Esther Chapter 5. God's Got This.
After much prayer and fasting, Queen Esther goes before the king hoping he will accept her. The king definitely accepts her and even says what is your request up to half the kingdom and I will give it to you. She asked for the king and Haman, who hates the Jews, to come to a banquet that day. So they go, and after drinking, the King again asked what her petition is. She says come to my banquet again tomorrow with Haman and I will tell you my petition. In the meantime, Haman sees Mordecai and is enraged with anger against him. He shares his frustration with his wife and friends and they tell him to put up a 75 foot pole and have the king kill hang Mordecai on the pole tomorrow. He is delighted with the idea and puts the pole up waiting for the next day to come.
To read this chapter alone, it would appear that evil has triumphed over good. But what looks so terrible for Mordecai and so good for Haman, little do we know, God is at work.
If only we could see the big picture of what's really going on in life.
As we read ahead in the Book of Esther, we will see is how God's at work and how God's goodness will triumph over Satan's evil.
We cannot let our lives be consumed with what our eyes see but rather what faith sees.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don't see.”
Our circumstances may look horrible but God's bigger picture says trust me, have faith in me. Nothing's too big for God!
What are our certain circumstances? Take it to God and truly surrendered it over to him. Daily surrender if need be. Then trust him to open the right doors at the right time. He's at work already, you just don't see it. If we could see the big picture we'd say, “Oh God, God really is doing something neat right now. God's got everything under control.”
But then that's living a life without the need for Faith. Hebrews 11:6 says it is impossible to please God without faith. Having faith is a way of saying God does exist, plus God rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Can you feel how the suspense is building in this chapter? Esther had a chance to talk with the king about her people’s plight, but she doesn’t take advantage of it just yet. How many times have I been in her shoes? God might give me an opportunity to speak up about something important such as the gospel and I talk about something else such as the weather. It was good for Esther and for us that God shows grace and sometimes we get to have another opportunity. The thing is that we just don’t know when might be our last opportunity so we really shouldn’t put off sharing the truth!
I’m reminded of 1 Peter3:13-17.
“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”