11 Though they plot evil against you
and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed. Psalm 21:11 (NIV)
Throughout history, cunning people have often been able to manipulate their way into positions of power and influence. This was also true back in the time of Esther, whom God had elevated to become Queen of Persia, as evidenced in her life by the emergence of a very dangerous man, Haman.
The evil Haman, advisor to King Ahasuerus, was able to charm his way into the king’s favor and was greatly elevated as a result. The king promoted the prideful Haman into such a high position of honor and power that he must be bowed down to by all people in the empire, as he now represented the king himself. But Esther’s relative, the faithful Mordecai, saw through to Haman’s wicked character, and refused to honor him in such a way.
1 Some time later King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, elevating him and setting his chair above all the officials who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded it. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay him honor.
3 Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?” 4 Day after day, they spoke to him but he would not listen to them. Therefore they told Haman in order to see whether Mordecai’s resolve would prevail, for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing down or paying him honor, Haman was filled with rage. 6 But it was repugnant in his eyes to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him the identity of Mordecai’s people. So Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus. Esther 3:1-6 (TLV)
Haman was not only evil and prideful in his heart, but he was also under the influence of dark spiritual forces. These demonic forces oppose God and His chosen people, and seek to destroy not only them, but the Messiah that King David’s line would bring forth. Under such dark influences, Haman concluded that destroying Mordecai for dishonoring him was simply not enough. He would come up with a plan to manipulate the king into killing off ALL of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout all the empire.
Using the same manipulation that had brought him into the king’s favor, Haman tricked the king into proclaiming a day when all the Jews in the land would be killed, because they worshiped their own God, and thus, would not follow all of the king’s commands. Foolishly, the king agreed to Haman’s plan, and issued an irrevocable decree to carry it out on a certain day. The new law was translated into all the various languages of the land and distributed throughout the empire. Haman and the king celebrated their act, sealing it with a toast, probably many, of alcohol.
15 The couriers went out hurriedly with the king’s command and the edict was issued in the palace in Shushan. The king and Haman then sat down to drink. But the city of Shushan was dumbfounded. Esther 3:15 (TLV)
Haman’s evil plan looked foolproof. The king’s decree was now irrevocable, so the day was soon approaching when all the Jews throughout the kingdom would be killed, and their possessions plundered by their neighbors. Haman was carrying out the devil’s plan with perfection.
But God is greater than any evil that comes against Him. Until God has spoken the final word, the end of the story is not yet seen. As written in a letter from the apostle John:
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (ESV)
The seeds which God had planted through Esther and Mordecai were about to bear divine fruit. How He will deal with Haman’s evil manipulation will be seen in the next meditation.
Reflection
Have you had encounters with people who plotted evil schemes against you? How did God intervene?
Is there a hidden kernel of evil in any of my own motives?
Lord, thank You for loving us enough to protect us, even when we were unaware of Your presence and goodness. We ask for Your continued blessing and preservation for our loved ones and for ourselves. Help us also to reflect Your love to others, even those who intend to do us harm, as we walk in Your divine light and grace today. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 