GOD IS IN CONTROL (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            In this article, and another, we will consider several passages from the book of Esther.  As you read these passages, you will never see the name of God mentioned.  Yet, as you read the verses, you will see God

behind the scenes of this event in the history of the Jewish people.  In fact, you will be convinced by the end of the story that truly God is in control of all things. 

“So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.  And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti” (Est. 2:16-17).  “In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.  And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.  And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree:  and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king” (Est. 2:21-23). 

“And Haman said unto the king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people, neither keep they the king’s laws:  therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.  If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destoyed…And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.  And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee” (Est. 3:8-11).

“And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.  Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people” (Est. 4:7-8).  “Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live:  but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days” (Est. 4:10-11).  “Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews?  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed:  and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Est. 4:13-14)  “Then Esther bade them return Modecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day:  I also and my maidens will fast likewise:  and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law:  and if I perish, I perish” (Est. 4:15-16). 

“Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house:  and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.  And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight:  and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand.  So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.  Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou queen Esther?  and what is thy request: it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.  And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.  Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said, So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared” (Est. 5:1-5).

“Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart:  but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai” (Est. 5:9).  “Yet all this availeth me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.  Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon:  then go merrily with the king unto the banquet.  And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made (Est. 5:13-14).

“On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of record of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.  And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?  Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him” (Est. 6:1-3).  “So Haman came in.  And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?...And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honor, let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:  and let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honor, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor.  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou has said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew that sitteth at the king’s gate:  let nothing fail of all thou hast spoken” (Est. 6:6-10). 

“So the king and Haman came to the banquet with Esther the queen.  And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther?  and it shall be granted thee:  and what is thy request?  And it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom” (Est. 7:-1-2).  “Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition.  For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish.  But if we have been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage” (Est. 7:3-4).