Esther 9-10 The Fear Of The Lord

“The Lord had given them a greater weapon than their swords, because ‘the fear of the Jews fell upon them’.  This was a fear that God had sent into the hearts of the Gentiles to keep them from fighting His people,” my commentary said.  It also cited Genesis 35:5, Deut 2:25, and Joshua 2:8-11 as other times when God had done this.  “The fear of God protects those who fear God and believe His promises.  Because the Jews believed Mordecai’s decree, they had new courage and were not afraid of the enemy, and their courage put fear into the hearts of the enemy … 2 Chronicles 20:20 says:  ‘Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper…’  The church today resembles Revelation 3:17, which is the description of prisoners of war.  Instead of being conquerors, we’re the prisoners!  No wonder the world has no fear of the Lord.”

Father, twelve and ten years ago, I watched as You put the fear of the Lord into the Ukrainian bureaucrats as I went to adopt my sons.  Everyone asked how in the world I was able to get it done, and done so quickly.  I gave and still give all of the credit to You.  I know that the fear of God works!  Please use it again as we travel next month to a foreign land to spread the news about You.  Open doors that only You can open.  Open hearts in the same way!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Esther 8 -- Intercession As A Weapon

Mordecai was promoted to Haman’s job, and Esther was given all of Haman’s estate.  My commentary said, “God doesn’t always give this kind of a happy ending to everybody’s story … God hasn’t promised that we will be promoted and made rich, but He has assured us that He’s in control of all circumstances and that He will write the last chapter of the story.  If God doesn’t promote us here on earth, He certainly will when we get to glory.”

Esther approached the throne again, asking the king to reverse Haman’s deadly edict against the Jews.  No law of the Medes and Persians could be reversed, so another approach was needed.  Mordecai and the king drafted a new decree that allowed the Jews to assemble and defend themselves, but they could not be the aggressors.  And they were allowed to do this only on the same day that Haman’s decree took place.

Esther’s intercession at the throne saved her people.  Likewise, our own intercession in prayer is very important.  My commentary said, “It was a master stroke of the devil when he got the church and the ministry so generally to lay aside the mighty weapon of prayer.  The devil is perfectly willing that the church should multiply its organizations and its deftly-contrived machinery for the conquering of the world for Christ, if it will only give up praying … One concerned person devoted to prayer can make a great difference in this world, for prayer is the key that releases the power of God…. One plus God is a majority.  James 4:2 says, ‘Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”

Father God, please help me to stoke up my prayer life.  Remind me daily of what a potent weapon it is.  Make me a better prayer warrior by showing me how important it is.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Esther 7 -- Enough Warnings And Longsuffering By God

My commentary said, “God had warned Haman through circumstances, through his advisers, and through his wife, but the prime minister would not heed the warnings … God’s longsuffering led Haman into thinking he was safe … God’s longsuffering today is an opportunity for people to repent, but our sinful world thinks it means God won’t judge sinners at all.”

Esther was diplomatic in her plea for her own life and her people.  She said she wouldn’t have troubled the king if they’d only been sold as slaves (reminding him of Haman’s payment).  “But to sell them into death and total destruction was something for which nobody had enough money.”  She followed Proverbs 16:3-4, which says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.  The Lord works out everything for his own ends – even the wicked for the day of destruction.”

The king’s rage led him outside to cool off, and Haman used the time to try to sway the queen to save him, pleading on the very couch where she reclined.  Upon returning, the king saw this as an attack on the queen and ordered Haman hanged on the very gallows he’d prepared for Mordecai!

Father, help me to continue to commit to You every area of my life.  I’ve learned well that You do work out everything for Your own ends.  I trust You with my life and with the lives of those I love.  Draw them to You, Father.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Esther 6 -- God's Warnings To Haman

I love the way my commentary fleshed out God’s sovereign actions in this chapter and the warnings God gave to Haman.  Despite his role as villain, Haman was being pursued by God and warned to stop his evil plans.

God’s sovereignty showed up in the king’s insomnia, in his decision to have court records read to him to help him sleep, in the servant’s choice of which book he’d read and what page in that book he’d open to.  God had also been sovereign in preventing the king from originally rewarding Mordecai – saving it for just this day.

All of this was for Haman’s benefit and God had even directed his arrival to coincide with the king’s query about how to reward a man.  Haman’s pride caused him to believe that he was the one being rewarded, and he never dreamed that he’d be having to walk the streets of the city rewarding Mordecai!  After all, he’d gone to the king to ask permission to execute Mordecai!  After a day of humiliation, Haman also was warned by his wife and counselors not to try to harm Mordecai, but he wouldn’t heed the warning.

