The Book Of Esther
In this story God's sense of humor can be seen in the "poetic justice" that happens to Haman, involving Mordecai the Jew.
The story opens with the King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes I, deposing his Queen Vashti (1:1-22), then holding a "beauty contest" to determine who would take her position as Queen. Now the Jewish people had been conquered by his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, and had been dispersed among the nations of his kingdom. As it happened, Mordecai the Jew lived in the capital city, who was bringing up his orphaned relative Hadassah, known as Esther, and she won the position, becoming the new Queen (2:1-20).
Now, Mordecai refused to bow down to anyone but the Lord God, and when the King's official, Haman, realized this, he was so full of himself that he did not want to punish just Mordecai, but all of his people, who would refuse to bow to him, and had the King sign the law to destroy all the Jews in the whole kingdom (3:1-15).
Chapter 4 brings us to the most famous verse in this book, affirming God's sovereign control over the people, rulers and events of this earth. When Esther inquires why Mordecai is dressed in rags, he informs her of the king's decree, with a copy of the edict, asking her to implore the favor of the king for their survival. Her answer reveals how she would take her life in her hands to do so, and requests fasting and prayer for her success, saying, And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish (4:16).
Chapter 5 has Haman so vengeful toward Mordecai that he has a gallows built to hang him on it. But God gives the King sleeplessness that night, so he has the book of records read to him to put him to sleep, and he learns how Mordecai had saved his life, and not been rewarded for it. Early the next morning Haman comes into the palace courtyard just then, and advises the King as to how he thought the King wanted to honor himself! So the King tells him to do so to Mordecai the Jew! (Poetic justice.)
(Chapter 7) Then that night, when Esther informs the King that it is Haman who is plotting to destroy her and her people, the King hangs Haman on his own gallows! (More poetic justice.)
(Chapter 8) He then promotes Mordecai into Haman's government position, and together they devise a way for the Jews to defend themselves, so they won't be wiped out, and (Chapter 9) they had a great victory over their enemies. This is the origin of the Feast of Purim, to be celebrated annually.
We know that God is sovereign in the affairs of men and nations, when we read that, Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" (4:13-14).
This is another example of how our Enemy wants to destroy God's people, and how only His working in our affairs supernaturally will thwart Satan's genocidal plans to wipe out those on whose God's favor rests. But we need to be sure of our trust in the Lord, and not in our own humanity, and our obedience to His urgings in our spirits to do His will in our everyday lives.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
