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

Ever have a night where you can’t sleep? That's no fun, right? The hours seem like an eternity. Xerxes has one of those sleepless nights. He asks an attendant to read the book of chronicles, a Persian historical record of kingdom events, most likely hoping this will put him to sleep. Ironically, the reading just so happens to land on the account of how Mordecai exposed the conspiracy of the king’s officers who wanted to kill Xerxes. Seriously, of all the parts of that book to read, they just so happen to read that section, and more importantly, the king is awake to hear it. This is one of those great examples of God at work behind the scenes when we don’t see Him.

Xerxes finds out from his attendants that nothing was done to honor Mordecai. At the exact same time, Haman is walking into the courtyard to seek an audience with the king and ask to have Mordecai hanged on the gallows.

Xerxes asks Haman what should be done for the man the king wants to honor. So Haman tells him his idea of dressing the honoree in the king’s robe and parading him around on a royal horse yelling out, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor.” (v. 9) All the while, Haman is thinking “that man” is himself.

Now, picture Haman’s face when Xerxes says, “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew.” (v. 10) Oh, to see Haman’s reaction! I bet all the blood just ran out of his face! What’s worse is that he is the person that will have to parade Mordecai around. Can you even imagine how humiliating this is when Haman has made such a big deal of Mordecai not bowing down to him? Think if you had to do the same, parading your mortal enemy around when you had hoped you would be getting all the glory. As Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

You know it was mortifying for Haman because it says he “rushed home, with his head covered in grief.” (Esther 6:12) Even upon arriving home to complain to all his friends and wife Zeresh, she says, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him – you will surely come to ruin!” (Esther 6:13) I wonder if she’s had a change of heart about those gallows?

Questions:

1. Can you recall a situation in your own life where someone's attempts to undermine or bring harm to you inadvertently backfired? How did you handle the outcome?

2. God uses circumstances in our lives to grow us and teach us humility. Have you felt like He has done that in your life?

3. Have you had times in your life where you saw God's divine intervention?