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| Getting even can get you into big trouble |
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| Written by Doug Craven | |
| Wednesday, 30 September 2009 | |
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“Getting Even Can Get You Big Trouble” Esther 7:1-10 Why do we read Esther? The answer almost unanimously is that: Esther is a story of tremendous courage and of a willingness to hope against all odds, after all Esther’s people now seem to be forsaken as they have been condemned to death. As truth is revealed, it in turn leads to the salvation of the Jews and the down-fall of the evil forces. And it encourages the reader to see that it was the will of God that brings the Jews salvation and can do the same for us. So what happens that creates the situation to which Esther must respond? Plain and simple it is someone’s quest for revenge. Consider The Aesop’s Fable of the Fox and the Stork: At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it, and left the meal as hungry as when she began. “I am sorry,” said the Fox, “the soup is not to your liking.” “Pray do not apologize,” said the Stork. “I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon.” So a day was appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when they were seated at table all that was for their dinner was contained in a very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth, in which the Fox could not insert his snout, so all he could manage to do was to lick the outside of the jar. “I will not apologize for the dinner,” said the Stork… “One bad turn deserves another.” This is the catalyst for the action of our text here. Revenge!!!!!! Haman is the descendant of King Agag who was part of a nation known as Amalekites that had been warring with the Jews at least since the time of Moses as in Exodus 17. The kingdom of Israel was taken from King Saul because he did not totally destroy the Amalekites as God commanded, but he spared King Agag (1Sam. 15:23). Now, this disobedient act is still haunting the people of Israel as now Haman will attempt to use his position with the King to bring about the demise if the Jews, once and for all. As our text begins here in Chapter 7, we have the king, Haman and Esther. The king doesn’t know the truth of what is happening around him, with plots and sub-plots neither does he know that Esther is Jewish. While, Haman fueled by his hatred for the Jews, built a gallows for the Jew Mordecai to be hung on. Mordecai is Esther’s guardian and family member and he failed to offer Haman the recognition Haman had felt was due to him, as he rode past Mordecai at the city gate. Mordecai has become the “symbol” of Haman’s hatred toward the Jews. Further, Haman has convinced the King to sign into the law an edict that would bring about the death of the Jewish nation. Esther who is a Jew herself knows that if the Jews are killed that she may be found out to be a Jew and even put to death herself. The Queen has staged this dinner for the king and Haman to allow her to plead her case for her people and even herself. You see the people seem to have been forsaken; it appears that time is running out for the Jewish people. Esther tells the king just exactly what is going on. What she does, is to reveal her identity to the king and Haman. At the close of the meal, Esther pleads for her life and the life of her people. So, we have surprise number one for the king…. that his wife was Jewish. The King then demands who seeks to kill his wife!!!! Someone he had trusted wanted to destroy the queen he loved so much. He asked who is the man and discovered who it is and the man sits eating dinner with the King! Everything had come undone for Haman. One of the King’s eunuchs tells the king that there is a gallows right next door to Haman’s house, one which Haman planned to hang Esther’s guardian Mordecai. And the King proclaims: “Hang him on it! (meaning Haman)” There is a verse that comes to mind as we read this text Galatians 6 verse 7. The Bible says be sure your sins will find you out. Galatians 6:7 (NASB) Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Do not let the quest for revenge get the best of you. ....Doug Craven |
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