The Call of God to Old Testament Characters. Lesson 12.

The Call of God to Old Testament Characters

Lesson 12

Lesson Text—Esther 4:5-7

Esther 4:5-75 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.


6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate.7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.


Esther 4:8-108 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before

him for her people.


9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;


Esther 4:11-1311 All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death,


except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.12 And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.


13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

Lesson Text—Esther 4:14

Esther 4:14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such

a time as this?

Focus Verse—Esther 4:14

Esther 4:14For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance

will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s

house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the

kingdom for such a time as this?

Focus Thought

God always places His people in the

right place at the right time in order

to bring defeat to the enemy and

glory to His name.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireCulture Connection

Esther’s Election

Can Christians and politics mix? Many wish to muzzle God’s people on matters of national decisions. However, everything we do either glorifies God or disappoints Him.

Sometimes God calls a believer to political office. He chose Esther before she understood the significance of her role.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireAs her adoptive father reminded her, she came for “such a time as this.” Right now, God’s people are in “such a time” when Bible-based faith is at risk. God sends people to preach, and He also calls some to defend their right to do so.

Taking a stand on political matters will not make people of faith popular. While we do not use offensive methods to make a statement, we have to be clear.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireJohn the Baptizer went against the grain of his government by criticizing the king’s moral misconduct. Herod killed him for it. Being overly sensitive to others’ feelings, too many Christians remain silent on political matters for fear of rejection. Try explaining that to Jeremiah, Daniel, Shadrach, Elijah, Peter, and Paul.

What would Esther have become if she had lived for social acceptance? She could have lived for prestige, world acclaim, and tolerance.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireShe could have become the Princess Di of her time. Instead, she took the hard path by protecting truth. She did not live to build her own kingdom, but God’s.

Somewhere, God is calling another humble believer for such a time as this. Who will risk the loss of a reputation and social network in exchange for advancing God’s kingdom?

I. God Intervened in an EmpireContemplating the Topic

The Book of Esther contains the record of a queen deposed, a new queen chosen, a villain exposed, a righteous man vindicated, and a king providentially utilized as a savior. King Ahasuerus in Esther’s story ruled over an empire that stretched from India to Ethiopia. Ahasuerus is the Hebrew version of the Greek Xerxes. He inherited his kingdom from a powerful dynasty that began with his grandfather Cyrus.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireThis family ruled Persia (modern-day Iran) for two hundred years until Greece, under Alexander the Great, conquered it.

One hundred years before Cyrus was born, the prophet Isaiah mentioned his name prophetically (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1, 13). Jeremiah also prophesied of the work Cyrus would do for the returning Jews from captivity in Babylon although he did not mention Cyrus by name (Jeremiah 25:12; 29:10. (See also II Chronicles 36:22, 23; Ezra 1:1-4.)

I. God Intervened in an EmpireKing Darius I, the father of Ahasuerus, conquered Babylon with his Persian army the night Belshazzar hosted his infamous feast and Daniel interpreted the handwriting of God on the wall (Daniel 5). Darius I promoted Daniel to a high position in his kingdom and, because of his high regard for Daniel, followed him with concern to the den of lions (Daniel 6).

I. God Intervened in an EmpireArtaxerxes I, the son of Ahasuerus and king of Persia, appointed Nehemiah the governor of Judah and gave him authority to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Mordecai the Defender of the Jews by John G. Butler). For all its grandeur, the Book of Esther does not mention the name of God.

For that reason some have criticized this book of the Bible and questioned its place in the sacred canon. We do find, however, the fingerprints of God’s providence from

beginning to end in the book.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireGod protected His great plan for the nation of Israel by arranging the times and the personnel needed to divert impending disaster and bring about a glorious victory. God used Ahasuerus’s sleeplessness to guide his attention to an unheralded hero and thwart a wicked plot in his realm. What would seem a chance incident was, in fact, the hand of divine providence.

Transparency 1

I. God Intervened in an EmpireSearching the Scriptures

God Intervened in an Empire

Vashti’s Fall

In the third year of his reign, Ahasuerus, the king of Persia, ordered a celebration to showcase his powerful dominion. Princes and nobles from all over the empire came to Shushan to marvel at the king’s splendor and riches.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireThe décor, the royal attire, the endless supply of food, alcohol, and entertainment intoxicated all the guests. The more flattery the king received the more impressed he became with his own self-importance. The last week of the celebration, the king hosted a riotous banquet for all his guests. The king saved the best entertainment for last; he called for Queen Vashti to display her beauty so all the men in the banquet hall would gloat over the king’s exquisite

possession.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireVashti refused to participate in

such a shocking breach of protocol, king’s command or no. She did not wish to parade before the leering gazes of a crowd of drunken men. At the insult of Vashti’s refusal to appear, Ahasuerus flew into one of his legendary fits of rage. Did not Vashti remember he had the power of life and death over her? The hilarious banquet atmosphere sobered abruptly. What should be done? The assembled princes agreed that Vashti’s behavior as a queen set a bad precedent.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireThey all feared their wives would hear of this and do as they pleased. The king must do something at once. His top advisors assembled to decide how to handle this dilemma.

