We ended last week on a sad note, with Mordecai and the Jews across the Persian Empire mourning. They had just received an edict for their execution.
Haman, the evil high official to the King, hatched a plot to kill, not just Mordecai (his enemy and Jewish subordinate), but also his entire Jewish race. Not just in Susa but throughout the entire empire.
• His plan was to do it in one day, and being superstitious, he casted the PUR, the lot (3:7) to find out the ‘auspicious’ day to exterminate them.
• And the date fell on the 12th month. So they drafted an edict immediately, on 13th day of the 1st month. The Jews had exactly 11 months to live!
It was unbelievable to have the King sanctioned such a move so flippantly.
• The foolish King took in Haman’s fake news - the false accusation that a certain people scattered across the empire ‘do not obey the king’s laws and that it’s not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.’ (3:8).
• The King did nothing to query about this ‘certain people’ or verify the charge. The Jews were not new immigrants. They had been here for more than 50 years, counting from the time of King Cyrus.
• They had been living under the Persian rule for so long and Haman said they did not obey the king’s laws.
No attempt to find out the truth. The King took out his signet ring (the imprint granting his authority) and gave it to Haman, practically giving him a ‘blank cheque’ to do what he wants.
• The King did not even consider the consequences of such a move. What will a civil war, or a racial and ethnic cleansing of such kind, do to his Kingdom?
• How will the rest of the minority races see this? When will their turn comes?
Anyway Haman got his signet ring and his men to pen down his orders, to be written in the various languages to be sent to all the provinces, telling the people that on the 13th day of 12th month, they can ‘destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews – young and old, women and children – and plunder their goods.’ (3:13) Legalised looting!
• And who is going to do this killings? Not the Persian army.
• 3:14 “A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.”
• Everyone can participate in this massacre and looting. That is, all other nationalities.
This is not a small crisis but one of mammoth proportion. And the funny thing is, this is going to happen 11 months down the road!
• Paul says in 1 Cor 3:19-20 “19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; 20and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."
• Before a sovereign God whom we trust, we don’t need to be afraid of evil or what evil men can do.
• No matter how corrupt and messy the world becomes, God reigns and He rules.
• The Lord says, “28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt 10:28)
• Fear God and we will have nothing to fear. Without the fear of God, we have every reason to fear.
It’s time for Esther to take centre stage. God has positioned her for such a time like this. Let’s read Esther 4:4-11.
Being in the harem shut her off from knowing what was happening. She was not aware of the edict until she heard from Mordecai.
• Her messenger Hathach (hay tack) related everything that has happened and showed her a copy of the edict. He told her what Mordecai said.
• Mordecai wanted Esther to go into the King’s presence and beg for mercy. This was their only option, seeing that the edict has the approval of the King.
Esther’s response was given in 4:11 “All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
• Some commentators read this as Esther’s unwillingness to help, or that she is being selfish and cares only for herself. And therefore Mordecai reprimanded her in response.
• It’s difficult to read her heart just by plain words because we are not hearing the tones and emotions involved. I read it differently.
• This is not a simple decision, like knocking the door and saying, “Hello, King, it’s me. Your wife. And I’m here to talk to you about something important.”
With so much at stake, I read this as Esther thinking ALOUD the seriousness of the situation. She was airing the consequence of such a move. She was probably afraid.
• No one goes into the King’s presence uninvited and live, unless he is happy to see him and decides to spare him. The King has not asked to see me for a month now. Would he be happy if I barge in uninvited?
• That’s a very risky move. Mordecai needs to know. She might die inside. Is this the right move? Is this the only way?
Let’s read Mordecai’s response - Esther 4:12-14.
12 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?"
More than being a rebuke or reprimand, this was instructive, as Mordecai has always been to Esther. We read earlier that she has always been listening to his instructions.
• Mordecai mulls over all the possibilities and speaks his mind. His arguments may be blunt but clear.
“With such an evil man like Haman behind the scheme, don’t think that you can hide for long or for good. An edict is permanent. You and your family tribe will perish like the rest of us.”
• To go in, you might die. To stay out, you still might die. Can you hide forever? Unless the King passes a new edict.
“If you remain silent at this time, God will have to raise up relief and deliverance from somewhere else.”
• Mordecai still believes that God can protect them in some way or another. If God keeps His covenant, then God will keep His promises and Israel cannot be wiped out.
And then came the clincher, his final argument: “And who knows, you might just be the answer to this crisis that God has prepared!”
• 4:14 “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
Nothing Mordecai has said so far is an exaggeration or forced or unreal. They all made sense.
• “Esther, you could be the right person God has put in the right place, at the right time, to do this right thing, for the people of God!”
• It’s like reviewing your history? How did you get here? By your own efforts or through the favours of God? Did God lead you here? Did God put you here for a purpose?
These are questions not just for Esther but for all of us as well, right?
• If God is sovereign and He guides, then we can expect this. We are where God wants us to be. If we are serious followers of Jesus, then we are where He wants us to be.
Such understanding can only come when Esther looks back at her life, and “review her history” so to speak. It comes on hindsight. It can only come looking back.
• It’s like the experience of Joseph. In Genesis 45 when he saw his brothers, who betrayed and sold him to Egypt.
• He said to them (Gen 45:5-7): “5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
• This can come only in retrospect. We cannot plan for it, only God can see it.
• After the death of their father (Jacob), Joseph said, “Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Gen 50:19-20)
And Esther understood - Esther 4:15-17.
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.
Reading a narrative like this, with verse 15 coming after verse 14 and saying “Then Esther sent this reply…” we miss out on what transpired between the verses.
• It could be a long and hard struggle for Esther. To say “If I perish, I perish.” takes a lot.
• But if she is the right person that God has prepared, to be in the right position, at the right place and at the right time, to say and do the right thing, then she has to submit to God’s sovereign will.
Esther therefore requested for all the Jews in Susa to fast with her and her maids for 3 days, to seek God’s favour.
• No mention of prayer but that’s what they do when they fast in the OT.
The situation has changed. She is now giving instructions.
• Mordecai went away carrying out all of Esther’s instructions.
• Esther has moved to the forefront, in this crisis. She took up the lead role.
• She took centre stage because God has raised her for such a time as this.
God prepared what the remnant would need, even before they know their need of God, and of Esther.
• It is so in Esther’s life, it is the same in Joseph’s life. It is the same for our lives too.
• We trust God. We won’t understand it looking forward; we can only see if in retrospect.
• So we walk by faith, trust God who is sovereignly in control and fulfilling His purposes.
Jesus Christ is the greatest display of God’s providence in our lives.
• Before the foundation of the world, God has already prepared Jesus Christ for us.
Pray: Lord, you may be unseen, but you are there. Things may be messy but you are in control. And we trust you.
