Esther 8:15-17
“Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in a royal robe of violet and white, with a large crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. For the Jews there was light, joy, jubilation, and honor. In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree arrived, there was joy and jubilation for the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews, because the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.”
This is quite a turn of events. This book starts out with Queen Vashti being banished and Esther chosen as her replacement. Then a rising star in the kingdom, Haman, is offended by Mordecai just being a jew. So, he misleads the king to write a law that will extinguish the jews. The king agrees. Mordecai sees this and tells Esther and asks her to help. He further states that it may have been for such a time as this that she was chosen to become queen. So, she asks all to fast for her as she attempts to share with the king this great danger. In the mean time, Haman can’t wait until his plan unfolds, so he has a gallows built to have Mordecai hanged immediately. God hears their plea and puts an idea in the kings mind to honor Mordecai and Haman is to be the one to do the honoring. He is humiliated and complains to his friends and family. They give him an ominous warning. While that is being done the servants come from the king to remind and bring Haman to the queens banquet. While there the queen calls Haman wicked for having the plan to exterminate the jews. The king orders him hung on the gallows he built for Mordecai. Next the king orders protection for the jews. A great respect for the jews spreads and some become jews.
Wow! Simply amazing. God protected and elevated His people. The devil was behind this. There have been many attempts made against the jews to exterminate them. The surrounding nations did as the jews resided in Israel, Pharaoh gave the order to throw the male babies into the river, king Herod ordered the male babies under two years of age to be killed, the Spanish Inquisition sought harm against the jews, Hitler had six million jews killed, presently antisemitism is spreading. The devil is attempting to harm the jews again, way back in the garden he tricked our first parents in an attempt to separate them from God. In Revelation 12 the devil seeks to destroy the jews again.
God is great and He will protect His children. We need not fear or fret. Threats will come. We need not fear. Haman had evil plans for the entire Jewish nation. However, he and his demons seek to trip us up. He would like nothing more than for God to lose as many of His children as possible. He wants to tempt us and put us on the wrong path. Even though we see ourselves as small and insignificant, God hears us. Isaiah 42:3 says, “A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.” Who cares about a bent blade of grass? God does. Rest in Him. Be patient. He can turn things around. Psalm 91:4-7 has reassuring words, “He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may take refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and wall. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the plague that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that devastates at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you.” God sees and hears us. Help us to wait on You, Lord.
You saved Your people time and again. You will continue to do so. Your love for us is great. Thank You for being there for us and making a way.