Esther 04.14 l THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD part02

Today’s reading: Esther 04.01-07.10

Esther 04.14 “14 “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?””

In today’s reading, we see the reaction of Mordecai to the new proclamation put forth by Haman, and Mordecai told Esther that she needed to do something about it (Esther 04.01-17). Esther goes before the king, and invited the king and Haman to a banquet, and Haman wants to execute (impale) Mordecai as soon as possible (Esther 05.01-14). That night, the king could not sleep, so he commanded that the records of his kingdom be read to him and realizes that Mordecai saved his life without being rewarded, and Haman had to publicly honor Mordecai (Esther 06.01-14). Later that evening, at the second banquet, Esther revealed Haman’s evil plot and the king had Haman hanged on the gallows that Haman built for Mordecai (Esther 07.01-10).

The providence of God is again revealed throughout our text for today.

Mordecai tells Esther in Esther 04.13 that even being queen will not exempt her from the new law that was set in motion to annihilate the Jews (Esther 03.07-15). And that maybe, this is why she was put into this royal position at this time, to be able to intercede for her people (Esther 04.08, 14), much in the same way that our LORD and Saviour interceded on behalf of all mankind by taking our place on the cross, and mediating daily for us (Isaiah 53.12; Luke 23.34; Romans 08.34; 1Timothy 02.05; Hebrews 07.25; Hebrews 08.06; Hebrews 09.15; Hebrews 09.24; Hebrews 12.24; 1John 02.01-02; 1John 02.12). Being a mediator implies that the mediator is approachable. Esther was approachable by Mordecai, the king was not approachable, but our King Jesus is, for we can come to Him anytime (Hebrews 04.16). A mediator is one who can put his hand on both (Job 09.32-33), meaning he not only can listen impartially but he is also able to relate to both parties. Esther was a Jew, but she was also queen. Therefore she could “mediate” between the king and her people. Much like Jesus, who became a man, yet was still God (Philippians 02.06-07). While He was here on earth, Jesus never ceased being completely God and never ceased being equal in essence with God the Father (Matthew 17.02; John 05.18; John 10.30-33; John 14.09; John 20.28).

Esther gets prepared and goes before the king (Esther 05.01). If you don’t have an invitation to come see the king and come unannounced, you are to immediately be put to death unless the king extends the scepter as a sign of grace towards you, and the king hasn’t summoned Esther in thirty days (Esther 04.11)! But, the king, in a sign of grace, extends the scepter and welcomes Esther (Esther 05.02). The king’s heart is truly in the hand of the LORD (Proverbs 21.01), especially when we have seen how irrational he is!

That night, the king could not sleep, so he commanded that the records of his kingdom be read to him (Esther 06.01). When it was read to him how Mordecai uncovered the plot to kill the king, the king asked if Mordecai was rewarded. Mordecai wasn’t, so the king decided to reward him. At that very moment, Haman came to visit the king to ask to hang Mordecai on the gallows (Esther 06.02-04). The king then asked Haman how to honor a faithful man, and Haman being full of himself thought it was about him. After describing how to honor a faithful man, Haman was told by the king to do what he just said for Mordecai (Esther 06.06-11)! Haman found out what happens to the proud (Proverbs 11.02; Proverbs 15.25; Proverbs 16.05; Proverbs 16.18; Proverbs 29.23; James 04.06).

Once at the banquet, Esther was able to speak to the king on behalf of her people only because of her position as the queen and the LORD giving her husband a soft heart towards her (Esther 07.01-07; Esther 02.09; Esther 02.17; Esther 04.14; Esther 05.02). By the providence of God, Haman the Hitler of his time was hanged/impaled on the very gallows that he constructed to hang/impale Mordecai (Esther 07.08-10; Proverbs 15.25).

Wow fate is so amazingly awesome! It’s not fate, but the providence of God, orchestrating the events of mankind, even those who have no fear of Him!