Trusting God's Plan When You Don't See Him: Lessons From the Book of Estherنموونە

Picking up from where we last left the story, Haman was so mad he wanted to kill all the Jews. We could have hoped those were just words, but no, he let that hatred boil and put a plan into action. They cast the “pur,” which was like rolling dice, to select a day and month to kill the Jews. Again, this is just an indicator of just how evil evil really is. The pur happened to land on the 12th month, the month of Adar. So, this is almost a year away.

Esther’s husband, King Xerxes, is self-absorbed and easily persuaded. Xerxes allows Haman to convince him that “a certain people” in his kingdom aren’t obeying his laws and should be destroyed. Never once do we see him ask Haman who these people are, how they are disobeying him, and why such a harsh punishment is being recommended. This plot to annihilate the Jews is just one of many plots throughout history to destroy God’s chosen people.

And shame on Haman! He has ONE man not bow down to him, and now he wants to wipe out all of the Jewish people. He’s even willing to throw in 10,000 talents of silver of his own money to make it happen. But foolish, lazy, godless Xerxes literally hands the Jews over to Haman on a silver platter by giving his signet ring and saying, “Keep the money and do with the people as you please.” (Esther 3:11)

Again, anyone who romanticizes the Book of Esther hasn’t really studied King Xerxes. This is a man easily persuaded by evil and whose very actions prove likewise. Had it not been for Esther, he would have been the author of another attempt at the genocide of the Jewish people!

The royal secretaries send couriers out to all the provinces to announce Haman’s decree to“destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews - young and old, women and little children” (v. 13) on the 13th day of the Jewish month of Adar. How godless does a nation have to be to find that kind of edict acceptable? Making matters worse, once the king made a royal decree, it could not be rescinded.

Afterward, royal messengers traveled the kingdom to deliver the horrible news. “The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered” (Esther 3:15). Um, ya think? Can you imagine going to your mailbox to read a government order writing that in a year, every person of your race was to be killed and all their stuff plundered? No wonder everyone was confused. This came out of nowhere! Proverbs 13:20 is a great description of Xerxes and Haman’s friendship, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

Questions:

1. Why is it important to surround yourself with wise, godly people?

2. As a leader, what are some red flags that Xerxes exhibited in his handling of Haman’s complaint? What would you have done if you were him?

3. Do you have any deep-seeded hatred towards someone that you need to confess to God and seek forgiveness? The only person you are hurting by holding onto the hate is yourself.