persistent presence
Last week, I wrote about the first five chapters of Esther and how God used Esther and Mordecai. Placing them in purposeful places which resulted in them saving all of the Jews in Susa. The last five chapters bring to fruition the placement of Esther and Mordecai.
Chapter 6 is the beginning of Haman’s downfall & Mordecai’s exaltation. This chapter is the turning point of the story. The king couldn't sleep the night before and had asked that the book of memorable deeds be read to him. This reminded the king of how Mordecai had protected the king, so the king sought to honor Mordecai. The irony is that Haman, unknowingly, came up with the plan to honor Mordecai.
Chapter 7 reveals Haman’s plot and then he is hung on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Esther threw two feasts to reveal Haman’s plot. Once Esther had told the king of Haman’s plan, he became enraged. His drunken rage in this scenario is parallel with his drunken rage in ch. 1.
Chapter 8 Esther asks King Ahasuerus to save her people. The king allows Esther to make a new decree to save the Jews, and the Jews rejoice & celebrate. This joy and celebration is in direct contrast with Mordecai’s grieving in ch. 4. Mordecai grieved due to the plot of Haman and now they are rejoicing in the deliverance they’ve received.
Chapter 9 is where all of the Jews in Susa defend themselves against their enemies. On the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain mastery over them, the reverse occurred. The Jews gained mastery over those that hated them (9:1). The Jews also killed the ten sons of Haman, and then hung them on the gallows. Gallows were like large sharp, wooden stakes that they would impale people on. Ouch. the end of the chapter describes the feast of Purim. Purim was a celebration. If you remember in Chapter 3, the king cast pur (which means dice) deciding the day that will bring disaster to the Jews. Now the Jews are celebrating their rescue with a feast called Purim. God turned their sorrow into gladness and their mourning into a holiday.
In chapter 10, Mordecai is exalted. He was exalted to second in rank to the king. This was a huge deal as Mordecai was a Jew. If you take a step back and look at the book of Esther as a whole, you see a drastic contrast in the first 5 chapters to the last 5. The irony in Esther is impossible to ignore. From Haman plotting to kill all of the Jews to Haman having to honor Mordecai. From Haman being killed to Mordecai being exalted. God was in every aspect of this story. Nothing was a coincidence in this story.
The progression of Esther tells the story of God’s persistent presence and provision for His people. I’m completely in awe of God. If Esther and Mordecai had not made themselves available to be placed where they were, they would’ve missed the opportunity to glorify God and save His people. God is faithful always (see what I did there?) but we also have to be faithful to him. Even when He feels absent. He is working in our lives and remaining faithful to His promises even when we are living in the midst of exile.
Cause you’re the only answer my heart’s been searching for.
So I’ll praise you in the quiet, and I’ll praise you in the storm
Praise Him from who all blessings flow.
The Doxology -Tori Harper
