Conflict When I’m Under God’s Sovereignty (Esther 2:21-4:3)

In this lesson we’ll be addressing the topic of how to handle conflicts in life while resting in God’s sovereignty. It’s my prayer that this lesson will help us grow in how we handle the conflicts we face, while continuing to recognize God’s sovereignty.

In the previous lesson, we saw how Esther is proclaimed queen (2:20), and as we continue reading the next chapters, we see that one conflict arises after another.

Conflict is a struggle, fight, armed confrontation, a predicament or unfortunate situation with a difficult way out. And that’s precisely what we’ll see in this lesson, in the lives of the characters in this book.

Conflict 1: The Eunuchs and Their Plan to Kill the King (Esther 2:21-23)

While Mordecai was watching to receive news of Esther, he gains knowledge that two of the eunuchs, servants of the king, are plotting a plan to kill King Ahasuerus.

We see in verse 22 that Mordecai decides to take action; he sends a message to Esther, who passes the information to the king.

When investigating the matter (v. 23), they corroborate the eunuchs’ plan and these are punished with a death sentence for their lack of loyalty.

This event, including Mordecai’s name, was recorded in the book of the Chronicles of the king.

However, there’s no mention that Mordecai received any reward or recognition for his actions. I’ll give you a preview that, although the king didn’t recognize him at that moment, God had determined the right time.

Why did Mordecai make the decision to announce the eunuchs’ plan?

We don’t have a clear expression in the Word to answer this question, but we see in the rest of the book that he didn’t do it to call the king’s attention.

We can understand or infer that his decisions were based on his character, beliefs, values, and loyalty. These foundations in his life led him to face conflicts with truth and following the proper channels for the conflict to be resolved.

Let’s meditate

As Christian women, do we let God’s Word and our loyalty to God direct our decisions and our reaction to conflicts?

How do we react when some good we do goes unnoticed? Let me remind you that all your actions, good or bad, don’t go unnoticed before God.

Conflict 2: The Worship of Haman (Esther 3:1-5)

In this portion we meet a new character in this story, Haman. He was promoted in the kingdom and received authority given by the king over everyone.

In verse 2 we read that all the king’s servants bowed down before Haman, due to his authority and position, all except Mordecai.

The other servants of the king confront him for several days; however, Mordecai remains firm in his decision not to bow down.

His reason was that he was Jewish (v. 4). This could mean that, as a Jew, he didn’t bow before men, only before God; or that, because of his origin, he wouldn’t bow before Haman. Why?

Let’s pause to learn a little more about Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite. He’s a descendant of Agag, who was an enemy of Israel during Saul’s reign.

This nation of the Amalekites was in constant conflict with the Israelites, from the time they left Egypt.

Let me tell you about another event you can read about in 1 Samuel 15: God sent Saul to destroy the Amalekites, for all the damage they had done to Israel.

When Saul defeats the Amalekites, he decides, against God’s command, to spare the life of their king; that king was Agag, Haman’s ancestor.

In the previous lesson, while we met Mordecai, we saw that he was a descendant of Saul.

In these verses we see the beginning of a conflict between descendants of those who generations before were also in conflict.

As we’ll see in the next section, a conflict that goes from being personal and becomes again a conflict between nations.

Let’s meditate

While it’s true that we’re called to obey authorities (Titus 3:1), we must be prepared not to compromise our beliefs and the foundations of our faith.

Have you experienced this before?

How have you resolved it?

Let’s pray that the Lord helps us find that balance to remain firm in what we believe despite the conflict.

Conflict 3: The Destruction of the Jewish People (Esther 3:6-4:3)

Haman, upon learning that Mordecai wouldn’t bow before him, wasn’t satisfied with punishing him directly (v. 6) but went after the entire Jewish people.

When speaking with King Ahasuerus, he trusts in Haman’s decision and plan to destroy the Jews. Not only that, but he grants him the royal ring (v. 10). This was the physical expression in letters and edicts of the king’s approval; so he could do as he pleased.

It’s sent throughout all provinces, in all languages, the exact date when all Jews will be destroyed. Verse 13 says that none would escape. Haman wants to resolve his conflict by bringing destruction.

At the beginning of chapter 4 we see Mordecai’s and the other Jews’ response to this decree: one of mourning and lamentation. In the next lesson we’ll return to see this response in more detail.

Before concluding, I want to share several details of this plan and the process that will help us better understand what we’ll see later.

In verse 7, Pur is mentioned, which means casting lots. This was a practice of throwing dice to make decisions or choose someone from a group.

We see this practice on multiple occasions in the Bible, but it’s important to highlight that those choices were still under God’s sovereignty. The Israelites were confident it was so and, therefore, took it seriously.

Another very interesting detail is that, while Haman is casting lots to decide when he’ll destroy the Jewish people, it’s the month of Nisan.

During the month of Nisan, Jews celebrated Passover, remembering their liberation from Egypt. While they were celebrating their previous liberation, Haman was plotting their destruction. The lot fell on the 12th month, the month of Adar; just before the next Passover celebration.

Let’s meditate

God’s sovereignty is above our sin, above what we call luck or chance. God’s power to fulfill His will is not limited by any of these or other circumstances.

Although we don’t understand many situations, we must rest in the truth that God’s sovereignty continues in action and that should be a source of peace for us.

How do you handle conflicts?

We’ve seen Mordecai be wise, firm in his decisions, and we end seeing him surrender before God with his pain. Conflict can have many variants and levels.

The Jews received news that they had an enemy with authority who would pursue them to destroy them.

Do you know that you and I have the same threat today?

1 Peter 5:8 exhorts us: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Day by day we’re facing the same conflict as the Jews in Esther’s time, but at a spiritual level, we’re being stalked and the goal is to destroy us. Therefore we must be sober, be alert, and put on the armor of God.

We face the same conflict with one great difference from the Jewish people. We know the rest of the story: Christ, the Son of God, became man to obtain triumph, victory over our enemy on the cross of Calvary (Colossians 2:15).

But while we see the total consummation of that victory in His second coming, we put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-12) and remember that the struggle and conflict, although they may have names like Haman, is a spiritual struggle.

Put on the armor of God to face the small conflicts of day-to-day and the greater conflict for our soul. On days when this is more difficult, I invite you to read Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17:12-20.