It looked like Esther, a beautiful Jewish woman, was made queen for King Xerxes’ pleasure. But God had other plans for Esther. She was put in a key position by God for His work. But 1st God put her in her uncle Mordecai’s care and she learned to obey him, then God installed her as queen. When she was told by her uncle to keep her identity secret, she did it. See Esther 2:20.
She learned discipline as a child. Do you have a call from God on your life? If you have been going your own way for a while, you may need to learn how to be obedient in little things before he releases you into that call.
Jesus said,
“Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones.” Luke 16:10
Esther was the key that saved her people. But Mordecai played a very important part. They worked together to save the Jews from a man, Haman, who was driven by hate.
Esther wasn’t aware of the evil that Haman was planning because she was kept separate from her people as the King’s queen. But Mordecai knew that Haman had gone to the king and
called the Jews a different race that did not obey the laws. He hated Mordecai for not bowing down to him. So, Haman bribed the king with 375 tons of silver if he would allow a decree to kill all the Jews. Hate motivated Haman. Greed motivated the king, so he agreed to the murder of a race. A proclamation was issued that set a date when all the Jews: men, women, and children could be killed and their possessions taken.
What is the root cause for murder? Hate and greed take over when honor and justice are not valued.
Why are so many babies aborted? Greed surrounds this industry. Immorality must be acceptable for the industry to exist. Can any good come from evil? It was never about women’s rights. It was and is about irresponsible immoral behavior over honor and justice: the honoring of women, family, and justice for the preborn is forfeited for selfish desires.
Who can understand the human heart? There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed. Jeremiah 17:9
It is necessary for a new heart to replace the old one. Jesus said you must be born again.
I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart. Ezekiel 36:26
Without God, it’s impossible to have honor or justice be a priority over hatred and greed. Without a desire for God, how can man do anything good?
Mordecai knew about this proclamation to destroy the Jews. So, he called Esther to action with a message. She responded that her life would be at risk if she even tried to approach the king to plead for the Jews uninvited.
Mordecai responded that this was her chance to play an important role to save her people. He also told her if she declined, heavenly help would come, but she would die and her father’s house would end. He suggested that
Esther was made queen for this very purpose and time. Esther accepted the challenge, but called for a three-day prayer and fast for all the Jews including herself and her servants. She decided that if she dies, she dies. Mordecai agreed and the prayer and fasting occurred. See Esther 4:8-17.
They have been called the unvaccinated, different, and disobedient by the Biden administration. I have heard the Biden administration say that if everybody got vaccinated, the gas prices would go down. Really? Never before has the lack of a medical treatment been the cause of the high price of gas! When a group of people are called out as different and disobedient…watch out. Is it any different than the abuser saying that the victim is at fault?
As the story plays out, Esther gets an audience with the king. She invites the king and Haman to a banquet, then makes them wait for the next day for a second banquet for her request to be known.
Previously Mordecai had uncovered a plot to murder the king. That night between banquets, the king couldn’t sleep. He realized that he never honored Mordecai for his loyalty, so the next day he asked Haman to honor him publicly.
Haman was furious!
He had built a 75-foot gallows for Mordecai, but instead had to honor Mordecai by parading him on the king’s horse as he wore the king’s royal robes. He also had to declare out loud that this man was being honored by the king.
That night at Esther’s second banquet, she pleaded with the king for herself and her people. She points to Haman as the evil persecutor. The king leaves the room furious, comes back and sees Haman pleading with his wife. It looks to the king like he is trying to rape Esther. So, Haman is hanged on the gallows intended for Mordecai.
Everything is flipped!
Esther gets all of Haman’s property and Mordecai manages it; Mordecai is also allowed to enter the king’s presence and is given the ring with the king’s seal that Haman had. Quite a reversal of fortunes.
But the evil that Haman began can’t be stopped as easily as it started,
because according to the law, a proclamation issued in the king’s name and stamped with the king’s seal cannot be revoked. The plan to destroy the Jews was still in effect.
Esther goes again to the king to beg for the revocation of the dread proclamation. He says it’s impossible, but Mordecai is given an opportunity to use his authority to write to the Jews. His plan is amazing.
Esther was the key that unlocked the door to victory, but it was Mordecai that opened the door. He issues letters using the king’s ring to write letters that told his people that
the king will allow the Jews to organize for self-defense. See Esther 8:11.
So, the Jews organized and defended themselves. They killed 75 thousand of their enemies but did no looting (showing their motives were for self-defense alone). See Esther 9:16.
The Jews were saved from destruction!
The Lord Jesus says:
I am the light of the world and without me, people live in darkness. They grab onto a leader, anyone who makes rules, who will promise safety. They forfeit freedom. Without me people live empty lives. Take on the mantle of freedom in me and move forward.
Follow Jesus. Stand for justice and freedom.
Scripture Quotation is taken from the GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION, SECOND EDITION, Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society, Used by permission. All rights reserved