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GOD IS IN CONTROL (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            In last week’s article, we read several verses from the book of Esther that revealed that God was in control of the events that were taking place in the book.  We want to finish looking at several more verses from Esther that will conclude the story.  Then, we will make some comments about God’s control at the conclusion of this piece.

            When we left, Esther had just revealed to King Ahasuerus that she and her people had been sold, “to be destroyed, and to be slain, and to perish” (Est. 7:4).  “Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?  And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.  Then Haman was afraid before the king and queen” (Est. 7:5-6).  “And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman hath made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, stand in the house of Haman.  Then the kin said, Hang him thereon.  So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai…” (Est. 7:9-10).

            “On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen.  And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.  And the king took off his ring which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai.  And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman” (Est. 8:1-2).

            “And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put way the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.  Then the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther.  So Esther arose, and stood before the king, and said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written tor reverse the letter devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces” (Est. 8:3-5).  “Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar” (Est. 8:11-12). 

            “And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple:  and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.  The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honor.  And in every province, and in every city whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy, and gladness, a feast and a good day.  And many of the people of the land became Jews:  for the fear of the Jews fell upon them” (Est. 8:15-17).

            “Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over tem that hated them;) the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt:  and no name could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.  And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.  For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces:  for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.  Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them” (Est. 9:1-5).  “On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.  And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shusham the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces…” (Est. 9:11-12). 

            “Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.  And the king commanded it so to be done:  and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.  For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan;  but on the prey they laid not their hand” (Est. 9:13-15).

            “And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?  For Mordecai the Jew was next unto the king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed” (Est. 10:2-3).