The Highs and the LowsSample

Esther (The Highs)

So back to the story. Esther and Mordecai still have their potential downfall on the way, and to add to that, Haman is planning to ask the King to have Mordecai be impaled on a stake. But one night, while the King couldn’t sleep, he asked one of his attendants to read him the Royal Chronicles, which caused him to be reminded of Mordecai’s loyalty. In Haman’s next encounter with the King, where he pleads for Mordecai’s execution, the King instead instructs Haman to honour Mordecai. Mordecai’s biggest enemy has now been forced to raise him up publicly. This all sets the stage perfectly for Esther to act.

Esther throws a banquet for the King and Haman at which she reveals her Jewish identity and that Haman’s plot will directly affect her people. In response, the King instead flips the script on Haman, and now his death is about to occur. We see parallels to Joseph's story, where Mordecai is now raised to second in command, and the Jewish people now thrive in a foreign land.

We see here that God places people in positions to enable change. Just like we read about Joseph and Elijah, Esther used her position for the good of God’s people. It all goes back to what Mordecai tells Esther in chapter 4. “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Questions

Q: What positions are you in that you could enable change? Are you in your school council, in a position of popularity, or an older sibling? What does it look like for you to use your influence for the good of others?

Prayer:

Lord, I pray that you would give me eyes to see how I can use my influence for the good of others. I pray my heart would be broken for hard-pressed people and that I wouldn’t use the gifts and talents you’ve placed in me selfishly but rather to bring life to others.

Amen