Wisdom Among Wolves - Surviving in a Dog-Eat-Dog World

When you follow Christ, people will dislike you no matter what you say or do. God, however, will save the godly when they pray, are patient and persistent, and act prudently.

It is natural for a believer to struggle emotionally during trials and persecution, but he or she should not let someone’s anger or hatred deter us from trusting God and doing what is right.

Personally, this passage challenges me to be more courageous in the face of difficult trials by trusting God more confidently.

Specifically, Christians show their trust be being prayerful, patient, prudent, and persistent in doing what is right.

When you follow Christ, people will dislike you no matter what you say or do. God, however, will save the godly when they pray, are patient and persistent, and act prudently.

The author of Esther sets Esther and Haman in stark contrast. Haman ran by his emotions and based those emotions on outward circumstances. Esther, in contrast, ran by faith and based her faith on God’s promises to deliver. Consequently, she depended on prayer, was patient and persistent, and she acted prudently.

1. Esther was prayerful. She asked Mordecai and the Jewish people to fast and pray for three days.

2. Esther was patient. She waited until the end of the fast before taking action. Then, latter in the story she exercises her patience once again when she asked the king to return for a second banquet. She refuse to move hastily, but gradually work her plan, which God used to set things in motion (as the reader will see in chapter six).

Queen Esther's appearance before the king was especially sensitive because King Xerxes was meeting with his war counsel to plan his campaign against the Greeks to avenge the death of his father king Darius I. Most interruptions of these royal strategy meetings would not be tolerated. Esther was taking a serious risk by interrupting the king’s private strategy meetings.

Also, she may have invited Haman to her feast to avoid raising his suspicion. If he began to question her motives and spent time digging into her past and acquaintances, he may have been able to obstruct her plans.

3. Esther was prudent. She follows the Persian court’s proper form and etiquette as closely as she could without violating her principles.

She adorned herself with the garments appropriate for the occasion. Plutrach, in his Life of Artaxerxes, informs us that none but the king’s mother and real wife were permitted to sit at his table. Sometimes he would invite his brothers, but seldom were other people allowed to dine privately with the king. So both Esther and Haman had reason to be proud and believe they had secured the king’s favor (Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, vol. 1, p. 342. London: Samuel Bagster and Sons).

Some commentators interpret Esther’s reluctance to present the king with her request at the first banquet and an indication that she was losing her courage. In oriental court, much like current deal-making, the kings and dignitaries wanted to be “wined and dined” before closing a deal. When the king accepts the queen’s second invitation, he is elevating her status and indicating that he genuinely interested in hearing and granting her request.

4. Esther was persistent. She did not hesitate or give up. After doing all she could to prepare herself, she took up her courage and entered the king’s chamber. Then, she was justly rewarded when the king extended his scepter and was pleased to see her.

The word "favor" holds special significance in the story of Esther and is used eight times to describe Esther's status (, , , , , , , ). Her favor in the king's eyes is so great that the king upon hearing that Esther has a request, twice promises Esther, "It will be given to you."

In contrast, Haman behaves foolishly.

5. First, Haman is prideful. He boasts of the Queen’s invitation to the banquet, but is not satisfied but is outraged when Mordecai refuses to bow before him. Haman’s pride prevents him from being satisfied no matter how high he is elevated above those around him. Haman bridles his anger, but his pride is leading Haman down the road to destruction.

The Aramaic word for "wrath" (hemah) is equally significant in reference to Haman. His name may come from the same Aramaic root as “wrath” (hemah), which is also a root word for “poison.” Haman is "filled with wrath" when Mordecai did not tremble before him as he passed. Apparently, anger and wrathfulness were traits Haman possessed in abundance because of his pride.

6. Second, Haman is presumptuous. He agrees with his wife and friends and orders the gallows to be built without checking with the king. Unwittingly, Haman’s pride and presumptuous attitude lead him to construct the gallows that will become the instruments of his destruction.

Haman was emotionally volatile; he was prideful, boasting, arrogant, and presumptuous. Haman seethed with an unnatural hatred for Mordecai. Mordecai may have been his chief political rival, but this alone does not explain the depth his hatred. Haman’s hatred was so intense he had the gallows built in only one night - and he did so without checking with the king. He presumptuously assumed that the king would grant him the request.

The author of Esther sets other facts in stark contrast. For example, chapter four ends with fasting, while five begins with preparations for a feast. Esther is trepidatious and humble, while Haman is prideful and presumptuous. Esther’s and the Jews’ lives are being threatened, but Haman’s actions are leading him to his destruction. Mordecai and the Jews and fasting and looking to God, while Haman, his wife, and his friends are trusting in Haman’s power.

C.S. Lewis gave a great explanation of pride. “There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves… It is through pride that the devil fell from heaven, and pride leads people to every other vice.”

This passage teaches that pride always renders its possessor unhappy in the end. Haman, though possessing great riches, glory, and honor as the prime favorite of the king, still feels most wretched because he could not have the homage of the one man his despises most, Mordecai.

Some relevant parallel passages come to mind as one reads this chapter in Esther. says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He will.” says, “The heart of man plans his ways, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Another great passage is , “The exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds, he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’” Finally, assures believers, “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.”

This passage in some ways foreshadows Christ’s final deliverance on the cross. Three is the number of completion and deliverance. Esther waited three days before she went before the king. Jesus arose after three days and at the resurrection temporarily ascended to His heavenly Father. Furthermore, in the last verse the Aramaic word translated “gallow” is actually the word for “tree.” As Haman was to be the substitute for Mordecai on the tree he had erected in the capital city, Jesus (who knew no sin) took on our sin and became our substitute on the tree for the final deliverance for all His children.

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