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 true back in the time of Esther, whom God had elevated to Queen of Persia in order to protect and preserve His people.
The evil Haman was an advisor to King Ahasuerus who was able to charm his way into the king’s favor. The king promoted prideful Haman into a position where he must now be bowed down to by all people in the empire as he represented the king himself. But faithful Mordecai saw through Haman and refused to do so.
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 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 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 brought him into the king’s favor, Haman tricked the king into enforcing a day when all the Jews in the land would be killed because they worshiped their own God and would not follow all of the king’s commands. Foolishly, the king agreed and issued an irrevocable decree to do so. The new law was translated into the various languages of the land and sent out into all the empire. Haman and the king celebrated this act with the seal 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.
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 seen.
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.
Reflection
Have you had encounters with people who plotted evil schemes against you? How did God intervene? What was the result for you and for them?
Lord, thank You for caring enough to watch out for us even when we were totally unaware of Your presence and protections. We ask for continued blessing and preservation for ourselves and our loved ones. Help us to reflect Your love to others as we walk in Your divine light and grace today. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 