Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Esther 3-7
Devotional Thought:
Title: “An evil plot spoiled by God.”
It is an interesting study to follow the damaging results to Saul’s disobedience to God’s command to destroy all of the Amalakites. Saul kept some of them alive and even the king, Agag, until Samuel did away with him. The Agagites and Idumeans were direct descendants that came from the Amalakites that were not destroyed. From the Agagites was the man in this chapter named Haman, who designed a plan to destroy all the Jews “…wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.” (vs. 6). From the Idumeans was a man by the name of Herod, who, when he heard of Jesus that was born, destroyed all the male babies, two years and younger. And the military leader for Hitler who designed the plan to destroy all the Jews, but only managed to kill 6 million, was an Idumean. When God says for us to do something, He sees what we cannot see and therefore, knows what we could not know. Saul’s disobedience to God’s clear command created consequences that outlived him. How sad that many parents do the same thing through animosity, addictions, and apathy. As we look at this wicked man, Haman, may we be reminded that it is a privilege to obey God and work to make His will and program successful instead of our own. The most damaging of plans are those that are rooted in a selfish agenda that rises out of greed, competition, or control. Haman designed a plan that would destroy Mordecai and all the Jews. He went unto the king with partial information and the king foolishly agreed to the secret plot and scheme of Haman. We know the story of how God had put Esther in a position for such a time as this. There is no doubt that God puts people in places of authority for specific times in order to deal with specific things. Esther invites the king and Haman to a specific dinner where she planned to expose the evil plan of Haman. However, God would not let the king sleep the night before the dinner so the king commanded someone to read the minutes of the business of the palace. As they read, the king is made aware of a time when Mordecai saved his life as two chamberlians sought to kill him. The king then asked a simple question, “…What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.” (6:3) The king then asked Haman for advise as to what should be done to a man who the king seeks to honor? Haman, of course, thought the king was going to honor him at the dinner so he designed an extravagant plan to elevate himself. God give grace unto the humble, but the pride will He abase and bring low. Through the counsel of Haman’s wife, Haman had gallows built to destroy Mordecai; however, in the exposing of Haman’s scheme, the king commands that Haman be hanged on the very gallows that he had built to destroy Mordecai. The Psalmist warns people who seek to build nets to destroy, and yet because of their selfish ambitions, agenda, and actions, they will fall prey to the very net they built to destroy others. Such is the case with wicked Haman.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to obey your word in every situation. Please help me to never doubt in the dark what you have revealed in the light. Help me to trust you more each day, and to obey without reservation.
• Lord, thank you for your sovereignty and control over all things. Thank you for putting the right people in the right places in order to expose and extinguish the wicked plots of carnal people.
• Lord, please help me to exercise the courage necessary to stand up for right as Esther did, and to plead for the cause of those who are your children.