The story of the book of Esther teaches us that suffering or tangible danger can be far more effective motivators for repentance than reprimands and reproof, vigorous though they may be.

“The king removed his ring from his hand and he gave it to Haman” (Esther 3:10). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Removal of the king’s ring to affix a seal to Haman’s decree was more effective than the rebukes of forty-eight prophets and seven prophetesses who prophesied on behalf of the Jewish people, as they were all unable to return them to the right path, but the removal of the ring returned them to the right path. (Megilla 14a)