The Devil's Destiny

By Pastor Dan Hickling

“Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders ...”—Esther 3:12 (NIV)

As the story of Esther unfolds, some striking parallels start to come into focus for us. While what we’re reading is an actual record of historical happenings, these events also mirror things that are more cosmic and supernatural in scope.

For example, we find that the main villain in this drama is Haman. He became bent on killing every Jewish man, woman, and child because a Jewish man named Mordecai wouldn’t bow down to honor him. And because Haman was in a position of power in the king’s court at the time, he deceived the king into creating a law that called for every Jew to be killed on a specific day! We can read the details of this edict below.

“Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.” —Esther 3:13 (NIV)

What’s happening here? A figure who occupies a position of power is moving to eradicate and plunder the people God has chosen to reveal Himself through to the rest of the world. Does that remind you of someone else bent on a similar mission? It certainly does! Because, as Christians, God has also chosen to reveal Himself through us to the surrounding world. And just like the Jewish people, we also have an adversary who’s bent on destroying and decimating us. Peter identifies our antagonist this way:

“Be alert and of sober mind.Your enemy the devil prowls aroundlike a roaring lionlooking for someone to devour.”—1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

Haman’s agenda to destroy the Jewish race bears a strong resemblance to Satan’s scheme to attack those who comprise the flock of God, the church. The parallels are striking. Both are on the move against God’s representative people. Both attack on a sweeping scale from one end of the world to the other. Both lack authority within themselves to do what they do. And both are driven to deceive and manipulate to their own ends. The similarities cannot be missed!

But as we’ll see, Haman and Satan have something else in common, and that’s the way their stories end. We won’t spoil what happens to Haman here, that will be seen in the days ahead. However, we can get a preview by looking at the fate of his parallel counterpart. Here’s what the Bible tells us concerning the devil’s destiny:

“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur ... tormented day and night for ever and ever.”—Revelation 20:10 (NIV)

It’s important to understand that even though the enemies of God’s people, be it Haman or Satan, are allowed to conspire and scheme for a season of time ... that season will eventually expire. At a point in time of God’s choosing, their unjust acts will be brought to a just end. But until that time, His people are to patiently put their hope and trust in the King of all kings.

Pause: Who does Haman typify and why is it important to see and understand this?

Practice: What must we never forget when it comes to the devil’s destiny? Today, reflect on what this means for the world, for those who don’t know Jesus, and for you as a believer.

Pray: Lord God, we understand that we who belong to You are also going to come under spiritual attack from the adversary. We pray You would protect us and strengthen us in our trust and hope that You will overcall every attack and agenda of the enemy and that we are overcomers through You. Amen.