We are going to see the remarkable work of God’s providence today.
• In chapter 6 the tables are turned and evil is overcome by good.
• And it happened almost imperceptibly, without us noticing it was coming or expecting it to turn out this way.
• Let’s read the entire chapter – Esther 6:1-14.
King Xerxes could not sleep, after his banquet with Queen Esther and Haman, and before their second banquet.
• The author did not tell us why Esther has chosen not to make her request to the King at the first banquet, and instead asked for another banquet the next day.
• She might have felt afraid, the time was not right, or the King was not in the right mood.
• Whatever the reason, she delayed it for one more day. And it turned out to be significant. God was in it, although we might not understand.
I like the way Charles Spurgeon expressed it:
• “God was in it; it was not the right time to speak, and therefore she was led to put off her disclosure. I dare say she regretted it, and wondered when she should be able to come to the point, but the Lord knew best.”
• At times when things did not turn out right, we felt that we’ve messed up, or that we should have done this or that, but later on, we could see on hindsight that it was alright.
• God was in it. The delay turned out to be good.
The King’s sleepless night became a crucial turning point in the story.
• He could not sleep and asked for the book of the chronicles to be brought in and read to him. It’s the record of activities during his reign.
• They could have opened the book to any page (and it has the records of Xerxes’ 12 years reign up to this point), and yet it was opened to the place where they recorded Mordecai’s good deed.
• About 5 years ago, after Esther was made Queen (2:16 7th yr; 3:7 12th yr) Mordecai foiled a plot to assassinate the King.
By God’s providence, the King was informed now of this otherwise unknown and unrewarded official who has done a great thing in saving his life.
• Nothing was done to honour and recognise Mordecai then.
• Even this oversight has to be ordained. It was a divinely designed lapse!
• If Mordecai had been duly honoured then, this would be a non-event. There won’t be any need to do anything now. It would just be another record in the chronicles.
But now, something has to be done to rectify this oversight, especially so because this man has saved the King’s life.
• He needs to be rewarded properly, and that set the stage for the next turn of events. The ball has started rolling.
The King asked, “Who is in the court?” (6:4), not in view of Haman stepping in but to get someone to do something for Mordecai.
• Who is in the court that I can call to talk about this? Haman happened to be there!
• We do not have the timing here; could be morning by now. Or it would be really odd to have Haman coming in the middle of the night wanting to talk to the King.
6:4b Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace (almost like by chance) to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had erected for him.
• Whatever the time of the day, the timing was still nothing short of being miraculous.
• Haman was not supposed to be here until the evening banquet but he has to come, he cannot wait, because he has an ‘urgent’ agenda.
• Both of them met at an unscheduled and unarranged meeting, and with contrasting agenda – the King wanting to honour Mordecai and Haman wanting to hang Mordecai.
And it was no coincidence! If this Book of Esther shows us anything, it shows us that God manages the affairs of men, without their knowledge, down to the details.
• Esther wasn’t lucky to be queen. Mordecai wasn’t lucky to have overheard the assassination plot. It wasn’t an unfortunate oversight that he wasn’t rewarded then.
• It wasn’t by chance that Esther prepared a banquet and then delayed her request. It wasn’t a coincidence that Haman happened to be in the court at this time of the day.
• All these events were orchestrated by God, without the prior knowledge of men.
6:6a 6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, "What should be done for the man the king delights to honour?"
• “Luckily the King did not reveal his name.” Again it was not luck but God’s providence that the King did not reveal any name. The ball was kept rolling.
• Everything would have stopped here if Mordecai was named.
• All these seemingly unimportant details – the timing of the events, the things they do and the words they say – were very instrumental to the outworking of God’s plan.
God has a plan. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts. (cf. Isaiah 55:9)
6:6b Now Haman thought to himself, "Who is there that the king would rather honour than me?" This thought was only possible because no benefactor was named.
• And this thought was made more likely because Haman has just been invited to a private banquet with the King and Queen, with another one coming up.
• Sandwiched between two banquets. Who else can the King be thinking of? Every indicator points to him. The whole situation draws him to such a conclusion.
