Esther 6:1-14
Please read your Bible text: Esther 6:1-14
‘That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him.’ 6:1, (NLT)
As previously mentioned, God is not mentioned at all in the book of Esther but we can see His working throughout the book of Esther. Esther 6 is especially so when we see Him working. God in His grace turned the table against the villain, Haman in favor of the innocent Mordecai. It all began one night when the king had trouble sleeping. It wasn’t just one of those sleepless nights for the king – it was to be a divine arrangement!
So it wasn’t just the courage of Esther to stand before the king, wanting to plead for the deliverance of her people. It wasn’t just her witty approach either. God was at work. He was preparing the stage so that when it comes to the final crunch for Esther to voice her request – it was going to be a breakthrough.
When God is at Work
A sleepless night for the king turned out to be a blessing for Mordecai. The king had not rewarded Mordecai for saving him from a previous murder plot by two of his royal eunuchs(2:21-22) in the past. In fact, the king had quite forgotten about Mordecai. It was on this sleepless night, as he stayed awake and read the historical record of his reign that God would have him remembered Mordecai. When God is at work –He remembers, even when kings forget. Even if your good work goes unnoticed by your boss – remember, it is enough that God remembers.
The villain, Haman came in just as the king was deciding how to reward Mordecai (6:1-4). Here is a sense of humor when Haman who hated Mordecai was ordered by the king to spell out the greatest honor on anyone who pleases him (6:5-6). Haman not knowing that the king had in mind Mordecai, thought that there was no one the king desired more to honor than he, spelled out the greatest honor (6:7-9). Eventually, when Haman found out that it was to be on Mordecai, it was too late. Humiliated, Haman was asked to carry out that very honor on Mordecai (6:10-14). God turned royal sleeplessness into a royal blessing on Mordecai! When God is at work – there can be no mere coincidence.
When You Suffer Unjustly
God vindicated the innocentMordecai. When you are suffering indignity or injustice at the hands of the enemies, may you return to this story and remember that as honor came to Mordecai through Haman, so honor and compensation shall accrue through the very circumstances and people that have harmed you. The setbacks shall be turned into success. The tragedy shall be turned into triumph. Amen!
When One becomes Callous
Pride had so carried away Haman into self-conceit. He was conceited enough to believe that there was no else in the royal kingdom the king would honor more than he. The hatred he had for Mordecai led him to his murderous intent to kill. In fact, it was in the early dawn of that royal sleepless night as the king came in – Haman was about to ask the king to impale Mordecai on the gallows, which he had prepared overnight (6:4; 5:14). While the king was having trouble sleeping, Haman was busy preparing the 75-feet gallows. Haman was later impaled (next chapter) on the very gallows he set up for Mordecai. When one’s heart is callous with pride and hatred, there can be only one result – humiliation and destruction. If your callousness led you into setting up a trap for others – you may well fall into your own trap. “If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead”(Proverbs 26:27).
THINK: The next time you had trouble sleeping – it may well be a divine appointment.
PRAYER: Father God, I praise you for You are above all the circumstances of my life. You specialize in turning the circumstances around in my favor. I thank You that You always remember me even when my closest ones forget. Amen.
David Quek
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