Esther 8

Memory Verse: Esther 8:16-17 - “The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.”

Song: Christ, our Hope in Life and Death

It took me years to realize Advent was not a calendar filled with little chocolates to eat each day to help build our excitement for all the gifts Santa would bring. Rather, it is a season in which we eagerly anticipate the day that we celebrate Jesus’ coming to earth. We use it to remember the hope we have because of Christ’s coming, the peace of knowing our future is secure, and we rejoice because of God’s promise to deliver us through our faith in Jesus.

In scripture, the Jews are no strangers to rejoicing because of being delivered by God time and time and time again. Many people know about the Passover in Exodus, how God raised Judges to protect and deliver his people or used a young King David to defeat Goliath. Still, not many know of how God chose to use a Jewish orphaned girl to play an integral part in stopping the Jews from being completely blotted out of existence.

We find this piece of history in the Book of Esther. Let me set the scene. 

Haman is something like the prime minister to King Ahasuerus. Haman, it turns out, is also a far-off descendant of Agag, who died by the hand of the prophet Samuel. Centuries later, Haman wanted revenge on every Jew (talk about holding a grudge). With deceitfulness and pride, he convinced King Ahasuerus that it was in the king’s best interest to obliterate the Jews. His goal was a mass genocide written into law.  Esther was both the queen and secretly a Jew, and she knew she had to do something. She pled her case before the king, revealing that Haman’s plan would not only blot out her kindred, but she would find herself directly in harm's way. Naturally, the King could not fathom the idea of losing his queen.

Although, there’s one problem. Once a law is in place, it cannot be revoked, even by the king himself. So we see here in Chapter 8 what King Ahasuerus does: he gives his signet ring to Mordecai (Esther’s cousin) and essentially says, “Write what you see fit for your people, stamp it with my signet ring, and it will be the law.” So Mordecai wrote a new law that said that the Jews could fight back! Any adversary that comes up against them has the liberty to defend themselves and annihilate their enemy, and they have the king's support to do so. This new law was sent with haste in every known language to every region under the king's reign.

We see how the Jews responded. The people REJOICED - they had been delivered and responded with gladness, dancing, shouting, and they couldn’t contain themselves with this good news - heck, they even created a holiday! 

So, who is the hero here? 

Esther? She definitely played a part.

Mordecai? Perhaps.

The king? Doubtful.

So who is it?

Can you imagine a story where the very hero is never even introduced? God is not mentioned once in this book. When you look deeper, His providence is highlighted and woven in every single minute detail: Esther becoming queen out of one million women, the timing of Haman’s request, the king reading the chronicle of Mordecai, Esther's plea to her king. Before the thought of the annihilation of the Jews entered the mind of Haman, God’s hand was already at work to deliver and save the Jews. Every encounter points back to God keeping His promise to his chosen people and providing another way. He is the driving factor behind every circumstance in our lives. We need not worry because nothing happens outside of His knowledge and control, and it isn’t for the purpose of His name being made known.

God uses instances like these to provide another way and ultimately point to The Way. He sent Jesus to be our one and only deliverance from our brokenness. Jesus had to die and take on our sin and brokenness so that we may trust in His finished work on the cross and have a restored relationship with God.  

The minute you think the enemy has won, Christ steps forth from the tomb. Victory comes when it seems like there’s going to be defeat. Should we not be celebrating more than the Jews, responding by falling on our knees in worship or reverent prayer? Should we not be filled with gladness, joy, and honor, rejoicing that God provided another way and not allowing us to be enslaved to our sin?

This advent season, may we look to Jesus coming as our victory. We can rejoice over a battle that’s already been won!