READING: Esther 9-10 – Destruction of the Enemies of the Jews

“On the fearsome day scheduled for the slaughter of Jews, and on the day after, the Jews throughout the empire gathered and defended themselves. They slew 800 enemies in Susa, and 75,000 throughout the empire.

“To commemorate this deliverance Mordecai sent out letters to Jews everywhere to keep a holiday on the 14th and 15th days of the 12th month, a feast called PURIM, after the name of the lots cast by Haman. (Esther 9)” [Smith, Old Testament History in The Bible Textbook Series, Revised by W. Fields, College Press, Joplin, Missouri, p. 708.] 

The very time the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain power over the Jews, the Jews gained power over them. This was the work of God in what we call God’s providential working. God takes care of his people when they walk with Him. What were the things that “just happened” to bring about this great reversal of Haman’s plans? Here are some; there are others. 

• Queen Vashti refused to display her beauty before the drunks at the Kings banquet; she was deposed. 
• Esther became Queen, chosen by King Ahasuerus over all the virgins brought to him. 
• Mordecai overheard two conspirators planning to kill King Ahasuerus, and he reported it through Esther. 
• King Ahasuerus promoted Haman to be his most important advisor. 
• Haman was a vane man who demanded obeisance whenever he walked by. Mordecai, a Jew, bowed to no man but only before God. This angered Haman. 
• Haman, having been told Mordecai was Jewish, was determined to destroy all Jews. 
• Mordecai learned of the edict and brought it to Esther, who was in a position to talk to the King if he held out his scepter to her; otherwise, she would be killed on the spot. She and the local Jews fasted and prayed 3 days; the king welcomed her. 
• She invited the King and Haman to a banquet and again the next day. 
• That night, the King could not sleep and requested someone to read the chronicles of his kingship. They read of Mordecai reporting the plot to kill the king, who asked how he had been rewarded; he had not been. 
• Haman came in to ask permission to execute Mordecai. 
• Ahasuerus asked Haman what should be done to one the King wanted to honor.  
• Haman did for Mordecai what he thought would be done for him. He was devastated but rushed back to the palace for Esther’s 2nd banquet. 
• The King asked Esther what she wanted him to do for her. She asked for her life and the life of her people. The King asked who was threatening them. She said, “This wicked Haman!” 
• The King went out to the garden in a rage while Haman begged for his life. When the King came back, he thought Haman was raping Esther. He said, “Will he assault the Queen in my own house?” 

That’s when they hung Haman. 

Could so many coincidences “just happen?” 

________________________________________________________________________________ 

PRAY FOR YOURSELF

Father in Heaven, I can think of times You have blessed me in good ways that I did not understand at the time. Thank You for the way you provide just what I need, even when I do not know that I need it. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus, Your Son, and my precious Savior, AMEN!  

MY PRAYER FOR YOU (and for myself)  

Holy Father my prayer for all who read this and for myself, is that we, as we read Esther, see the things that “just happened” that justify the name, “God in the Shadows.” I continue to offer this prayer for myself, and for all who read this, in the precious name of Jesus, I pray, AMEN! (Today I listed 14 things that “just happened.” ) 

READING: Esther 6-8 – Success for Mordecai & Esther and Haman Hanged on His Own Gallows

Haman left Esther’s banquet feeling good; he was invited to another banquet with the king and queen the next day. He became angry with Mordecai when he wouldn’t bow, but his wife suggested he build a gallows to hang Mordecai.

“That night insomnia struck Ahasuerus (the king), and he requested that the chronicles of his kingdom be read to him. He heard of Mordecai’s report of the assassins (2:21-23) and learned that no reward had been given Mordecai. At that moment Haman came in to ask to execute Mordecai. The king asked Haman what should be done to one whom the king wished to honor. Supposing that it was he himself, Haman proposed that the honored one be royally paraded through the city on a horse led by a most noble prince. Haman was assigned the job of leading the horse as Mordecai was royally honored. Upon returning home in humiliation, his wife expressed her fear that Haman has started an irreversible fall before Mordecai the Jew. The unique power of the Jews was hated but recognized. (Esther 6)

“At that hour Haman was summoned to the second banquet. At this banquet, Esther revealed to Ahasuerus that she was a Jewess and that Haman’s plot would destroy her and her people. Ahasuerus stalked out in anger. Haman fell before Esther, pleading. Mistaking this for an attack on her, Ahasuerus condemned Haman and he was hung upon the gallows that had been prepared for Mordecai. (Esther 7)

“While the laws of the Medes and Persians could not be altered or taken away, other laws could be added to them. Therefore Esther and Mordecai, who had been appointed to Haman’s position, obtained from Ahasuerus a further decree permitting Jews to assemble to fight and defend themselves on the day that Haman had chosen for their extermination. This decree brought joy to the Jews and caused many Gentiles to become proselytes to the Jewish faith. (Esther 8)” [William Smith, LL. D., Old Testament History, Revised and Amended by Wilbur Fields. College Press, Joplin, Missouri pp. 707-708.]

