When Evil Lurks...

God at Work Behind the Scenes: Message Four of Esther Series

Esther 3:1-9.

ETS: Haman plotted to kill the Jews because of unchecked evil in his heart.

ESS: We should be careful to not allow any form of evil to reside in our hearts.

OSS: [MO: Devotional] {SO: I want the hearers to check their hearts and rid them of any evil through the power and help of the Holy Spirit.} Cognitive: I want the hearers to know how evil can impact and motivate one’s actions through studying the example of Haman. Affective: I want the hearers to feel the reality of evil and its impact in one’s life. Psycho-motor: I want the hearers to evaluate their hearts in order to rid them of any evil that may exist within them.

PQ: What significant events occur in this passage?

UW: Events

Intro.: [AGS]: Have any of you ever experienced the snowball effect? Think about building a snowball. We do not get snow often here, but when we have, I am sure you have at least played in it once. Perhaps you built a snowball: It started, maybe as a single ball the size of a baseball in your hand as you collected snow together; then, you began rolling the small ball in the snow until it collected snow and became a large snowball. This is what happens when evil lurks in our hearts unchecked and not dealt with. Think of King David and the event with Bathsheba- one action motivated by a sinful motive snowballed into a large-scale life event resulting in the unwedded pregnancy of Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. This is how evil works. [TS]: Similarly, today’s text details the significant events that happened just after Esther was established as the queen and she and Mordecai exposed a plot against the king. Haman was positioned in a high-ranking position with much influence. However, when evil and rage entered his heart, he began plotting to kill an entire people group. [RS]: It is dangerous to allow evil to lurk in our hearts without dealing with it. Evil can surface in a number of ways: rage (like Haman), bitterness, revenge, anger, etc. It is important that we keep a check on our hearts and not allow any evil to reside in our hearts lest we be motivated by impure and ungodly desires.

TS: Let us examine together significant events that occur in this passage, tracing the influence of evil as we go:

King Ahasuerus installed Haman in a high ranking, official position. (vv. 1-2a)

Haman was of the ancestral line of King Agag of the Amalekites.

The Amalekites traditionally opposed the Jews. (See Exodus and 1 Sam. 15)

Notice the sequential order: “After all of this took place” referring to Esther being established as queen, Mordecai being positioned at the King’s gate, and the two of them exposing a plot against the king. It is interesting that after something good happens, something that seems not-so-good happens. Have you noticed that pattern in your life before?

Mordecai refused to bow down to man. (vv. 2b-4)

People who pursue God and devote themselves to Him should never bow down to any other individual or anything. Only God deserves our respect, reverence, and devotion.

Note: It is not definitely certain why Mordecai refused to bow to Haman. Some suggest that it was a personal matter since Jews typically did bow down to pagan leaders thus dismissing the religious obligation as a motive. Others suggest that Haman likely wore some image of a false god on a portion of his clothing, though, suggesting that it was for religious reasons that Mordecai refused to bow to him. Regardless, though it is not certain, it is commonly accepted that it was because of religious reasons that he refused to bow.

Notice vv. 3-4 detail that the other officials at the gate pressured Mordecai to bow down. He still refused to bow down to Haman.

Haman was filled with rage. (vv. 5-9)

Rage filled the heart of Haman and motivated his thoughts and actions.

Thus, he planned not only to kill Haman but also all of the Jews in King Ahasuerus’ kingdom. It was such an irritation to him that it seemed distasteful to kill only Mordecai. (v. 6)

Evil and rage unchecked and lurking in one’s heart leads to widespread, evil actions. It never impacts on that person. Trace the influence of evil in this passage: entered the heart of Haman surfacing through rage; resulted in the plot to kill a whole people group.

CONCLUSION:

[1] Each of us have likely encountered some experience in life that has caused something to surface in our hearts motivated by evil. It may not surface as rage, but perhaps it surfaced as something else. Refusing to deal with this can lead to widespread hurt, division, and destruction.

[2] Do you have unchecked evil in your heart?

[3] What is stopping you from dealing with it today? Fear? Loss of control? Hate? Security? Through the power and help of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus, I pray you deal with it today and choose to get rid of it.