The hand of God working behind the curtain

Esther 2:21-23 – 3:1-11

What do you think would happen if it were reported that two Secret Service men assigned to protect the President of the United States of America were plotting to kill him?  This is the conversation Mordecai heard between two eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance and planned to kill him.  I’m not sure what would have happened to the Secret Service guys, but after letting Esther know, she told the king it was the gallows for the two eunuchs.  It is essential for us to remember that not only did this put the Queen in good standing with the King, but it also was recorded in the Historical Record in the king’s presence.  Once more we see the hand of God moving, but no one has any understanding of this fact at the time.  How often have you seen this take place in your life only to understand it at a later date?

Once more look for the hand of God working behind the curtain, it makes no sense that Mordecai would not honor the king’s orders, but it does show the insecurity of Haman.  It is clear that Mordecai would bow to a person in authority such as the king, and Jewish law and the Scriptures are about submitting to authority.

Have you ever worked for a Haman; you understand the question a man who got evaluated way past his abilities and knew it, and sees anyone with any skills as a threat?  I have, and his name was not Haman, but they had the same problem, they need people to bow to them, and this guy brought out the Mordecai in me.

My Haman, the one I worked for did not like my sharing truth with him.  You're really not that good but leave the team alone, and we will make you look good.  Mordecai faced a Haman who hated all Jews, and once he found out Mordecai was a Jew he came up with a plan to sell the king on killing all of them.  You see not only was he a fool, but he also was an Agagite, the people God had commanded King Saul to kill one and all, and yet he did not do as instructed and it cost him his kingship.  Now Haman has come up with a plan to kill all the Jewish people including Mordecai, but it is what we do not know that will always come back to bite us.

Picking up the account in verses 8-11, “Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, “There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom, yet living in isolation. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If the king approves, let an order be drawn up authorizing their destruction, and I will pay 375 tons of silver to the accountants for deposit in the royal treasury.”
The king removed his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jewish people. Then the king told Haman, “The money and people are given to you to do with as you see fit.”

I bet you picked up on how Haman began with the truth, but the fact would not have upset the king, so he adds they do not obey the king’s laws.  Now 375 tons of silver was a lot of money, and yet it seems the king did not take it, but Haman got all he was wanting and more with the signet ring of the king.  He now could do as he pleased and it seems this weak king did not even ask the identity of the ethnic group Haman wanted to kill.

From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice