Esther 6
That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him. In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king’s private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes. [Take note of what seems like a random coincidence. What are the chances that the king cannot sleep and the story that happens to be read is about Mordecai saving his life? God is clearly at work.]
“What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?” the king asked.
His attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”
“Who is that in the outer court?” the king inquired. As it happened, Haman had just arrived in the outer court of the palace to ask the king to impale Mordecai on the pole he had prepared. [Again, what seems random actually highlights the theme of God’s sovereignty. What are the chances that Haman would be in the king’s courts on the night the king happened to decide to honor Mordecai? Nothing is by accident.]
So the attendants replied to the king, “Haman is out in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered. So Haman came in, and the king said, “What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?”
Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?” [Pride will cloud your vision.] So he replied, “If the king wishes to honor someone, he should bring out one of the king’s own royal robes, as well as a horse that the king himself has ridden—one with a royal emblem on its head. Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the king’s robes and led through the city square on the king’s horse. Have the official shout as they go, ‘This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!’”
“Excellent!” the king said to Haman. “Quick! Take the robes and my horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you have suggested!” [Instead of taking Mordecai’s life, Haman is now going to have to honor it.]
So Haman took the robes and put them on Mordecai, placed him on the king’s own horse, and led him through the city square, shouting, “This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!” Afterward Mordecai returned to the palace gate, but Haman hurried home dejected and completely humiliated. [Pay attention—this is the first big power shift in the book of Esther. Esther is not even around. God is at work here, and it’s going to take more than just her to save God’s people.]
When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had happened, his wise advisers and his wife said, “Since Mordecai—this man who has humiliated you—is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him.” [REMEMBER: You can try to control everything, but you cannot control the consequences of your own sin.]
While they were still talking, the king’s eunuchs arrived and quickly took Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.
RESPONSE
- In what ways are you tempted to be like Haman—going to great lengths to rid your life of anything that threatens your comfort or pride?
- How do you see God at work in today's reading?