Esther.3

The Challenge of Standing Firm Amidst Plots and Conspiracies

Bible Passage: Esther 2:19–23, Esther 3:1–15

Summary: These passages from Esther reveal a world rife with plots and conspiracies, ultimately demonstrating how God's sovereign plans unfold in the midst of chaos.

1. Mordecai’s Unseen Loyalty Foils a Plot(Another Backstory God Will Use)

Esther 2:19–23 “When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the king’s gate. 20 Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name. 23 And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.”

Mordecai’s discovery of the plot against the king reveals God's sovereignty, god uses seemingly insignificant events to protect His people. Like Mordecai, even our unnoticed acts of loyalty and integrity can play a crucial role in God’s bigger plan. Remain faithful and trust that God is at work, even when we don't see the immediate results.

Mordecai will not bow to Haman but will protect the king from assassination.

Here Mordecai uses Esther to subvert a plot to kill the king

later Mordecai uses Esther to subvert a plat to kill the Jews

Mordecai was willing to wait for his reward.

2. Haman’s Wicked Scheme - Approbation Lust - Conspiratorial Evil

Esther 3:1–7 “After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage. 3 Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?” 4 Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai. 7 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.”

Haman was a descendant of the Amalekite king Agag. Mordecai, like King Saul, was a Benjaminite. The coincidence of these two fighting was not missed by the Jewish readers (1 Sa 15).

Mordecai did not bow to Haman. He was however faithful to the king. Ro 13 describes the obedience the Christian is to show to authorities. Perhaps Mordecai’s response to Haman was a sort of civil disobedience.

Jeremiah 29:7 is to be our response to living in a fallen world with its leadership, “And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.”

Seeking peace can open the door for the gospel

3. Historical Antisemitism

Esther 3:8–10 “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. 9 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.” 10 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.”

In the story of Daniel King Darius is fooled into making a decree that imperils Daniel (Dan 6), Haman is following the same path. In contrast to seeing the Jews and worshipping the God that called them many in the world try to silence their testimony. Sadly, this hatred of God has proved fatal to many of His chosen people. The world persecutes the ones that stand for God.

2 Timothy 3:12 “12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

Matthew 5:10–12 “10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

The world’s conscience can never by assuaged by the persecution of God’s people but that doesn’t stop the madness.

4. Ahasuerus’s Misguided Approval

Esther 3:9–11 “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.” 10 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. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.””

King Ahasuerus’s approval of Haman’s plan demonstrates human authority succumbing to manipulation and evil.

Evil in the Bible is anything that deviates from Divine Goodness. God is light anything else is darkness. God did not create evil, but it is the absence of light.

Evil can be categorized by several outworkings.

Intrinsic - κακος kakos Ro 12:21

Infectious - πονηρός poneros Ro 12:9

Communal - Acts 4:25-26 quoting Ps 2:1-3 Plotting to do evil to Jesus (God’s Anointed) and God’s people

5. Edict’s Dark Shadow - A Holocaust

Esther 3:12–15 “Then the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded—to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. 14 A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out, hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.”

The edict sent out to annihilate the Jews created despair and fear among God’s people. Despite the appearance of darkness, God often uses such moments to bring about His redemption and deliverance. Christ’s sacrifice brings light to our darkness, and encourage faith in His redemptive plan no matter how dire the situation seems.

To destroy - שׁמד šmd to exterminate

Esther 3:6 “But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.”

To kill - הרג hrg to kill, hunt, slaughter

To annihilate - אבד ‘bd to destroy, perish

Esther 3:9 “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.””

Couriers went out and published it in Shushan

The King and Haman had a banquet

Shushan (the people of the palace and city) was perplexed.