Esther: God's Perfect Work Through Imperfect PeopleSample

When Life Is Unfair

In this passage, we see Mordecai the Jew save the king from an assassination attempt, but not be rewarded. Then Haman the Agagite (historically Agagites were bitter enemies of the Jewish people) gets promoted to second in command over all the kingdom. If you were an ancient Jew reading this story, these events would not make you happy.

Mordecai refuses Haman’s new edict that he must be bowed down to, and Haman uses the refusal as an opportunity to manipulate the king into writing an edict to wipe out all the Jewish people. This raises an interesting question for us as readers: how should we respond when life is unfair? There is no world where genocide against an entire group of people can be justified because of one person’s refusal to bow down. Yet that is what happens.

Yet the reality is that our level of trust in God determines our response to unfair treatment. We will see later in this book that it’s a good thing Mordecai wasn’t rewarded for his actions immediately, but in the moment that also seems unfair.

When really hard things come our way, it is hard not to be anxious, scared, or worried. So what can we do to trust God when life is unfair? Look back to God’s faithfulness in the past. Seeing God’s past faithfulness helps you trust him in the future.

It won’t take all the worry away, but it will encourage you. We are so quick to forget how God has moved once our next want or need comes up, and so we forget how good he has been.

Not only that, but this passage also shows us something else. King Xerxes no doubt did many evil things, but in this scenario he is the passive party to evil, while Haman is the perpetrator. And while it is worse to be the one leading the charge, passive compliance to evil is still evil.

Put another way, our love for others determines our willingness to care about them. Especially when doing nothing would be easy, and doing something could cost you something. As the book continues we will see that Esther could have done nothing. She was the queen after all, who was going to harm her? So will she have the courage to move?

But for now, we reflect on one final important truth. When life is hard and unfair, our hope does not only come from God’s goodness, but also from his power.

It’s a small thing if God cares for us but has no power to do anything against evil. It’s an entirely different thing if he is not only good but is also powerful enough to make all things right. And this is what the heart of the Gospel is all about. That God’s providence is greater than life’s injustices.

God sees all things and is over all things, and just like this story (for now) seems hopeless, nothing takes God by surprise. Injustices happen in this life, but the story isn’t over just yet.

Today’s reflection

What difficulties are you currently facing that are hard for you to trust God with? Reflect on the times God has been faithful to you in the past and see how it encourages you in the present.