Series: God Is Here [#3]
UNDERSTAND THAT LIFE IS NOT FAIR
Esther 3:1-15
Introduction:
When in an argument with a non-Christian, the question of fairness will always come up. You know, “If God is in control, then why would He allow innocent children to die”. Or, “If God is in control, then why are there earthquakes that are destroying the earth?” I’m here to tell you that I don’t have the answers to those questions; but I do know that God is in control.
Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)
“You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
The bottom line is: Life isn’t fair. Our text is a great example of this fact.
Esther 3:1-15 (MSG)
“Some time later, King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, making him the highest-ranking official in the government. All the king's servants at the King's Gate used to honor him by bowing down and kneeling before Haman--that's what the king had commanded. Except Mordecai. Mordecai wouldn't do it, wouldn't bow down and kneel. The king's servants at the King's Gate asked Mordecai about it: "Why do you cross the king's command?" Day after day they spoke to him about this but he wouldn't listen, so they went to Haman to see whether something shouldn't be done about it. Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. When Haman saw for himself that Mordecai didn't bow down and kneel before him, he was outraged. Meanwhile, having learned that Mordecai was a Jew, Haman hated to waste his fury on just one Jew; he looked for a way to eliminate not just Mordecai but all Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. In the first month, the month of Nisan, of the twelfth year of Xerxes, the pur--that is, the lot--was cast under Haman's charge to determine the propitious day and month. The lot turned up the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. Haman then spoke with King Xerxes: "There is an odd set of people scattered through the provinces of your kingdom who don't fit in. Their customs and ways are different from those of everybody else. Worse, they disregard the king's laws. They're an affront; the king shouldn't put up with them. If it please the king, let orders be given that they be destroyed. I'll pay for it myself. I'll deposit 375 tons of silver in the royal bank to finance the operation." The king slipped his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, archenemy of the Jews. "Go ahead," the king said to Haman. "It's your money--do whatever you want with those people." The king's secretaries were brought in on the thirteenth day of the first month. The orders were written out word for word as Haman had addressed them to the king's satraps, the governors of every province, and the officials of every people. They were written in the script of each province and the language of each people in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring. Bulletins were sent out by couriers to all the king's provinces with orders to massacre, kill, and eliminate all the Jews--youngsters and old men, women and babies--on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar, and to plunder their goods. Copies of the bulletin were to be posted in each province, publicly available to all peoples, to get them ready for that day. At the king's command, the couriers took off; the order was also posted in the palace complex of Susa. The king and Haman sat back and had a drink while the city of Susa reeled from the news.”
Esther 3:1 (NIV)
“After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.”
Sometimes it is unfair who…
1. Is put in charge.
It is interesting that Haman comes out of the nowhere. You do not find him counseling King Xerxes. He is not one of the trusted 7. Haman had not saved King Xerxes’ life; but Mordecai did. Why is Haman the one put 2nd in charge?
Esther 3:9 (NIV)
“If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will put ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for the men who carry out this business."
Maybe it was because Haman was…
Wealthy.
Haman was willing to pay 10,000 talents of silver, (375 tons of silver) to the Royal Treasury if King Xerxes would issue a decree to have all of the Jewish people killed.
Esther 3:15 (NIV)
“Spurred on by the king's command, the couriers went out, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.”
Maybe it was because Haman was…
King Xerxes’ drinking buddy.
Esther 3:2 (NIV)
“All the royal officials at the king's gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.”
Sometimes it is unfair who…
2. Gets respect.
Respect was demanded, not earned. No one had a choice whether to show Haman respect or not. It was commanded by the king. Haman’s followers were “tattle tails”. Mordecai refused to bow. Some say that he refused to bow because he was jealous of Haman, while others say that he refused because he was a Jew. Either way, it wasn’t fair that Haman had this sort of power.
Esther 3:10 (NIV)
“So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.”
Sometimes it is unfair who…
3. Affects our life.
It is significant that we are told that Haman was an Agagite. He was a descendant of King Agag- A king that King Saul was commanded to kill along with all of the Amalekites. Because King Saul did not do this, the Amalekites were still making the Jews pay. What we do can last a long time and affect many people.
Esther 3:13 (NIV)
“Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews--young and old, women and little children--on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.”
Sometimes it is unfair who…
4. Is wealthy.
We have already seen that Haman was rich; but he wanted more. The king had already given Haman his signet ring and told him to keep the money; but that wasn’t enough. His plan was to kill all of the Jews and then take all of their stuff. He didn’t care how he attained wealth, he just wanted more.
Conclusion:
This chapter is proof that life isn’t always fair; but I encourage you to read ahead, because God proved that He was still in control. We must walk by faith, not by sight. God is here.
