Esther: Silent but SovereignНамуна

Mordecai’s edict brought about a complete reversal of Haman’s one. Verse 1 says, 

On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. 

What a great summary of the whole book of Esther! 

When the Jews assembled in their cities to defend themselves against their attackers, no-one could stand against them. Everyone was afraid of them (v. 2). They struck down their enemies and destroyed them. They killed 500 men in the citadel of Susa (v. 6) and also Haman’s ten sons (v. 7). In the rest of the province, they killed 75,000 of their enemies (v. 16). 

The Jews weren’t initiating the attacks; they were only permitted to defend themselves against those attacking them. We know they adhered to this principle because verse 3 tells us they were helped by all the important citizens of the province and the king’s own administrators. Mordecai’s edict deterred many men from sinning against God’s people by attempting to kill them. Seventy-five thousand was a small percentage of the total number of Gentile men living throughout the province; most refrained from attacking the Jews. 

Xerxes’ response to the victory of the Jews in Susa was surprising. We might expect that he would be angry at the Jews or regretful of his decision to allow their defense. But he wanted Esther to be satisfied that justice was served and was prepared to grant a further request (v. 12). 

Why did Esther request that the Jews in Susa be granted another day in which to attack their enemies and for Haman’s sons to be hanged on the poles when they were already dead (v. 13)? Three hundred more men die (v. 15) but it’s unlikely Esther was acting out of a vengeful desire to cause more pain to the non-Jewish citizens of Susa. It’s more likely that she wanted to be sure that the threat to God’s people really was eliminated. It’s possible she believed the impaling of Haman’s sons would serve as a public warning that God’s people would not face that kind of threat again. 

Everything that had been true for the Jews in Persia a year earlier was reversed. They were no longer frightened but victorious. They were no longer characterized by desperation but by rejoicing. They no longer feared death but embraced life. 

As Christians everything that was true for us before our conversion has also been reversed. We no longer fear death because Jesus has been victorious over it. We are no longer desperate because of our sin but rejoice that Jesus’ death and resurrection have dealt with it completely. We no longer face destruction but eternal life.

Reflection

Reflect on the changes that God has brought about in your life. How often do you thank Him for His work? Do you trust that He can reverse any situation that you’re in?