God’s name is not mentioned in Esther. But HE is the main player. HE laughs at Haman’s attempts to control the chess board of life. HE knows the day of Haman’s demise. HE moves the players so that Haman’s own device of torture and death will be his own death.
Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.
The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”
As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits[b] stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”
The king said, “Impale him on it!” So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
”But their swords will pierce their own hearts”
The God of Esther moves to save his people.
The God of Esther once moved so that a Hebrew prisoner was raised up in the midst of a natural disaster to save the nation of Egypt from a devastating famine and ultimately God’s people, the sons of Jacob.
The God of Esther moved so that a Hebrew slave is raised as a prince and frees his people restoring them to their promised land.
The God of Esther moved to save Mordecai and Esther’s lives … for now.
But don’t forget, the edict to eradicate the Jews is still at play.
The story goes on with Esther pleading for the life of her people. Haman’s edict is still at play and cannot be reversed as it has the king’s name and seal on it.
Esther once again at a later time returns to the king and finds favour with him and pleads for the lives of her people. If they’d been sold as slaves, she would have said nothing. But their lives are at risk. HER life is at risk.
King Xerxes issues a new decree permitting all Jews throughout his kingdom from India to Ethiopia to defend themselves.
Mordecai is elevated to become a trusted advisor to the king and oversees the safety of the Jewish people. The Jews successfully defend themselves and go on to thrive. Their neighbours all see the hand of God in their salvation and some even become followers of the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob … and Esther.
When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.
To this day, Jews around the world celebrate with feasting this very event.
God’s people were not just SAVED FOR NOW or some distant date in the future.
God’s people were saved to LIVE.
God’s people were saved to THRIVE.
God’s people were saved to PERSEVERE.
God’s people were saved to REJOICE and FEAST, enjoying the salvation given to them.
God’s people were saved to BRING OTHER PEOPLE to know the fear of God, his terrifying ability to move in the events of the world extending his salvation to THEM.
God saved his people.
God REDEEMS his people.