A NATIONAL ENEMY
- DAY 186
- FEAR FILES: HAMAN
- SCRIPTURE: ESTHER 3
In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.” So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, “The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.”
ESTHER 3:7-11
In our text today, we are introduced to a national enemy, named Haman. Haman was a descendant of Agag, Agag was the king that God sent Saul to go and completely kill and destroy every single person and thing, leaving no survivors. However, if you’ve read that story you would see that Saul was more focused on fine things and capturing Agag and chances are someone survived and made descendants for Agag that shouldn’t have had any descendants at all. Fast forward to our text and that disobedience produced Haman, and the Agagites who became enemies of the Jews, and with a very good reason. Seeing that the Jews completely slaughtered everyone and everything they owned. I mean, who wouldn’t have a beef with that kind of nation?
A Motivated Foe
So when he discovered that Mordecai, a common Jew, wouldn’t bow to him, he decided to use that as an opportunity to deal with an entire nation. His pride couldn’t handle the fact that one man refused to bow, even though he had others bow, one jew was too much to ignore.
Look at the length Haman went to get back at the Jews. First, was divination to enquire when would be the right time to strike. Next, he spoke to the king and opted to fund the entire operation. And when the news went around town, the people moaned. Listen, the enemy would go to any length to get at you. As Pastor Mildred says, the devil you are playing with is not playing with you. Yet in all this Mordecai did not fear or change his ways; he still refused to bow because he believed that God will send a deliverer for Isreal. He was convinced that God had gone ahead of this threat and prepared an Esther. So although he moaned, he took an act of courage and sought out Esther.
A Plan Ahead
Dearly beloved. Sometimes we can find ourselves in situations that are too great for us to handle. We find ourselves in a challenge that we may not even understand how it began and this can cause panic and fear in our hearts but we ought not to be afraid. I want to remind you today that God has gone ahead and prepared an Esther in the palace. Even before Haman made a plot.
Whatever situation you are in, God has sent an Esther ahead. He has provisions for the issues that are yet to occur. He has a victory strategy for battles that are yet to arise and he has a plan for years ahead. Trust and depend on Him. God’s got you.
Shalom.