If Ahasuerus were to have Vashti killed, it would certainly put a stop to anyone following her example; but the uproar, along with the queen, would soon be forgotten. If the king let her live in exile, however, it would be a continuing reminder of his regal power. Thus he banished Vashti for life. This left a divinely arranged vacancy for Esther.

B. Esther’s RiseB. Esther’s Rise

When the king’s anger at Vashti subsided, he may have regretted his hasty action, but he could not restore her position because his decrees were irreversible. Now the king needed someone to sit on the queen’s throne.

The search for a new queen began in the sixth year of Ahasuerus’s reign, and it took a year to locate a woman whose beauty rivaled Vashti’s. History records that during much of this time Ahasuerus was out of the country at

war with Greece.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireA large population of the tribe of

Judah had been taken captive to Babylon during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. A second deportation occurred in 597 bc (Esther 2:6), and in that group was the family of Mordecai and Esther. Esther was the Babylonian name given to her, but her Hebrew name was Hadassah, although her cousin, Mordecai, told her not to tell anyone in the palace she was Jewish (Esther 2:10). Mordecai had adopted Esther when both of her parents died (Esther 2:7).

I. God Intervened in an EmpireEsther was a “fair and beautiful”

young lady (Esther 2:7), and when Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the king’s harem, saw her he knew immediately that his search for a new queen was over. He favored Esther with seven maids to wait on her and placed her in the best room in the harem.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireThe year set aside to prepare the

fair virgins for the king’s inspection ensured that they were properly fed, pampered, clothed, and trained for their once-in-a-lifetime interview with the king. When it was Esther’s turn, she bowed to Hegai’s suggestions of what she should do (Esther 2:15). Esther won the king’s favor and approval, and he crowned her the new queen in place of Vashti.

A. Haman’s FallGod Controlled Influential Men

A. Haman’s Fall

Four years later King Ahasuerus elevated a man named Haman to a rank second only to the king. Haman was an Agagite, considered by many to be a descendant of the Amalekite king killed by Samuel with a sword (I Samuel 15:32-33).

I. God Intervened in an EmpireThe Amalekites were longtime

enemies of the nation of Israel, being the offspring of Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. The Lord cursed the Amalekites for their cruel attack on Israel during the Exodus (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). The Lord commanded King Saul to utterly destroy Amalek, which Saul failed to do. Now his disobedience was still bearing evil fruit several hundred years later in the form of Haman.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireWhen we fail to fully follow God’s directions, we never know how far-reaching the effects may be.

Haman’s prestige required that all should bow before Haman (Esther 3:2). Few men can keep their balance when they are exalted. Someone has wisely said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Bible describes the danger of pride: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

I. God Intervened in an EmpireHaman became obsessed with his

own importance. When Mordecai refused to bow before him, the hatred within Haman’s heart soon spread like wildfire to include all Jews. He stoked the fire day and night until he thought of a plan to rid the empire of all Jews.

Anti-Semitism is not a modern-day phenomenon; it is an ancient, ugly scar on the face of human relations. Historically, God’s people have often found themselves face to face with evil men and women who have tried to

annihilate them.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireGod, however, will not allow the wicked to continue their evil ways unchallenged. He will rise to His children’s defense.

In the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus’s reign, Haman began his campaign against the Jews. He enlisted the help of the king with such subtleness that Ahasuerus was unaware his decision would wipe out a major bloc of taxpayers, not to mention his own innocent queen.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireHaman began, “There is a certain

people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people” (Esther 3:8). He sweetened his proposition with an offer of ten thousand talents of silver to be paid into the king’s coffers. The king accepted Haman’s plot without question and gave him full authority to implement it in the king’s name. Couriers published the king’s decree

throughout the kingdom.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireMeanwhile, Haman vented his rage by erecting a seventy-five-foot gallows on which to hang Mordecai.

Haman was completely ignorant that he had set himself up for destruction. “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him” (Proverbs 26:27). Both he and the king remained unaware of the dire consequences of the plan, especially the threat to the life of the new queen.

B. Mordecai’s RiseB. Mordecai’s Rise

Mordecai “sat in the king’s gate” (Esther 2:21). This was a low-level position, but it put him within earshot of palace activity. From there he supervised the activity of his adopted daughter, Esther.

