Esther 4:13-17
4:13 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.

4:14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place [a reminder that no one is indispensable to God’s purpose and kingdom], but you and your father’s family will perish [because of Haman’s plot]. And who knows but that you [a Jewish orphan who had become queen of Persia at a time when her people faced annihilation] have come to royal position [election is for service and not merely for one’s own benefit] for such a time as this [Esther was the key in God’s plan to save the Jews from Haman’s evil scheme]?”

4:15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:

4:16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days [this would allow them to focus their attention on their prayers for Esther and her success when she went into the king’s presence], night or day. I and my maids will fast [a way of expressing deep grief] 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 [illustrates Esther’s commitment to follow-through regardless of what happened to her].”

4:17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions [re: organizing the fast].