For Such a Time as This (Part 2)

 

For Such a Time as This

(Part 2)

For Such a time as This (Part 2) - Audio/Visual 

If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

Where we last left off, Haman had just made an offer to the king that was, apparently, too good to refuse. Now, we don’t know if Xerxes simply wanted to exterminate approximately half of his kingdom’s population, or if the $13 million was his incentive, but we have a clue a little later on in the story which we’ll get to in just a moment. All we know is that Xerxes took off his signet ring and that was that; Haman’s plan was approved. And once enacted into law, the law could not be changed.

Of course, word spreads like wildfire since, apparently, the citizens had a pretty good postal service. And at the news, the entire Jewish population goes into mourning, especially those in the capital, Susa. Ironically, or perhaps not, the law was passed just one (1) day before Passover. In other words, on the eve of the Jews’ greatest deliverance, they’ve been ordered exterminated. Ignoring the pain of the populace, Xerxes and Haman are laughing and drinking it up as, apparently, is their custom. Interestingly, what Xerxes heard, i.e., the word Aw-bad, which means enslavement, was written Ab-bad which means to destroy. In other words, it was a homophone – two words that sound alike but have very different meanings. Thus, what Xerxes heard, i.e., enslavement, could very well have been his motivation in approving the legislation since he would have welcomed a foreign slave populace. That’s why Esther would later use the word, “destroyed,” in her request of the king, rather than “enslaved.” (Esther 7:4). Evil genius that Haman was, Haman intended to destroy the Jewish people and crafted the language of the written legislation to clarify that the Jews were to be destroyed, not enslaved.

Mordecai, of course, hears of Haman’s genocidal plan since he was always sitting at the King’s gate. Mordecai knew exactly what the law intoned and immediately went into mourning by wearing sackcloth. Esther hears of Mordecai’s despair and sends an assistant to find out why since the palace was generally secluded from the outside world. Knowing that Mordecai would be in sackcloth, however, Esther also sends a change of clothes to Mordecai to cover up since he was not in compliance with the palace dress code; Mordecai refuses. What we don’t know from the story is whether Mordecai was mourning for his people, or weeping because of his stubbornness which triggered the death sentence in the first place. In the final analysis, it really doesn’t matter because the results were the same: the Jews were to be wiped off the face of the planet in less than a year.

Esther, understanding only that Mordecai was in mourning, sends one of the king’s eunuchs to ask some questions of Mordecai who thereupon informs the eunuch about the law, including Haman’s blood money payment; it seems that the palace was always the last to know. The eunuch returns with the proclamation, including Mordecai’s encouragement to Esther to talk to the king about the new, “killer legislation.” Esther sends word back to Mordecai, “No can do,” explaining that any man or woman who goes to the king without an invitation is a dead “man,” or woman, unless the king extends his scepter. Problem is, Esther hasn’t seen the king in thirty (30) days. That’s a problem, or so she thinks.

Mordecai’s response? “Don’t think for a moment that you won’t escape the same punishment. If you remain silent, deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your relatives (which would include Mordecai as Esther’s relative) will die.” But like any good parent, Mordecai seasons his frank assessment with a word of encouragement: “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) Esther, resolved to be a change agent, agrees to see the king but with one caveat: “We’ll have to fast for three (3) days and then if I perish, I perish.” So, Esther, along with the entire Jewish population, spends three (3) days in prayer and fasting. Seeking the Lord through prayer and fasting has always been a good idea, especially when your life is at stake.

On day three (3) Esther goes to see the king. Now, it’s been thirty (30) days since the king has seen his queen and rather than saying “Off with their heads,” like the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, Xerxes says, “Wow, what a fox,” or something to that effect, and extends his scepter. Esther, understandably, breathes a sigh of relief and while catching her breath hears her husband say, “Baby, what do you want? I’ll give you up to ½ of my kingdom.” Probably a euphemism, but hey, the king’s happy. Quick-witted Esther or, perhaps, God-inspired, says, “Honey, I’m throwing a party. Would you like to come? And if so, please bring Haman with you.” Clearly, Esther was aware of the old saw that “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” but there was more. You see, had it been just dinner for two (2), the king may have had more on his mind than just dinner. This way, Esther eliminated the “he said, “she said” problems that might later occur because Haman would now be a witness. The king accepted the offer he couldn’t refuse and agrees to bring Haman over to Esther’s place for the party. Of course, you can imagine Haman’s response, preening as he gloats, “Hey, I’m having dinner with the king and the queen! But that’s only appropriate since I’m super important; I’m the Prime Minister.”

That night, Esther really pours it on and puts on a spread so lavish that the king is beside himself and says, “Baby, what do you want? I’ll give you up to ½ of my kingdom.” Same euphemism. Esther, apparently quite the party planner, says, “You know, honey, it just so happens that I’m throwing another party tomorrow. Will you come? And please bring Haman with you; he’s such a party animal. And if you’ll come, I promise I’ll tell you what I want.” Like a trout on a line, the king says, “Absolutely! We’ll be there with bells on.” At that, Haman is now whistling all the way home until he sees Mordecai – the same Mordecai that wouldn’t previously bow now doesn’t even bother getting up. Haman is now steaming mad, goes home and brags to his wife and friends about what a great guy he is, how much money he has, how many kids he has, his promotion, and how he has advanced ahead of everyone in the kingdom. But that stupid Mordecai still won’t bow, much less even get up now. Despite the pity party, Haman quietly takes solace in the fact that only he and the king will be attending Esther’s party.

Sympathizing with her husband’s anguish, Haman’s wife, a real peach, suggests that Haman build a gallows in the backyard to hang Mordecai – an idea that is enthusiastically embraced by Haman’s friends. But this wasn’t going to be just any gallows; it was to be a gallows 75’ high which would be about the height of a seven-story building and clearly visible from miles away. Impressed with his wife’s thinking outside of the box, Haman quickly hires the king’s carpenters and, viola, up goes a seven-story gallows conveniently constructed just outside of Haman’s patio. There’s nothing like a high hanging.

Meanwhile, the King can’t sleep – think Sleepless in Susa. Maybe it was the food he ate, but rather than ordering up some warm milk he decides to hear a few stories about his escapades and asks for the Chronicles of the Kings to be read to him. Remarkably, it just so happens that the reading of the chronicles includes the story about Mordecai saving the king from that earlier assassination attempt. Call it a divine coincidence, if you will. Having his memory refreshed, he asks the reader, “Hey, what’s been done for that hero, Mordecai? “Uhhhhh, nothing sir.” “Well, that certainly won’t do. Who’s in the house now?” “Uhhhhh, well, Haman is, sir.” “Well, what’s keeping you? Bring him in.”

Haman can’t get there fast enough when he hears the king say, “Hey, Haman, what should we do for the man whom the king delights to honor?” Haman, thinking that the king was referring to himself, of course, ticks off a laundry list of special honors for just such a person, including: (1) the royal robe; (2) the king’s horse; (3) the royal crest on the horse’s head to be delivered by one of the king’s most noble princes; and (5) a street parade. Thrilled with the suggestions, the king says, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor! We’re going to honor Mordecai, Mordecai Mordecai, Mordecai,” as the name ricochets around in Haman’s head. Crushed, Haman runs home to tell his wife and best friends about what just happened, keeping his head covered to prevent anyone from seeing his red-faced embarrassment. Unfortunately, rather than finding comfort and solace in his wife and best friends, they abandon ship and say, “You know, if Mordecai is a Jew, you’re pretty much a dead man.”

Just then, the eunuchs come get Haman to take him to Esther’s party, and Haman’s not exactly in the party mood but the king is and, as is his custom, says, “Hey, baby, what do you want? I’ll give you up to ½ of my kingdom.” Same euphemism. Esther responds, “My life.” “What, baby? What did you say?” “I want my life,” Esther responds. “Who wants to take your life, baby?” “You’re looking at him honey – it’s Haman.” Now, putting out a contract on his wife had Xerxes just a little upset and Haman stands there like a deer caught in the headlights. In fact, the Scripture says that Haman was “terrified,” which would be a Biblical understatement. But Xerxes, not wanting to overreact and kill Haman on the spot, decided to go outside and cool off. When he returns, he sees Haman pleading for his life. The problem is that Haman’s pleading for his life while draped over the Queen’s couch and you don’t go touching the king’s women. Understandably, the king thinks Haman is trying to rape his wife, which isn’t good – another understatement. And as fast as you can say, “String him up,” the servants cover Haman’s face (because he’s a dead man walking) and hang him on the gallows at the Haman residence – 75’ high.

Faced with the dilemma of being unable to change the Haman-induced legislation, the king, for the first time, conceives of and delivers an order. First, Haman’s household goes to Esther (who gives it to Mordecai), and a new law is enacted allowing the Jews to protect themselves from the deadly results of the former legislation. As a result, Esther lives happily ever after, and Mordecai is promoted to Prime Minister. And all of this is recorded without a single reference to God. So, where was God? Was he out of the picture, or was he the picture? Jesus is on every page of the Old Testament, and the truth is that you were born for such a time as this. Are you a senior saint? You were born for such a time as this – you have faithfully served your church in your locale and it has prospered. Are you a youth? You were born for such a time as this – you are the future of the Lord’s church in your community. A new Christian? You were born for such a time as this – you will add enthusiasm while evangelizing your city. Our God is not the God of coincidence. All things happen for a purpose. (Rom. 8:28)

It seems to me that we spend far too much time trading what we don’t know for what we do know. For instance, I don’t know why God allows things to happen as he does, but I do know that he loves me. So, don’t trade what you don’t know for what you do know. You’ve just seen God’s grace through the book of Esther despite the fact that God’s name is never mentioned – once. Perhaps that’s because God’s grace, even without mention, is sufficient to cover your sins and mine. God’s grace was manifest in sending his son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. God’s grace was manifest in raising his son from the dead, never to die again and is now seated at God’s right hand. God’s grace has given all things unto Christ Jesus, our Lord. God’s grace was shed for you and me. God’s grace is free; it cannot be earned. God’s grace simply needs to be accepted. The question is, “Will you accept God’s gift?”

He’s calling, you know. He’s knocking; he’s waiting. All you need to do is accept this gift by acknowledging your sin, repenting of it, asking God for his forgiveness and putting him on in baptism – not as a work, but as an outward expression of your acceptance of this gift because you don’t earn a gift – you earn a paycheck. And you didn’t do anything to earn God’s grace – it’s a gift that all you have to do is accept. How hard is that? I know, I know. “There’s no free lunch,” and you’re right. You don’t get God’s gift for free because it came at a cost. But God, through Jesus Christ, paid that price. Hard to believe, I know. That’s what Satan says.

You have a choice, and who knows but that you were born for just such a time as this.

Grace,

Randy