In the course of his duties Mordecai overheard Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, conspiring to assassinate Ahasuerus.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireThe title “chamberlain” indicated the king trusted these two men to guard the entrance to his private quarters in the palace. (This plot to assassinate King Ahasuerus was not the only attempt on the king’s life. History records that less than ten years later Artabanus, captain of the guard, and Aspamitras, a chamberlain, assassinated Ahasuerus.)

Mordecai became a hero when he told Queen Esther about the conspiracy of Bigthan and Teresh.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireEsther alerted the king and named Mordecai as the man who uncovered the plot. The king swiftly ordered that the two conspirators be hanged. A scribe entered Mordecai’s kindness into the historical record, but Mordecai did not receive recognition for the deed. However, the episode set the stage for Mordecai’s rise to prominence.

Even when it appears we have been overlooked by the world, God keeps meticulous records of every detail of

our lives.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireWe do not act righteously to receive a reward, because doing the right thing is its own reward. Being in right relationship to God places us in line for His miraculous intervention. We must not be distracted by the acts of the wicked. Our greatest responsibility must be to guard our relationship with God. Only God can see what He has planned for us. We must trust His judgment when we cannot discern His plans. In God’s economy, it was not possible for Mordecai to be elevated

without Haman’s decline.

A. Esther’s OpportunityGod Positioned the Righteous

A. Esther’s Opportunity

The time for Haman’s plan to go into action was set by casting the purim (or casting lots). Haman did not realize his murderous plan would establish a world-wide holiday for all Jewish people who still celebrate Esther’s victory at the Feast of Purim one month before the Feast of the Passover.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireCouriers published Haman’s decree

throughout the entire kingdom. As the news reached the Jewish population, a loud and bitter cry arose in the city of Shushan, and it increased in volume across the land of Persia as the decree was made known. It would appear, however, that the news had not reached Esther in the palace; or if it did, she did not think it applied to her because no one knew she was Jewish.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireBut Mordecai’s behavior troubled Esther, for he sat outside the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth, pouring clouds of ash on his head and wailing loudly. She sent Hatach out to the king’s gate to ask the reason for her cousin’s mourning. She knew Mordecai would not act this way unless something catastrophic had happened. It was an age-old custom of the Jews to publicly demonstrate their grief by howling and stirring up ashes.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireMordecai knew better than to blame

himself for the imminent destruction of his people, but he could not help feeling remorse that his refusal to bow to anyone but Jehovah was the catalyst for Haman’s evil plot. Mordecai had guessed there would be a reaction but had not dreamed of the lengths to which Haman would go. Mordecai sent Hatach back to the queen with a copy of the king’s decree and all the details of Haman’s wretched plan.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireHer cousin urged Esther to go to the king to beg for mercy for her people. Esther recoiled in fear, knowing that anyone who entered the presence of the king without being summoned could immediately be executed.

Transparency 2

I. God Intervened in an EmpireEsther sent word back to Mordecai

that she feared for her life should she dare to enter the king’s presence. Mordecai responded, “Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such

a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14).

B. Esther’s PlanB. Esther’s Plan

Desperate times demand desperate measures. Esther called for a time of fasting and prayer to prepare the way. Before she approached the earthly throne of Ahasuerus, she approached the heavenly throne of the Almighty. Perhaps Esther encouraged herself during this time of great trial by singing a psalm: “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireThe LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:17-19).

Esther asked Mordecai to call all the Jews in the city to participate in three days of fasting and prayer for her safety and that the king would favor her petition for the salvation of her people. Esther and her maids joined in the fast.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireShe was resigned to her fate because if she did nothing to protect her people she would be killed, or if the king rejected her presence in the inner court she might be killed.

At the end of the days of fasting and prayer, Esther readied herself to enter the king’s inner court. We can only imagine what must have gone through Esther’s mind as she ventured into the inner court at the end of those three days.

I. God Intervened in an EmpirePerhaps she kept repeating, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22).

Even though the king had not called for her in thirty days, he graciously extended his scepter toward Esther and asked what her petition might be. She wisely refrained from blurting out her real request and instead invited the king and Haman to a banquet that day.

I. God Intervened in an EmpirePerhaps during her training Hatach had taught her that an appeal to an authority is more effective if that appeal is based upon the best interests of the authority.

Esther knew that the law of the king could not be reversed even if she made her appeal, but the first step toward a solution would be for the king to receive her petition. The second essential part of appealing to an authority is to give God time to work in the heart of the authority.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireAt the banquet that day, the king asked about Esther’s request but she merely responded with another invitation for the king and Haman to attend a banquet the next day at which time she would tell the king what was on her mind.

