Day 15Why would Mordecai bow to King Xerxes but not bow to a man like Haman?This is where family history is important. Haman descended from KingAgag (1 Sam 15), who was a bitter enemy of the Israelites. Agag’sconflict was with King Saul, from whom Mordecai was a descendant. Inother words, the relationship between Mordecai and Haman was a reminderof the hatred and violence between God’s people and the Amalekites.

By refusing to bow, Mordecai took a stand and finally publically declaredhis Jewish heritage. It may have taken him longer than Daniel and hisfriends, but in the end, he stood up for what he believed was right. In spiteof the consequences that would come his way, he acknowledged that hebelonged to the chosen people of God.

How You Can PrayPray that you will be willing to stand up for the gospel whenever Godmay prompt you. Pray also for those in hostile environments who aretaking a stand for their faith and are suffering as a result.

Esther 3:1-6 Mordecai’s Stand

Daily ChallengeThink about the people in your life that you have been unable to share thegospel with due to work rules, awkward circumstances, or the wrongtiming. How can you tell them about God’s saving grace in your life? Pray thatGod will give you wisdom and conviction about who you can bring the light ofthe gospel to and when you should take a stand about the truth you believe.

ApplicationIn some ways, it can be even harder for us to share about our beliefs in aculture of “religious toleration.” While we have free speech, we are told tokeep religion out of politics, schools, the workplace, and friendships. Manyfamilies won’t even bring up the subject. When is a believer to take a standand let others know about the great God we serve?

Day 16When Mordecai took a stand against Haman by refusing to bow, Haman’scharacter arose to the forefront of the confrontation. Rather than being aman of understanding and gentleness, Haman reacted with pride and hatred.He was filled with rage and wrath because he felt insulted by Mordecai,regardless of Mordecai’s reasons for refusing to bow.

As a result, Haman concocted a plot to destroy not only Mordecai,but all of the Jews. The actions of one man inflamed such anger thatHaman’s fury burned out of control. The book of Esther shows otherexamples of Haman’s lack of self-control and violent temper. His pride washis joy and anyone who stood in the way of the respect he felt he deservedwas worthy of destruction.

How You Can PrayPray that God will use you in spite of your flaws to further the gospelin the lives of those you encounter. Pray that He will give you a spiritof humility and that your pride will be in Him alone as you trust Him touse you for His glory.

Haman’s Hatred Esther 3:1-6

Daily ChallengeWho have you hurt by responding to them out of pride and anger rather thanthe love of Christ? Reconcile with them today by writing, calling or meetingwith them. Being able to humbly set aside your pride to love others is one ofthe hardest and most important steps in living as a servant of Christ. We mustlearn to respond instead of react.

ApplicationWe would much rather be Mordecai than Haman, yet often we act out of ourown selfish pride rather than seeking God’s will. Pride and anger are twotraits we turn to when we feel injured or insulted by those around us. Fightsbetween friends, families, and co-workers are often a result of a desire tobe right or be in charge rather than trying to show the love of Christ.

Day 17When Haman decided to eliminate all of the Jews from the PersianEmpire, he cast lots to determine when the decree should be fulfilled.Haman decided he would leave the fate of the Jews entirely up to chance.He did not count on the fact that God is sovereign over all things,including “random” methods like gambling to determine the future. Thesame was true when the sailors cast lots during the storm and Goddirected them to Jonah (Jonah 1:7).

In Haman’s case, God used something that Haman saw as chance to place thedecree extermination a full year away. The decree could have been carriedout within a month, but God worked to preserve His people and this leftenough time for Esther to stand up to Xerxes at exactly the right moment.Fate and random chance were never going to change this plan (Prov. 16:33).

How You Can PrayPray that you will rest on the promises of God, so that you will findcomfort when life feels like it is beyond your control. Pray that you willbe joyful in all circumstances because you know and trust thesovereignty of God.

Esther 3:7 The Die is Cast

ApplicationWe often have the lack of faith that Haman had. We may profess that God isin control, but we live like our lives are totally out of control. We see oursituations as a roll of the cosmic dice rather than the careful planning of aheavenly Father that deeply cares for and loves His people.

Daily ChallengeConfess your reluctance to see God working in every circumstance in yourlife, regardless of how trivial it may appear to you. Praise Him forworking behind the scenes and directing your steps so that your life is nevera gamble, left to the whims of fate.

Day 18Before Haman acted on his plan to destroy the Jews, he had to havepermission from the king. As we have seen before, Xerxes was easilymanipulated by those around him, and ultimately, he didn’t really care whathappened to his subjects. As a result, Haman easily received a seal ofapproval and the plan was set into motion to destroy the people of God.

What sweetened up the deal most for Xerxes was Haman’s generous offerto pay 10,000 talents of silver. This bribe was more than half the annualtax revenue of the entire empire! Against such a sum of money, Xerxescould find no argument. He didn’t think twice about eliminating an entirepeople group because it benefited him and he didn’t even need to “get hishands dirty.” By approving the decree, the annihilation of the Jews becamean irrevocable law, and hope looked bleak.

