Although the people of Judah had begun to return to Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon, they were still under the jurisdiction of the Medo-Persian empire. Though they had been granted permission by King Cyrus to return home, there were still demonic forces opposing them every step of the way, persistently seeking to destroy both them and their lineage to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
While many chose to return home to Judah after their seventy-year exile, a large number of people stayed behind, living comfortable lives throughout the Persian empire. King Xerxes, also called King Ahasuerus in this biblical account, was fair and generous to all of his people, of all heritage. A highly respected warrior in his battles against the emerging empire of Greece, Ahasuerus’ biggest flaw was his abuse of alcohol, and the foolish behavior and decisions he would make while under its influence.
Though dark spiritual forces were at work against the Jewish people, God would use two seemingly unrelated events in the lives of two of them to preserve the Jewish nation, as well as the lineage of Jesus. These were 1) the rise and establishment of Esther as Queen of Persia, and 2) her relative, Mordecai, learning of a plot to kill King Ahasuerus, and sharing it with Esther to save the king’s life. Their story is taken up in the book of Esther, chapter two.
5 There was a Jewish man in the Shushan palace whose name was Mordecai, son of Jair son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjamite, 6 who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives that had been carried away with King Jeconiah of Judah, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had taken away. 7 He had raised Hadassah—that is Esther—his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The girl was attractive and had a beautiful figure. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her to him as his own daughter. Esther 2:5-7 (TLV)
Mordecai raised Esther as if she were his own child. Although Esther was of Jewish descent, she kept this fact to herself, at Mordecai’s direction.
10 Esther had not disclosed her people or her lineage, because Mordecai had commanded her not to make them known. Esther 2:10 (TLV)
One night, during a long, drunken, and pride-filled escapade, King Ahasuerus deposed his innocent wife, Vashti. Though he realized his foolishness when he later sobered up, his regal decree was irrevocable, so the king now looked about to find a replacement queen. After reviewing numerous candidates from throughout the kingdom, the Lord worked behind the scenes to present Esther before him. The king was greatly smitten with her, and chose Esther to be the new Queen of Persia.
17 Now the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she won his grace and favor more than all the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18 Then the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his princes and servants. He proclaimed a holiday for the provinces and distributed gifts in keeping with the king’s wealth. Esther 2:17-18 (TLV)
Queen Esther was now in a position of great influence alongside one of the most powerful people on earth at the time. Step one of God’s plans to save His people was now in place.
Meanwhile, Esther’s relative Mordecai learned something of vital importance.
21 In those days while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told it to Queen Esther. Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name. 23 When the matter was investigated and found to be so, they were both hanged on a gallows. It was then written in the book of the chronicles in the king’s presence. Esther 2:21-23 (TLV)
God would use the positions of both Esther and Mordecai to achieve His divine purposes, without them realizing it at the time. Mordecai’s important role in saving the king’s life was quietly recorded in a chronicle and forgotten. But God did not forget. And Mordecai’s action would become prominent one special day down the road, to achieve God’s will on God’s timetable.
Reflection
Are you aware now of a time when God was working in your life to prepare you for a future event, though you did not realize it at the time?
God is always working around us for our good, and will even use the foolish or harmful behavior of others, or even us, to achieve His holy purposes.
One way that God reveals His presence to us is through “coincidences”, unlikely events which happen in our lives, such as encountering people we know in unexpected places. At first, we assume these encounters are just a matter of chance. Yet, over time, as more and more of these events occur, we realize that the hand of God is behind many of them.
Lord, thank You for being present in our lives, and for blessing us and protecting us from evil. Help us to walk a holy path, seeking to closely follow You. Free us from harmful behaviors, habits, or addictions that bring heartache to You, ourselves, and others. May Your divine word burn within our hearts, strengthen us, and encourage us to live pure lives which reflect You and Your love to those around us. We ask this all in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a beautiful day walking in the Light of the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 