Esther 8:1-17.  Remember our story started in the third year of Xerxes reign.  In the seventh year was when Esther became queen and we are currently in the twelfth year.  Haman has just been executed but there is still a problem the edict allowing citizens to kill the Jews is still in play.

In yesterday’s reading we saw Mordecai getting recognition for saving the kings life many years before.  In today’s reading we see Mordecai getting more that just a parade.  First all of Haman’s stuff is given to Esther (remember the silver).  She also tells Xerxes who Mordecai is to her and he gets promoted, he is in charge of the kings house.  The fact that Mordecai is given the ring of Xerxes shows that this is not just a head butler position but has the same sort of authority and power given to Haman earlier.  Then, for a second time, Esther braves the wrath of Xerxes and approaches him begging for the life of her people.  She asks him to revoke the edict by Haman.  The problem is an edict sealed with the king’s ring (a symbol of his authority) cannot be broken.  So he tells Mordecai he can do what he thinks best in the situation.  It’s interesting to me that Xerxes says that Haman was executed for his “plot against the Jews”.  Really?  That’s not what happened at all, remember Xerxes had a fit when he thought Haman was coming on to Esther.  I guess politicians put spin on things even back then.

In language that is almost identical to the language describing the first decree Mordecai gives permission for the Jews to fight back and defend themselves.  They too may take the possessions of anyone they kill in the fighting.  Basically what we see set up here is a sanctioned civil war.  It’s crazy where poor leadership leads.  In verses 15-17 we see a reversal of the results of the first decree.  After the first decree there was turmoil in Susa, now we see joy, and people converting to Judaism.  I guess even though God is not mentioned in the book the people of that day certainly recognized his power and wanted to be on his side.

This whole story is so difficult.  Really it looks to me like we have half-hearted followers of Yahweh, in Mordecai and Esther.  Maybe they were whole-hearted but lacking in knowledge.  In the book of Daniel, about 100 years before the events in Esther we see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, as well as Daniel taking a much stronger stand for God in the face of the unbelieving rulers of the empire (It was in Babylonian hands in those days).  The first three were thrown alive into a furnace for not worshipping an idol (Daniel 3) and Daniel was thrown into a den of starving lions for praying openly to Yahweh (the true God , God of the Israelites)(Daniel 6).  In both cases the people were saved.  That was not always the case though, according to Hebrews 11:32-37 many of God’s servants were killed (According to tradition Isaiah was sawn in half, alive, and he may be the one referred to in Hebrews 11).  So I just have to wonder why Mordecai and Esther went along with the whole girls in the harem thing.  Why they didn’t stand up to Xerxes and say no.  But they didn’t and there is no way of knowing why.  We do know that they were trying to be faithful, after all Mordecai would not bow down to Haman.  And they did have some sense of connection with the other Jewish people in the empire.  What is very clear is that living by our own wants and desires creates a mess in life.  Xerxes was constantly being influenced by those around him and by his anger.  In history his reign was pretty short (21 years).  Haman was destroyed by his hatred of the Jews.  And an unwillingness on the part of Persian kings to admit they were wrong led to a situation where one bad decree had to countered with another.  Human beings make a mess out of life when we live without God.  The bright side of the story is that God can fix things in spite of our actions.  But there is often a cost.  It wold be better if we just obeyed from the get go.

God thank you that you can fix anyting and are willing to do just that.  I appreciate the fact that you do not trample us to do it though.  You could get rid of all the evil in the world by getting rid of all the people.  But for what ever reason we are important enough for you to endure our evil disobedient rebellious ways.  Help me not add to the mess.  Help me be a part of the solution.  Help me learn for your word so I can do that.  Let me start by making my life one of obedience and honor to you.  Thank you for your patience in the face of my evil and imperfection.

Esther 7:1-10.  Yesterday we saw the tide turn in the story.  Wishy-washy Xerxes had a very bad night.  It turned in to a good day for Mordecai but was a nightmare for Haman.  After a humiliating morning Haman found no comfort at home where his wife told him that if Mordecai was a Jew he was screwed.  Just then he was summoned to the second banquet with Esther (Remember that she had a first banquet where Xerxes offered her up to half the kingdom.  Her request was a second banquet with him and Haman).  At the second banquet, again Xerxes offers Esther up to half the kingdom.  Her request must have surprised him.  She wanted the life of her and her people spared.  Her people had been sold into destruction. Esther, showing great respect for a loser king, explains that she would not bother him if she and her people had only been made slaves but extermination was too much and she had to bother him. “WHAT!  Who would do such a thing?” Xerxes asks.  Maybe he should think back a few days as to who he gave the authority to, the dude was clueless or a weasel. Then Esther points the finger at Haman.

Xerxes, drunk and angry, storms off into the garden and Haman stays with Esther to beg for his life.  Unfortunately for him he was a little too emotional and grabbed Esther as he begged.  In another stroke of amazing timing Xerxes walks back in to see Haman all over the queen.  In another stupid impulsive act Xerxes assumes that Haman is being romantic with the queen (really, what a dope) at which point the servant came in and carried Haman out.  Then one of the servants told the king about the gallows that Haman had built to have Mordecai executed on.  Instead Xerxes had Haman executed on it.  And the king was no longer angry.

This is an amazing story both for the stupidity of men and the power of God to fix things.  Many of the characters were controlled by greed, selfishness, hatred, and envy.  On the other hand both Mordecai and Esther show a lot of control and a lot of trust in God.  After being honored Mordecai returned to his job and Esther only asked for the life of her people because of the death sentence given them.  It had been less than a week since the first edict to destroy the Jews and now Haman himself has been destroyed, by the very king who honored him and gave him the authority to write the decree.  Men are unstable and untrustworthy.  Jeremiah warned the Israelites not to trust in mankind.  He told them the person who trusts in Yahweh is the one who will have a good outcome in their lives (Jeremiah 17:5-9).  On the other hand Esther was careful in how she dealt with the problem.  She showed respect for the king.  She was careful to set the stage for her request.  She played the game because the others were game players but put her real trust in God.  In Matthew 10:16-42 Jesus is talking to his followers encouraging them to live for God in their lives.  To help others understand the reality of heaven and Hell and eternity.  In verse 16 he tells his followers that they are going out into an evil world and they need to be a “shrewd as a serpent and as gentle as a dove.”  That sounds a lot like the actions of Esther.  If you have time you might want to read that part of Matthew.  It’s quite a check on reality for anyone who wants to live for God.

God give me wisdom.  Help me live wisely.  Let my actions bring healing to the world.  Let my hope be in you and from you.  Let me keep eternity in focus.  Life is short anyway let me not waste it on my own desires.  Let my life be a pleasing life of service.