Behind the Scenes – The Esther StorySample

Enter the drama’s “bad guy” – Haman, King Xerxes’ right-hand man and a top exec in his cabinet. Now, all the royal officials were expected to bow down in the presence of Haman. But there was one guy who scoffed at the idea – Mordecai, Esther’s cousin and foster parent, simply refuses to kneel before Haman.

Haman grows increasingly angry about this. He is so infuriated that he doesn’t just want to take his wrath out on Mordecai. Instead, he looks for “a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.”

Haman convinces King Xerxes – who doesn’t know his wife, Esther, is a Jew - that annihilating the Jews is a wise strategy for his kingdom. The law for the upcoming genocide is sealed and dispatches are sent informing people of the new edict.

Chapter 3 wraps up with the sombre line: “The king and Haman sat down to drink but the city of Susa was bewildered.”

They were bewildered. But God was not. 

I like how John Piper puts it: There are no limits to God’s rule. He is never helpless, never frustrated, never at a loss.

In the midst of that chaos, fear, and imminent anarchy, God was still in control. Xerxes and Haman may have seemed like they were in charge. But God’s Word reminds us that, “There is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Romans 13: 1)

When we look at the world around us, we may ask, “Really, God? Did you establish these authorities over us? Is this truly Your plan?”

St. Augustine says that, “Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen. He either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself.” 

But, here’s the thing: We don’t have to understand the plan to trust that God has a purpose. (Craig Groeschel)

We don’t have to like the plan or even accept the plan, but we do have to trust that God’s ways are far above ours. Princes and rulers come and go. But He is forever. Even the negative stuff happens by divine design. His sovereignty should give us unshakeable peace – even though situations around us are bewildering. 

Father God, Thank You for the deep assurance that You are in control. I trust that nothing and nobody can thwart Your plans. Today, I live in the peace that passes understanding because You are on the Throne. Amen