Esther: Silent but Sovereignনমুনা

We’re told that at least a few days passed without Mordecai bowing to Haman (v. 4). But it appears that Mordecai did not make a scene in refusing to honor him. Haman himself didn’t notice Mordecai’s refusal to bow until it was pointed out to him by the officials at the gate. Mordecai, despite his insistence that Esther keep her nationality a secret, revealed that he was a Jew (v. 4) and this revelation led to a disturbing chain of events. 

Haman’s pride was so wounded once he heard of Mordecai, and his anger so fuelled (v. 5), that he planned retribution not just for Mordecai, or even Mordecai’s family, but for every Jew living in the kingdom (v. 6). He planned the annihilation of every Jew in the empire (about 15 million people) and he manipulated the king to accomplish his evil plan (v. 8) by appealing to Xerxes’ vanity and greed (v. 9). Notice he didn’t tell the King that it was the Jews he was planning to get rid of. 

So the date was set, twelve months later (v. 7), for the extermination of every Jew in the kingdom (v. 13). The edict that went out was written in the name of the king and sealed with his ring (v. 12) and could not be changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians. 

The edict to destroy the Jews went out in the first month, the month of Nisan (v. 7). This was the time that the Jews celebrated the Passover and remembered God’s faithfulness in bringing them out of Egypt. Having celebrated God’s past deliverance, God’s people would now be challenged to trust that He would deliver them in the future. 

We read in verse 15: ‘The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.’ However, God was not taken by surprise. He was not bewildered or ambivalent. He was not confused or helpless. Although in the text there is no mention of God’s activity, He was working. He may have seemed silent, but He was not asleep. He was working things out according to His sovereign will. 

Five hundred years later, at the time of the Passover, it must have seemed that God’s plan had been defeated as Jesus died on the cross. As darkness covered the land and Jesus breathed His final breath, hopes that He was God’s promised rescuer were shattered. But His resurrection three days later confirmed the completion of God’s perfect plan of salvation and the fulfillment of His promises. Sinful men, however powerful, are not able to hinder God’s work of saving for Himself the people He has chosen.

Reflection

How often do you reflect on God’s past faithfulness in rescuing you and bringing you into His kingdom? Can you trust Him that He will continue to be faithful to you in the future?