6:7-9 7So he answered the king, "For the man the king delights to honour, 8have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king's most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honour, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour!’"
• “Let him be given the royal robe (worn by the King), ride on the royal horse (ridden by the King), and be led by the King’s best noble through the city streets.”
• Noticed Haman asked for nothing of lasting worth but the applause of men. That’s him.
• Filled with pride and arrogance. Everything was done to stroke his ego. All he suggested reflects that.
He must be feeling very excited just saying this, in anticipation of what is going to happen.
• The King took his advice and then gave the order. And now he announced the name!
• The timing was significant. It came in a command.
• It would quite something to see the face of Haman at this moment when Mordecai’s name was heard. He was utterly shocked but the King has just issued a command.
• No more discussion. No turning back. The man he wanted to see hanging on the gallows will now be paraded through the city streets riding on the King’s horse.
• And led by? His big mouth said, “…one of the King’s most noble princes” (6:8). That’s him. Led by him! That is his ultimate humiliation.
This was the first time in this book that we heard of Mordecai being called “the Jew” (6:10), and it came from the King when he issued the command.
• The tide has started to change. The King has gained a new admiration for the Jews.
• The tables have been turned, not through one isolated event, but a myriads of many sub-scenes.
• No one can plan for this. No one foresee this coming. No one can expect such an outcome.
It’s not just a piece of the puzzle but many pieces of the puzzle coming together at the right places and in the right time.
• Without Esther’s delay in exposing Haman at the first banquet, the King would not be ready to make a right decision.
• Without his sleepless night, the King would not have known of Mordecai and his good work and wanting to reward him.
• Without an agenda, Haman would not “happened to be” in the court wanting to see the King.
• And his agenda - the idea of hanging Mordecai on the gallows – did not even come from him; it came from his wife and friends (5:14).
• To punish the evil man, God had Haman built the gallows in preparation for his own execution.
It’s not any isolated incident but every small part coming together, at the right time and in the right manner, contributing to the fulfilment of God’s plan.
• For any one part of these events to have NOT taken place, the ball would have stopped rolling. Something would have changed and the outcome would have been different.
• But everything happened according to God’s way and time. That’s the providence of God! That’s the amazing workings of God in our lives. Can we not trust Him?
Rom 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” NIV
• ESV: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
• Not just in one isolated event but “in all things”. God sees in totality and works all things (many parts) together for the good of those who belongs to Him.
This is not something we can see and read from the circumstances we are put through.
• We may see a piece of the puzzle, or maybe two or three pieces of the puzzle, but NOT ALL the pieces of the puzzle, to understand fully what is going on.
• The Book of Esther helps us see the workings of God on hindsight. At every Festival of Purim, the Jews re-read the workings of God and remind themselves again.
• We appreciate the wisdom of God and we treasure the workings of God in our lives.
We trust Him, even for some oversight, some mourning, some fasting and prayer, some taking of risks, some delays, or for any unexpected turns of events.
• We trust the unseen Hand of God. Over the course of time, we will begin to see God’s hand guiding the courses of human affairs (our lives) in accomplishing His good purposes.
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Holy Communion – Appreciate God’s Good Plan
Rom 8:28-29 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Eph 2:10 “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
• God’s goal in saving us was not only to rescue us from hell, but also that we would reflect His character and goodness to the world.
God delights to see us becoming more like His Son (Rom 8:29).
• We were created in His image but sin marred that image. When God bought us back for Himself, it was to restore His image in us and free us to become all we were created to be.
• The Holy Spirit dwells in us and prompts us to do things that glorify God (John 14:26).
Our desire to please God. That desire grows when we know Him. We grow in the likeness of His Son. That likeness is expressed in good works. We become like Christ and do things like Christ.
• Let’s pray and examine that heart today. Are we growing in His likeness? Repent if we have sinned. Repent if we have failed to reflect His character.
Dear Jesus, we come to your table in obedience to your call, for us to take the bread and drink the cup, in remembrance of you. May our lives tell the story of your salvation and love, your judgement and righteousness. Strengthen us, Lord, and help us live to obey you and glorify your Name. Consecrate the bread and cup, and bless all who partake them today. This we pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.
