It is that point in the miniseries you have been streaming when all the lies, arrogant bullying behind the scenes, with evil manipulations of the villain and helpers in the story are seen for who they really are by those who can provide justice.  Your heart quickens as it all comes to this moment when truth prevails.  Some of us might even admit to cheering out loud when evil is finally defeated!  Others in the room might remind us that this is only a movie.  We shush them.

When we began the series, we knew Good would prevail for that makes a good movie! We just didn’t know how justice would be portrayed.  Story writers know that it is our curiosity of the how that holds our attention and causes us to “binge” the stream of dramatic, thrilling happenings.  They know we like the movie even more when writers add unexpected plot twists that send our predictable thoughts in another direction! One thing is for sure; we stayed glued to the ending, dismissing all other noise in the room, as it plays out before our eyes. We want the Evil guys to lose and the Good guys to win.

God knows that about us.  The story of Esther is included in His Word for all kinds of reasons as many theologians have expressed in various comments.  But the bottom line is this—Only God is God. God is Sovereign. Only God is Good. God has all authority over all His creation. God is all-knowing.  God knows our hearts—the good and the evil that lies within.  He knows who seeks good over evil.  God provides help for those whose hearts are committed to Him.  God power exceeds the limited power of Evil. God uses what was meant for evil to conquer evil itself and provide justice for good.  It’s all about God working through the lives of His People with His Plan to save them.  God wins every single time. 

The story of Esther is a story I “binge” with pause for thought because ultimately it is the story of God!

Esther 7

Haman Impaled

So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, ² and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

³ Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. ⁴ For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”

⁵ King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

⁶ Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”

Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. ⁷ The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.

⁸ Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.

The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”

As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. ⁹ Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”

The king said, “Impale him on it!” ¹⁰ So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God used individual people and governments to accomplish His will in His story of Esther. God orchestrates His plan of rescue and uses believers as well as nonbelievers.  Esther believed and was mentored by older cousin, a devote Jew, who “fathered” her as an orphan.  Mordecai believed God and was the “good guy” of good character in the Jewish community.  Esther believed and obeyed for “such a time as this” even if it meant giving her life for God’s people. She allowed God work in and through her.

But Esther is not the heroine of our story, however, God is!

Max Lucado comments;

In our “bootstrap” society, where you tough it up and do it on your own and take pride in being a rugged individualist, the one thing that seems to escape us is being before God on our knees, being before God aware that we are helpless, and allowing him to assist us.

God works best through surrendered hearts who are resolved to say; “If I perish; I perish.” Esther’s pray and fasting before God eliminated her worry over the “how” as He gave her confidence to know within her heart that would God guide and help her accomplish His plan her as she yielded her life to Him.  Esther’s greatest asset and real beauty was her willingness to allow God to accomplish His plan through her.  It is with blessed confidence that we hear her declare the evil of Haman to the king!  All because God made a way for His will to be done at just the right time!  Ah, Revealed Truth is beautiful!

Surrendered hearts come to know that dying to life here is eternal life with God!  We know what happens in the end—or we should know!  God wins!  God always wins!

Even when it looked like Evil had prevailed to Jesus’ family of followers as He was arrested, horribly mocked, slandered, beaten unrecognizably as the Son of Man, then nailed to across to die in public humiliation; justice was on the Way.  Jesus forgave the repentant thief on the cross beside him, then forgave those who did the dark deeds of evil in a prayer, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” 

As he hung there as the Son of God; Jesus could have said enough and called on ten thousand angels to stop the madness of evil.  But He did not.  His love for us held him firmly in pain.  His mission was not finished yet.  The sins of the world were placed on his sinless shoulders. Upon His death; our sins, the sins of the world, were paid in full. 

His mission to pay our debt in full was finished; but the work of our future Hope was yet to come.  Three days later, God resurrected His Son in such power that it rocked the world and moved the stone placed on Jesus’ tomb.  Jesus walked out that grave, in victory over death for all who would believe!  He walked among his family of followers who were grieving to comfort them and give them a peace the dark world knows nothing about until they believe.  Jesus’ is our hope of resurrection that is secured for all who believe, repent in Jesus Name with complete surrender to God. 

Yes, God wins.  For all who believe in God/Jesus/Holy Spirit; we win.

Esther’s story is not only a personal lesson here but also a lesson about the nation of Israel: Every enemy that has ever tried to destroy Israel has been destroyed. “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you” was God’s promise from the beginning of Israel’s journey, (Genesis 12:3), and He has always kept it. God takes His promises seriously, even if the nations of the world ignore them or challenge them.

I’ve read the end of the story more than once! (I am a Bible binger!) Evil does not and will not prevail because God does not fail in His promises! God’s revelation to John reveals His promise kept;

“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15

Despite our temporary persecution and suffering living in our temporary home; Jesus wins, Satan is defeated, and all things are made new. God wins!

Our perfect God had a perfect plan to save imperfect us through His perfect Son.  Done.

Believe and be saved forever.  

In the meantime; allow God to do His best in and through us for our good and His glory! 

Trust Him. Accept His assistance and help.  God never fails! 

Lord,

Thank you for the story of your work through Esther and Mordecai that stirs our hearts to praise and thank you for all you have done in us who believe and call you Savior and Lord!  Cleanse our hearts of all that is not you. Renew our minds that transforms our behaviors to we can be more like you in all your ways.  Refresh and feed our souls daily with your manna of wisdom. Continue the flow of heavenly joy of you in us and us in you—forever! I surrender to your salvation work in me.  Lead us, Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen