The Unseen Hand of God in Our LivesSample

Satan’s ‘Check’ Versus God’s ‘Check-Mate’

Check is a term in chess when a player's king is attacked. If the king is in check, the player must find a way to stop the threat; he cannot just ignore it. Checkmate (often called mate) is when a player's king is attacked (in check) and there is no way to escape that attack. Or, simply put, the king is under attack and cannot get out of being captured. A checkmate is the main goal in chess; a player who is mated loses the game.

When Satan put Haman into place, it was as if he announced "Check." God then positioned Esther and Mordecai in order to put Satan into Checkmate!

The chapter has been described as ‘the most ironically comical scene in the entire Bible’. It presents a vivid drama where the rivalry and tension between two main characters is visibly acted out. While Haman plots Mordecai’s outrageous death, the king plans to honor Mordecai’s faithful service.

The Bible does not tell us why the king could not sleep that night. But there are at least five indications of God's providence in the first five verses of this chapter: the king's insomnia (6:1a), his choice of entertainment (6:1b), the servant's choice of books (6:1c), the king's delay in rewarding Mordecai (6:2-3), and the timely arrival of Haman (6:4-5) 

Surely all this could not have been coincidental. It was God indeed turning the pages. God uses the mundane, everyday happenings of life to accomplish His purpose.

We find that Haman’s suggestion of the reward backfires. He thought that he was going to be the beneficiary of the reward. But the tables were turned. Mordecai was rewarded. This was one of the moves of God before the final checkmate!

It is interesting to note that after all the public acclaim that Mordecai received we find in verse 12 that he returned to the gate. He did not allow it to get to his head.  Warren Wiersbe rightly observes: “Applause doesn’t change truly humble people, for their values are far deeper. God can trust His blessings with the humble because they seek to honor only the Lord”.

Have you received a promotion recently? Do you see this as a reward for your hard earned efforts or do you see this as the favor of God upon you? Are you filled with pride or are you humble?

Once Haman returns home, even his own wife turns the tables on him.

It is striking that such a seemingly insignificant event as the sleepless night of the king forms the turning point for the whole narrative.

Have you seen the unseen hand of God at work in your everyday life with regard to people you meet and circumstances you face? Can you think of times in your life when God has intervened with his impeccable timing?

Quote: “God is never late and rarely early. He is always exactly right on time--His time”- Dillon Burroughs

Prayer: Lord help me to trust in You and never fret about Your timing because You are always on time. Amen