As the chapter closed, the king’s eunuchs arrived to deliver Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.  He never suspected that it would be his last meal.

My commentary summarized:  “When God sounds the alarm, it pays to stop, look, and listen – and obey.”

Father, please speak loudly when You warn me.  With Your certain knowledge of everything, why would I ever want to ignore Your warnings?

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Esther 5 -- Four Forces Working To Destroy Haman

My commentary said, “Haman didn’t realize it, but four forces had already begun to work together to destroy him:  divine sovereignty, false confidence, pride, and malice.”

Esther had asked for prayers and fasting by her fellow Jews, because she needed God to intervene when she appeared unbidden before the king.  Faith requires action and she was about to step out in faith.  We don’t have to worry about appearing before our King unbidden, for He loves us and welcomes us into His presence.  We can never ask too much.

Haman’s false confidence was stoked by Esther’s invitation to a private banquet with just the king and her, not once but twice!  It would keep him off guard.  After the first banquet, Haman launched himself on an ego trip in front of his friends and family, swelling with pride, but the sight of Mordecai not acknowledging him and trembling with fear ruined his celebration, and his malice was stoked by his wife’s suggestion of building a gallows on which to hang Mordecai.

God was sovereignly guiding events to a stunning conclusion, yet He built in a delay so that one additional factor could be presented, and Esther had wisely followed what He had placed on her heart in order that His plans would play out perfectly.

Father, I continue to be amazed at Your wisdom and knowledge and at Your ability to sway the hearts of individuals to accomplish Your will.  Help me to prepare for prayer as Esther did and to step out in action in Your timing.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Esther 4 -- The Ocean Liner Illustration

Esther was insulated from all news in the king’s harem.  Her people had begun to fast and pray for God’s intervention, and Mordecai showed up at the king’s gate in the rough cloth of mourning so Esther would be told and inquire.  Through her eunuch Hathach, she received the news of the upcoming annihilation of the Jews.

Her problem, though, was that she didn’t know palace protocol and Mordecai did.  He was also a man and he was in touch with what was going on, my commentary said.  She needed his wisdom.

He reminded her of three solemn facts:  First, being in the palace didn’t guarantee she would live.  Second, God would bring deliverance from so other source if she failed to act.  Mordecai knew the Abrahamic covenant protected the Jews from annihilation.  “To know to do good and not do it is sin (James 4:17),” my commentary said.  Thirdly, he told her that her presence in the palace wasn’t an accident.  She had “come to royal position for such a time as this.”

My commentary also gave several truths about God’s providence:  First, God has divine purposes to accomplish in the world.  Second, He accomplishes His purposes through people.  Third, God will accomplish His purposes even if His servants refuse to obey His will.  Fourth, God isn’t in a hurry but will fulfill His plans in due time.

I loved the illustration A.W. Tozer used:  He compared God’s sovereign purposes to an ocean liner leaving New York City for Liverpool, England,  “The people on board the ship are free to do as they please, but they aren’t free to change the course of the ship … Only a sovereign God is great enough to decree freedom of choice for men and women, and only a sovereign God could fulfill His wise and loving purposes in this world and even make evil cooperate in producing good.  The question is not, ‘Is God in control of this world?’ but, ‘Is God in control of my life?’  Are we cooperating with Him so that we are part of the answer and not part of the problem?”

Father, thank You for allowing me to have a part in Your divine sovereignty.  Guide and direct me to that which You would have me do.  Let me always be part of the answer and not part of the problem.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Esther 3 -- A Look At The Enemy

My commentary gave five reasons why Haman was a dangerous man:

First, his ancestry – He was descended from the Amalekites.  God had declared war on them and Saul had failed to destroy them all when God had given him the chance.

Second, his authority – Xerxes had made him chief officer in the empire.  “Xerxes was a weak and gullible man, susceptible to flattery and anxious to please people.”

Third, his vanity – “The king had to issue a special edict concerning Haman, or the people would not have bowed down to him.”

Fourth, his subtlety – “To begin with, he didn’t even give the king the name of the people who were supposed to be subverting the kingdom.”  He offered what amounted to 2/3 of the kingdom’s annual income at the time to get the law signed.  The kingdom’s treasury had been impoverished by the Greek wars, so that was an incredibly tempting offer.

Fifth, his apathy – After sending out the new law that effectively pronounced a death sentence on thousands of innocent people, Haman sat down for a banquet with the king!

“The situation was not hopeless, however, for God had two people prepared and in place – Mordecai and Queen Esther – and He was ready to act.”

Father, I’ve watched over and over as You have had me in place for times of Your choosing, as You’ve also had others in place to help me.  Let me never fail to place myself where You want me so that I, too, will be ready and available for Your use.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford