Esther 3 : God's Timing
Esther 3 - <God's Timing>
7. In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
8. Then Haman said to King Xerxes, "There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so it is not fitting for the king to tolerate them."
◇ Haman casts lots to determine the day for the annihilation of the Jews. The result is 11 months later. Haman then presents the following reasons to the king to persuade him to carry out this plan:
1. There is a people in the king's kingdom who do not follow the king's laws. This is a defiance of the king's authority. Haman does not specify who this people is.
2. Haman offers to pay 10,000 talents of silver, an enormous sum of 333 tons, which could solve the kingdom's financial troubles after the disastrous war with Greece.
King Xerxes accepts Haman's proposal without inquiring about the identity of this people, their laws, or how they disobey Persian law. He authorizes Haman to carry out the plan to kill all the Jews - men, women, and children - throughout the entire empire.
Haman sends an edict sealed with the king's signet ring to every province: "On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the Jews are to be destroyed - young and old, women and children - and their possessions are to be plundered." There is no justification given for why the Jews must be killed. Yet the people are willing to kill the Jews in order to seize their property. The wicked Haman exploits human greed to fulfill his evil plan.
Haman and the king then enjoy a feast together after sending out this senseless decree.
What will become of Haman's wicked schemes? If Admiral Yi Sun-sin had 12 ships left, the Jews have 11 months until Haman's designated "D-Day" to annihilate them. While the intoxicated Haman and the king revel in their feast, believing their plan is accomplished, 11 months remain - more than enough time for God to act.
♧ Gracious and righteous God, the plans of the wicked may seem to prosper, but we trust that they will vanish like mist when Your timing comes. Open our eyes to see Your plan, and enable us to believe and obey. Holy Spirit, make us strong and courageous. Amen.