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God’s Purposes Prevail!

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“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. 7 King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have hanged him on the gallows. 8 Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring– for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.” (NIV) Esther 8:5, 7-8

Haman, an official in the Persian Empire, receives the authority from King Xerxes to destroy all the Jews in kingdom. When Mordecai hears of the plot, he sends word to Queen Esther. It seems that they are backed into a corner. But, never underestimate the significance of one trying to make a difference!

After 3 days of fasting and praying Esther approaches the king. “On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” (Esther 5:1-3). Esther requests that the king and Haman come to a banquet that night and the following evening.

The first evening the king is sleepless. He has the official court records read to him and realizes that Mordecai has never been honored for discovering an assassination plot against the king. And then the plot intensifies at Esther’s second banquet.

Esther 7:1 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther, 2 and as they were drinking wine on that second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life– this is my petition. And spare my people– this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”

5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?”
6 Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman.” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. . . .9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it!” 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided. (NIV)

Don’t ever question who is in control! Whether you see God’s hand visibly at work or not, His plans and purposes always prevail!

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The Significance Of One!

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When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 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. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (NIV) Esther 4:12-14

Haman, an official in the Persian Empire, receives the authority from King Xerxes to destroy all the Jews in kingdom. When Mordecai hears of the plot, he sends word to Queen Esther. But it seems that they are backed into a corner today. If Esther approaches the king without his royal summons the penalty is death.

Then Mordecai asks Esther the classic question: “Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” It is as if he is saying: “This is the day. . .stand up for your people. . .stand to the king and speak. . .just don’t be silent!” Esther sends a reply to Mordecai, affirming her willingness to risk her life on behalf of her people. She asks him to assemble all the Jews who were in Susa and requests that they fast for her for three days and nights. Afterward she agrees to go to the king. In a final expression of courage and submission, she says: “If I perish, I perish.”

What do you think makes some people brave and others cowardly? What risks are you willing to take to do what is right? What can you do today to prepare yourself to deal with the challenges that require courage? What can you do to depend on God more in your circumstances?

Never underestimate the significance of one! Jesus Christ was one man who made a difference! He did something! He died so that we can live!

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Backed Into A Corner

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He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. (NIV) Esther 4:8

Haman, an official in the Persian Empire, has revenge on his mind. To carry out his plan he receives the authority from King Xerxes to destroy all the Jews in kingdom. His deliberate refusal to forgive festers and grows and becomes deadly. But, God is on the move in mysterious ways in Persia. He is working behind the scenes.

When Mordecai heard of the plot, he was moved with deep sorrow, and he cried out with a heavy of heart. What caused the grief? Mordecai knew that the plan involved the unchangeable law of the Medes and the Persians. Not even the king could change it now that it had been uttered. Mordecai puts on sackcloth (a sign of mourning) and heads to the king’s gate.

Queen Esther hears of Mordecai’s great distress. She sends her servant, Hathach to “find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. 9 Hathach went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.” (Esther 4:5b-9)

Esther’s initial response is somewhat puzzling as we discover a certain reluctance on her part. Through Hathach, the queen reminds Mordecai that no one could approach the king in the inner court without a royal summons. The result of doing so was the penalty of death!

How are you backed into a corner today? Perhaps you can’t see any way out of a difficult and delicate situation. No matter how you try there’s no solution. . .or at least no solution that would please God. Wait! God is on the move today working behind the scenes and bringing His purposes and plans into place. When it looks like you’re backed into a corner with no way out, take hold of God’s hand and allow Him to unfold His perfect plan!

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Anger Turns To Murder

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When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. (NIV) Esther 3:5-6

The plot is thickening. One man in the Persian Empire refuses to obey King Xerxes edict. Mordecai will not kneel down or pay honor to Haman, Xerxes’ official. In his anger and with revenge on his mind, Haman determines to destroy all the Jews in Xerxes’ kingdom. But, God is on the move in mysterious ways in Persia. He is working behind the scenes. He is rearranging events and changing minds until His perfect plan is in place.

To gain the king’s support for his plan, Haman tells King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. (Esther 3:8) Then Haman appeals to the king’s greed. He offers to “put ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for the men who carry out this business.” Esther 3:9. It is estimated that Haman’s offer weighed approximately 375 tons and was estimated to represent the equivalent of two-thirds of the annual income of the Persian Empire.

The king immediately accepts the offer. He removes his signet ring, gives it to Haman and thus grants Haman unlimited authority to carry out his plan. The king is completely unaware that by executing the Jews, that he places his own wife under a death sentence.

Who do you refuse to forgive? Are you nursing a grudge? Do you have someone’s face on a mental dart board? A former spouse? Former boss? Former roommate? Former boyfriend? A former church?

By Haman nursing his anger it becomes a lingering grudge.  His deliberate refusal to forgive festers and grows and becomes deadly.

An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. (NIV) Proverbs 29:22

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The Throne in Heaven

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. . . and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. (NIV) Revelation 4:2

The “someone” sitting on the throne in Heaven is God. He sits on the throne and reigns over all creation. Whether or not you acknowledge that God sits on the throne doesn’t change His position. He is in control! With His position comes authority. . . the authority to enforce His commands and guidelines. . . the authority to judge mankind, to judge sin. He creates all things, He gives life and takes life. He is completely holy and therefore doesn’t tolerate sin. And He is eternal. God has been sitting on the throne of the universe since the beginning of time. . . He sits there now. . . and He will sit there in the future.

How do you acknowledge God’s reign in your life?

Learn more about God at the Anchor Your Life website

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