The Megillah states: ובכל יום ויום מרדכי מתהלך לפני חצר בית הנשים לדעת את שלום אסתר ומה יעשה בה – “Day after day, Mordechai would walk about in front of the courtyard of the harem to learn about Esther’s well-being and what would become of her” (2:11).
The Medrash writes that Hashem told Mordechai: אתה דרשת שלום נפש אחת - you were truly concerned about the welfare and well-being of one single Jew, חייך סופך לדרוש שלום אומה שלמה - I swear that one day you will be concerned with the safety and well-being of an entire nation.
This was fulfilled at the end of the Megillah, in the final pasuk: כי מרדכי היהודי משנה למלך אחשורוש וגדול ליהודים ורצוי לרב אחיו דרש טוב לעמו ודבר שלום לכל זרעו – “For Mordechai the Jew was a viceroy to king Achashveirosh, he was a great man among the Jews, and found favor with the multitude of his brethren; he sought the good of his people and spoke for the welfare of all his seed” (10:3).
You may think that helping one person is small and insignificant, but the reality is that it is much more significant than you can even imagine. Every single act is recorded in Hashem’s book forever and ever; every act looms large. Ultimately, the small zechuyos make one eligible to be an instrument to bring about national salvation. (R’ Doniel Glatstein)
