Yesterday we read of the rise of Esther as she was crowned Queen to Xerxes and life appeared to be going well. However, as often occurs in life there was to be an unexpected twist in the story. Xerxes appointed Haman the Agagite to a seat of honour higher than other nobles, something he might come to regret. Mordecai would not bow down and pay homage to Haman and this infuriated Haman. Haman is an Amalekite who are sworn enemies of Israel. Knowing Mordecai to be a Jew Haman decides not only to punish Mordecai but the whole Jewish nation, so he hatches a plan that is cunningly simple. He concocts a story to convince the king that there were a group of people who would not obey the king’s law and that he would be better off if they were destroyed.

A superstitious man, Haman wanting the help of his ‘gods’ draws lots to determine the best time and place to destroy them. But what we see is not the guiding hand of Haman’s ‘gods’ but the invisible hand of Yahweh, the God of Israel working to protect and help His people, Israel. Trusting Haman completely, the king gives him the signet ring as a sign of his authority. The king issued a decree for the annihilation of the entire nation of Israel causing astonishment throughout the land. The entire Jewish race was condemned under this law with no way out. How on earth can this be resolved as the decree is non reversible? And what of Mordecai and, if he were to find out, the outcome for his Jewish queen? Will Haman succeed or will the God of Israel intervene and save His people? So many questions and so little time; all to be revealed as the story unfolds…

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Question

Is there a time in your life when you have considered that all is against you and God appears distant or even absent? Can you recall an event with hindsight when God was clearly with you, and you can see his invisible hand in the outcome?

Action

Read and reflect on “Footprints in the sand” (Carolyn Joyce Carty) and give thanks to God for the times he carried you.