These preliminaries leading up to petitioning someone are still a common practice in the East today. First the guest is served something to eat and drink and engaged in polite small talk.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireAfter a proper length of time, maybe the next day, the real business at hand will be addressed. It is considered good manners to observe this custom no matter how desperate the nature of the business at hand. To force the process along is considered rude. Haman left the first banquet in ecstasy over his favor with the king and the queen. On the way home, he passed by Mordecai whose disregard again filled him with rage, ruining his good mood. He vowed that Mordecai would die for this crime.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireGod does not run His schedule by

our clock. He does, however, continue working even when we may be unaware of it. God chose the very night before Esther’s second banquet to inflict the king with insomnia. After tossing and turning, Ahasuerus called for a scribe to read to him from the kingdom chronicles. Instead of lulling him back to sleep, he learned of the egregious oversight done to Mordecai who had never received honor for uncovering the plot against the king’s

life.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireThe king wanted something done

about it immediately. He sent a servant to see if anyone waited in the king’s court. Haman had just arrived, intending to ask permission to hang Mordecai. The king invited him into his presence and asked what rewards should be bestowed on a man whom the king wished to honor. Imagining that he was the man, Haman voiced his secret fantasies. They pleased the king and he told Haman to do “even so to Mordecai the Jew” (Esther 6:10).

I. God Intervened in an EmpireStunned, Haman left to obey His Majesty’s order.

Haman was mortified as he escorted his royally clad enemy, who rode the king’s horse with the royal crown glittering on his head. When their tour of the city was over Haman scurried home in disgrace. His wife, Zeresh, warned that because of Mordecai’s new status, Haman might never see the object of his hate swinging from the gallows.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireGod arranged the circumstances to place Mordecai where He needed him and allowed Haman to think he was in control only long enough to set him up for destruction.

No sooner had Haman sat down than the king’s chamberlain arrived to announce that Haman’s presence was required at the queen’s second banquet.

C. Esther’s VictoryC. Esther’s Victory

It is quite possible that Esther did not know about the gallows Haman had prepared or about Mordecai’s exciting morning. Nonetheless, when the food and the small talk were behind them, the king asked a third time for Esther’s request. She shaped her petition in the simplest of terms. She pleaded for her life and the lives of her people. The king was shocked.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireHe could not imagine what scoundrel would threaten the life of his beautiful queen. When Queen Esther passionately pointed to the Agagite, the king narrowed his eyes. Enraged that this snake of a man had deceived him, the king strode from the room. Haman could not have anticipated a more disastrous end to his ambition. His rise to public prominence was eclipsed by his meteoric descent into disgrace and death. “The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the

wicked shall rot” (Proverbs 10:7).

Transparency 3“The righteousnessof the perfect shalldirect his way:but the wickedshall fall by hisown wickedness”(Proverbs 11:5).

I. God Intervened in an EmpireOn the very day he had planned to

take Mordecai’s life, Haman swung from his own gallows. Further, the king awarded Haman’s estate to Esther.

Perhaps the recent remembrance of Mordecai’s loyalty in the national chronicles prompted King Ahasuerus to give Mordecai his signet ring and the authority to write the appropriate orders to allow the Jews in every province to defend themselves against any and all aggressors and take their

property as a reward.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireMordecai left the presence of the king wearing royal garments and a golden crown.

IV. God Calls Us to RoyaltyGod Calls Us to Royalty

God has a plan for every life and a ministry for every person. Just when we feel insignificant and overlooked, God may change everything and at the appropriate hour thrust us on stage and turn up the lights. In God’s economy, there are no irrelevant children. Everyone has value and significance. We must always remember He chose us before the foundation of the world.

I. God Intervened in an Empire“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4).

I Peter 2:9

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a

peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who

hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”

(I Peter 2:9).

I. God Intervened in an EmpireThe call of God is always an upward call. We first experience it when God calls us to salvation. From that point on, His work in our lives constantly pulls us to a higher level.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireInternalizing the Message

Faith in the providence of God gives us confidence that the troubles of this world are in His hands. God is the author of time so He is not ruled by it. God transcends time and sees the beginning and the end as a continuum. His ultimate plan always prevails over all. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

I. God Intervened in an EmpireFaith in the providence of God also

gives us strength and assurance. If He rules in the affairs of the nations of the world, then He is able to take charge of the things that trouble us. Clarence Macartney commented about the providence of God found in the life of Esther when he said, “The book of providence, like Hebrew, must be read backward. But when we look back we can see that God was there” (Great Women of the Bible).

The Call of God to Old Testament Characters. Lesson 12.

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