How You Can PrayPray that God will protect you from the temptation of lusting afterwealth in this world. Pray that, instead, your hunger will be for God andthe inheritance He has already secured in Jesus Christ, your Savior.

Haman Strikes Esther 3:8-11

ApplicationMoney continues to be a problem in our society. While money is not evil,it inspires greed, vanity, and a thirst for power unrivaled by almost anyother commodity. While we see leaders consumed and destroyed by a lustfor money, we fall into the same trap, often believing just a little morewould solve our problems in a way God cannot.

Daily ChallengeWhat problems do you turn to the “almighty dollar” to fix instead oftrusting the Lord? Make a list of the top five needs you have. Write “$”and “God” next to those needs. Cross out money, circle God, and pray thatyou will trust Him for each one of those needs.

Day 19In order to make certain the Jews were destroyed on the appointed day,the edict had to be sent throughout the kingdom. The governors andsatraps all across the empire received copies of the law and it wastransmitted into the language of the local people groups. As a result,everyone in Persia new that the Jews were to be killed in the twelfthmonth, and that no one, not even the children, were to be spared.

At this point, all seemed bleak and hopeless. Yet all this planning onHaman’s part was fruitless. God had already set in motion a perfect planto deliver His people and deal with Haman. While Haman thought he wasmoving pieces on a chessboard, he was but a pawn on a much largerboard, without control of the smallest thing.

How You Can PrayPray that God will enable you to rest easy and live joyfully in spite of theway others may treat you. Pray that instead of reacting with fear orbitterness with others mistreat you, you will live out the Gospel in theway that you love you enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Esther 3:12-14 Fruitless Planning

ApplicationOur lives are no different from the Jews under King Xerxes. We may see evilpeople plan to hurt, shame or discredit us, but their planning avails themnothing compared to the plans of God. As Proverbs 16:9 says, “In his hearta man plans his course, but he Lord determines his steps.”

Daily ChallengeDo you believe this to be true in the way you live? When you feel like othersare against you at work, school, in the government, or even in your family,how do you react? Take some time today to praise God for His goodness andlove for you, and rest on His plans for your life. Be at peace with Him.

Day 20Verse 15 reveals something very interesting about the city of Susa. KingXerxes and Haman sat down to drink after issuing the order, unconcernedabout the genocidal decree they had issued. Instead, they indulged theirgluttony and went back to the life of luxury of which they were content.Here we see total apathy to sinful acts and a disregard for the laws of God;they had hardened hearts.

The rest of Susa, on the other hand, was thrown into confusion over thedecree. Not everyone understood why the king would suddenly order thedeath of men, women, and children without reason. The people were tornabout having to carry out a royal decree that legally bound them toslaughter families who lived all around them. Their reaction was one of fearand confusion.

How You Can PrayPray that you will be a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the wayyou interact with those hurting and in need. Instead of turning away frompain, pray that He will give you a heart for the poor and lost and theability to live out and share the gospel with them.

Tale of Two Susas Esther 3:15

ApplicationUnfortunately, we tend to have similar reactions when we see evil in theworld. Either we have become totally apathetic and desensitized to it orwe are fearful, confused and unsure of how to react. When we seeinjustice in the world, we turn to ourselves for answers rather thanreturning to the cross.

Daily ChallengeThink about all of the injustice you see in the world. Instead of tuning it outor acting out of fear, remember that Jesus Christ is at work redeeming Hispeople. Remember that, in the same way He reconciled us to Him, we havebeen given a ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20).

Day 21As Pastor Bates described in his Esther 2 sermon, we all face twodangers living in a non-believing world. Some of us seek to withdraw,creating and living in a Christian bubble. This is contrary to God’scommand to love the world and bring the love of Christ into it. We mightalso seek to compromise with the world, disregarding God’s law andallowing ourselves to be assimilated as Esther was.

Where we find hope after the first three chapters in Esther is in seeingthat God is in control and that Esther’s story had not ended. There wasstill time for her to make a choice and stand in the confidence of God’slove, according to His perfect plan.

How You Can PrayPray that God will convict you of the ways you can be centered on Himin your life. Pray that, as a result of His love for you, the choices youmake and people you interact with will provide you opportunities to liveout the gospel.

Choice in the Matter Esther 3 Overview

ApplicationWe should rejoice when we remember that the stories of our lives are alsostill being written. Whether we tend to compromise or withdraw, it is not toolate to take a stand for the gospel out of joy and gratitude for the love ofChrist in our lives. May Esther remind us that God is providing opportunitiesfor us to live out His love everywhere we go!

Daily ChallengeAre you withdrawing or compromising with the world? Think about areas inyour life where you need to be confident of God’s love and be willing to shareit with those around you. Could it be at work, where you get coffee, with afamily member or friend, or at the gym?

Esther - a Devotional and Prayer Guide

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