At the second banquet Esther gave, Ahasuerus asked Esther what she wanted of him, and said he would give it, up to half his kingdom. Esther said, “If I have won your favor, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me – that is my petition – and the lives of my people… For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed.”

The king said, “Who has presumed to do this?” Esther said, “This wicked Haman!” In anger, the king stormed into the garden. Haman begged Esther for his life. When the king returned to the banquet hall, Esther was reclining on a couch, and Haman was on the couch where Esther reclined. The king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence?”

They hung him on the gallows he built for Mordecai.

How far the mighty fell!

---

PRAY FOR YOURSELF

Father in Heaven, I see in these chapters of Esther that coincidences occur. The king not sleeping and asking for the chronicles to be read – and he learns that Mordecai had reported the plot to kill him, but had not received any reward – and just then Haman was at the gate! When Esther made her plea and pointed at Haman, the king stormed out – and when he came back in, Haman was begging for his life, but the king though he was trying to rape her. No miracles; just coincidences. Yet, Your plan worked perfectly. I bow before You in humility that you coordinated so many things without a miracle! I thank You and praise You with humility in my heart. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus, Your Son, and my precious Savior, AMEN!

MY PRAYER FOR YOU (and for myself)

Holy Father my prayer for all who read this and for myself, is that we, as we read Esther, see the things that “just happen” that will justify the name, “God in the Shadows.” I continue to offer this prayer for myself, and for all who read this, in the precious name of Jesus, I pray, AMEN! (Tomorrow I will try to list the things that “just happened” in this story, things God had an unseen hand in.)

READING: Esther 3-5 – Haman Elevated & Esther’s Banquet

A prince of Ahasuerus named Haman was promoted to a high position. Haman was greatly disturbed by Mordecai, however, because Mordecai would not bow down to him. Haman obtained a decree from the king to destroy all Jews, including Mordecai. The day for this massacre was selected by casting lots (dice) called (in Assyrian) PUR (Hebrew, plural, purim). This decree was circulated throughout the vast empire of Ahasuerus from India to Ethiopia, including Judah. (Esther 3) 

If this decree had been carried out, all of God’s promises to Abraham, to Moses, to David – all the promises of the Messiah would have failed. But the word of the LORD shall stand forever (Isaiah 40:8). 

Mordecai, in great weeping over the decree, sent word to Esther in the palace, asking her to petition the king about the decree. In words of great eloquence, he declared that she may have come to the kingdom “for such a time as this” (4:14). Esther bravely accepted this duty, knowing that if she approached the king without an invitation, she would be put to death unless the king extended his scepter in acceptance of her visit. (Esther 4) 

Esther’s faith was rewarded. The king received her warmly and accepted an invitation to a banquet the next day. Haughty Haman was exultant at the supposed honor to himself, but upon seeing Mordecai as he went home he was again angered. At the suggestion of his wife, Zeresh, he prepared that day a high gallows, and that night went to the king to obtain permission to hang Mordecai upon them. (Esther 5) [From William Smith, LL.D, Old Testament History in Bible Study Textbook Series, Revised and Amended by Wilbur Fields. College Press, Joplin, Missouri, copyright, 1970, 7th printing, 9/1978.] 

After Haman’s promotion, all at the king’s gate bowed to him as the king ordered; Mordecai refused, which angered Haman. He would not lay hands on Mordecai alone. He told Ahasuerus the Jews were scattered all over his kingdom but had laws differing from his law. He paid 10,000 talents of silver to have an edict that would destroy all Jews. The king accepted and the edict was published. 

When Mordecai heard of this, he sent Esther a copy of the decree and told her she would not escape the edict in the palace, but if she kept silent, “relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your family will perish. Perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” (4:14) She said the king had not invited her into his presence for thirty days. She asked Mordecai to have the Jews in Susa fast and pray while she and her maidens did the same. Then she would go to the king. When she went, the king held out his scepter to her, and she invited him and Haman to her banquet the next day. 

Note Mordecai’s faith and Esther’s bravery.  

What would you have done? 

PRAY FOR YOURSELF 

Father in Heaven, help me understand your providential working is my prayer in the name of Jesus, Your Son, and my precious Savior, AMEN!  

MY PRAYER FOR YOU (and for myself)  

Holy Father my prayer for all who read this and for myself, is that we, as we read Esther, see the things that “just happen” that will justify the name, “God in the Shadows.” I offer this prayer for myself, and for all who read this, in the precious name of Jesus, I pray, AMEN!