Our Actions and God’s Purpose (Esther 5-7)
In this study of the book of Esther, we have been learning that God’s purpose is always fulfilled; God’s sovereignty is always at work, even when it doesn’t appear that He is intervening directly.
This is precisely what we will see in chapters 5-7 of Esther; we will explore 4 scenes that will help us see how, even in the midst of our daily actions, God’s purpose is fulfilled.
Scene 1 (Esther 5:1-8): Esther’s Character
Esther’s preparation to present herself before the king was not physical but spiritual. After the three days of fasting, she dressed in her royal robes and went to present herself before the king.
Let’s notice that her actions were patient, courageous, and full of faith. That time of fasting was not simply to go hungry; it helped her wait patiently on the Lord (Psalm 40:1), establish a plan, and be filled with courage.
Esther again begins to find favor before the king. Let’s remember that, as we have seen previously, she receives this favor because it is part of God’s plan; therefore she is forgiven for approaching the king without being summoned by him.
The king recognizes that there is concern in Esther’s “desperate” action of presenting herself without having been called. When Esther makes her petition, it’s not what we are expecting. We are expecting intercession for her people, and what comes from her lips is… an invitation?
She invites King Ahasuerus and Haman to a banquet, and then invites them to a second banquet. It would seem that Esther forgot what the purpose was of presenting herself before the king, but this is not so—everything is under God’s purpose.
Let’s meditate on our actions and Esther’s
How do we resolve conflicts in our lives?
Do we act hastily?
Do we seek a way out trusting in our own strength and abilities?
Or do we present ourselves before God to know His will?
Let’s look at a more practical example: when someone hurts us, harms us, or is planning evil against us, how do we respond? Do we wait on the Lord and act patiently, courageously, and full of faith like Esther?
Or do we run to take justice into our own hands, to make hasty complaints without even considering what God’s plan is?
Scene 2 (Esther 5:9-14): Haman’s Nature
This scene begins with Haman happy and content because of the recognition Queen Esther has given him by inviting him to the exclusive banquet. But this joy didn’t last long when he encountered Mordecai and saw that he showed no signs of reverence or fear.
To calm his fury, he decides to call his friends and wife to recount his riches and his glories; and he does this to continue feeding his pride. However, he himself admits that none of this is enough, because of the hatred he feels toward Mordecai.
His friends and wife give him a quick idea to eliminate the object of his dissatisfaction: ask that Mordecai be taken to the gallows. Let’s remember that Haman didn’t want to punish only Mordecai, but wanted to demonstrate his power, which is why he went after the welfare of his entire people.
However, now he wants to take his revenge against Mordecai. He orders the gallows to be prepared, and on his to-do list for the next day is: eliminate Mordecai.
Let’s meditate on our actions and Haman’s
Pride in Haman was so strong that it controlled all his emotions and clouded his thinking to such a point that his evil grew even more. Because of his pride, he couldn’t even finish enjoying the privilege of participating in an exclusive banquet.
Pride leaves us like Haman, unsatisfied; there is nothing that satisfies us, it leaves us seeking more. Do we recognize pride in our lives?
Feeling happy when completing a task, or because of achievements we have reached, is not bad; but when we think that those achievements or recognitions make us more than another person, we have problems.
Our emotions get out of control, both positive and negative. We stop enjoying the blessings and common grace we receive from God because we are longing for more.
When we allow pride and arrogance to take over our character, we stop seeing the destruction we are causing to others and the danger we are entering. (Proverbs 16:18)
I cannot pass up this opportunity to turn our attention to Haman’s friends and wife.
How do we counsel those whose pride has been wounded?
Do we feed their dissatisfaction?
Do we offer quick solutions to their problems?
Do we help identify the sin of pride or do we feed it?
Lord, help us to be honest about the pride in our lives and may we also be good counselors who direct conversations through Your word and what brings glory to Your name.
Scene 3 (Esther 6:1-14): Mordecai’s Exaltation
In this chapter we see the connection with the events in chapter 2 when Mordecai learns of the two eunuchs who were plotting to kill the king.
Again, we see actions that seem to be pure coincidence, but as we have been studying, it is God behind the scenes who is moving all the pieces to fulfill His final purpose.
The king cannot sleep and they begin to read to him the Book of Records, a book of the kingdom’s events, and they come to that story where Mordecai saved the king’s life by warning of the eunuchs’ plan.
