than every fiber of my being to believe it. I wanted to literally personify His truth, becoming one with His Word. That being said, if Jesus spoke to seek first the Kingdom and all other things shall be added, I wanted to get there to that place, the place where I confidently believed that my needs and petitions would be taken care of. I therefore desired to be rid of myself, to not be consumed with praying for me and mine, and I wanted to truly walk out putting His Kingdom above All. From the place of knowing and trusting I would be cared for, I desired to lay my life down this way, putting what concerned me in its rightful place of priority as to what concerned God. It has been time, process and progress that I still continue to grow in this by the help of God’s Holy Spirit guiding me every step of the way. So far in saying, the process has brought me here. Queen Esther called for a fast among all the Jews and her maids along with herself on behalf of her actions to save the nation of her people. I could hear God ask me “Are you willing to fast and pray to see healing in the land?” To some reading, that question likewise strikes YOU. God’s word says if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV) Does it matter to you about healing in your land, your city and community, that not only will affect your household, family members and loved ones, but continues on in the land of your dwelling. How many of us Christians have told God, we want to do His great work, to see revival, win souls to the Kingdom, see great signs and miracles, but get so caught up in our own world. Our prayers become self focused or we hardly pray at all being so busy consumed in living. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:34) The time is at hand. Our spiritual enemies have free will and illegally take territory God clearly spoke that we were to have dominion over in Him. The healings, signs and wonders are not just to happen within the church walls. That is limited thinking.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:6-8 NIV

Many miracles are at hand for our eyes to behold if we should fix our gaze, and set our mind, heart and soul to see. If we humble ourselves to pray, God will hear us and bring healing to the Land. As we just read above, there is a fast God calls, that looses chains, brings freedom and deliverance, welcomes provision, restoration and the Favor of the Lord in the land of our dwelling. As with prayer, fasting to seek God’s guidance isn’t done to change God but to make us more receptive to his guidance. It is a means of focusing our minds and bodies for a spiritual reason. We posture ourselves to take our rightful place in the Kingdom when we are receptive to God’s guidance. Esther went before the King of kings first, in matter of fasting with prayer seeking His favor, before she went to the worldly king asking for his. Let that sink in. God has given of Himself first through Jesus, and now by His Holy Spirit, that comes to live on the inside of us, leading and guiding us into all Truth. He cares for the world and its wellbeing. In the Word it says,

“The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few. Therefore, [prayerfully] ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.

Luke 10:2 AMP

Will we take our place? Our rightful place as royal priesthood having relative position in our society. There is so much more for our eyes to see. Jesus spoke saying, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 AMP

Now as we ask in His name, He will do it, that the Father would be glorified and celebrated in His son. God’s Word says He will not withhold a good thing from us. Let there be a people who lean into Him, and hear that which is His Good Work.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord bestows grace and favor and honor; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalms 84:11 AMP

So we fasted and prayed to our God for this, and he responded to us. Ezra 8:23 CEB

Indeed, the Lord will give what is good, And our land will yield its produce. Psalms 85:12 AMP