We studied this event in the lesson: Recognizing God’s Sovereignty (Esther 1:1-2:20)
The king realizes that no recognition was given to Mordecai and decides it is time to do so. Haman arrives at the palace to attend to the first matter on his task list, but is called by the king who requests his help in preparing a tribute.
Haman’s pride is such that he thinks there is no one else worthy in the palace who deserves the king’s recognition but himself. (6:6) With this thought, Haman decides, as we say in Puerto Rico, to “throw the house out the window.”
He presents all the details of how this man should be honored, I imagine dreaming of how he would look with all the recognitions:
A robe and a royal crown, a horseback ride through the entire city, led by one of the princes who would announce: this man is honored by the king.
Haman is ready to be honored and hears the king say: hurry and do everything you have said with Mordecai the Jew.
Imagine Haman’s face not only with the disappointment that he would not receive the honor, but that it fell to him to give honor and recognition to Mordecai.
This is a change of plans!
His first task of the day was to take Mordecai to the gallows, and God changed that plan through the king so that he would honor him before everyone.
In verse 12 we see that Haman returned to his house, lamenting, ashamed, with his pride even more wounded.
On this occasion his friends and wife recognize a detail that seems to have escaped them previously: if Mordecai is Jewish, you will not be able to prevail against him.
This expression is perhaps the clearest announcement that God is in control of this story, even though we don’t hear His name. The power of the Jewish lineage was not in their customs or traditions, but in who their God was, the I AM.
Let’s meditate on our actions and Mordecai’s
This scene never ceases to amaze me, but I want us to meditate mainly on this: In what way do we conduct ourselves day to day?
Previously we saw that Mordecai did the right thing by reporting the eunuchs’ plan, even without expecting recognition. After being recognized in such a splendorous way, he simply returns to his place at the king’s gate.
Do you see the difference between Mordecai and Haman?
One prideful to the point that nothing satisfies him and he begins to plan evil against others. The other humble, doing what is right, resting in the knowledge he has of who his God is.
While we do our tasks and serve at work, our family, at home, the local church, the community, what are we expecting?
To be recognized by men, like Haman, to make us proud; or do we do everything knowing that God’s reward and justice are better than men’s? (Matthew 23:12)
Scene 4 (Esther 7:1-10): Esther’s Petition
They arrive at the banquet: King Ahasuerus to enjoy good wine and good food; Haman, still tormented by the morning’s events and his family’s words; Queen Esther, clinging to the hope that God’s purpose will be fulfilled, for He is sovereign and has control of everything.
On the second day of the banquet, the king is already anxious to know Esther’s petition and tells her again that he will give her whatever she asks. Read again Esther’s petition in chapter 7:3-4; note the temperance and wisdom with which she expresses her petition.
It was not a desperate complaint, but a humble petition (if I have found favor in your eyes), considering the king’s priorities (grant me my life) and addressing the tragedy her people face.
Esther reveals that it is Haman who has set a price and executed a plan to destroy the Jewish people, and this includes her. Haman is terrified at this new information, since they did not know that Esther was Jewish.
The king’s fury was kindled against Haman. Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, says: “Indeed, Haman has a gallows at his house on which he wanted to hang Mordecai.” The king gives the order to hang him there, and so it was.
Let’s meditate on how we handle conflicts
Esther’s handling of presenting her petition before the king leads us to ask ourselves: How do we handle conflicts and communicate disagreements?
Whether small ones with the people closest to us or deeper ones with neighbors, bosses, or strangers.
Let’s follow Esther’s example: let’s present ourselves in prayer and fasting before God, so that our heart may rest in Him and we can address the situation with wisdom and temperance.
God’s Purpose
The eunuch said “Indeed, Haman has a gallows at his house.” For this man, as for the others who knew of Haman’s plan with the gallows, they must have thought what a coincidence that he himself would order the preparation of the gallows where he would die.
However, as we have studied, there are no simple coincidences our lives are under God’s sovereignty. Our actions and decisions cannot escape God’s purpose.
Haman’s pride, the king’s sleeplessness, Esther’s banquets, Mordecai’s decisions, the planned evil, the words that come from our mouths, none escape God’s power and the exercise of His will.
This truth gives us a security that we cannot receive in any other way, and thus we receive the peace that surpasses all understanding. For even though we don’t understand why specific events happen, we rest in the I AM.
To continue meditating, I invite you to read Isaiah 41:8-11; and take time to pray that the truth of God’s sovereignty impacts your actions day by day.
