Once upon a time in the West ... God does it again and rescues his people from evil.
The command to annihilate all Jews
Esther 3:12-15
Mordecai enlists Esther’s help
Esther 4:1-17
Esther’s invitation
Esther 5:1-8
Haman’s rage against Mordecai
Esther 5:9-14
The king’s sleepless night
Esther 6:1-3
Mordecai honoured
Esther 6:4-14
Haman accused
Esther 7:1-6
Haman hanged
Esther 7:7-10
Esther is now thoroughly an insider. She doesn’t even hear about the decree to kill all Jews. In fact, no one knows she is a Jew. She only hears about it because she discovers that Mordecai is distressed about something.
Mordecai’s faith in God, despite his distress, is impressive. “ if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (4:14) Understandable that he should say, “well my girl, this is why God has got you into this privileged position - it’s all down to you.” But he also tells her that if she doesn’t act, God will find another way of saving Israel. That’s faith.
Esther puts a plan into action. First of all, she has to approach the king without being asked. This is risky, and could lead to her immediate execution, but the king is in a good mood and receives her. She asks for a banquet and that Haman is given a place of honour.
Meanwhile, God is at work too. Xerxes is reminded of Mordecai’s good service, and decides it’s high time the man was rewarded. With delicious irony, he asks Haman to think of a suitable reward. Haman, thinking it’s for him, names something very tasty indeed, and then gets the task of doing it all to Mordecai, through very gritted teeth, I’m sure.
At the banquet, Esther gets her chance to speak, and exposes Haman’s plot. Things go from bad to worse for Haman, who ends up impaled on the spike he intended for Mordecai. He’s a pantomime villain, and he dies a pantomime death.
This is a gorgeous story, but surely it has been polished. It happens with such silky smoothness that it must have been tweaked from what actually happened. That doesn’t matter, we can enjoy it for what it is, but I for one don’t feel the need to pretend that this is historically accurate.
Esther 3:12-15
Mordecai enlists Esther’s help
Esther 4:1-17
Esther’s invitation
Esther 5:1-8
Haman’s rage against Mordecai
Esther 5:9-14
The king’s sleepless night
Esther 6:1-3
Mordecai honoured
Esther 6:4-14
Haman accused
Esther 7:1-6
Haman hanged
Esther 7:7-10
Esther is now thoroughly an insider. She doesn’t even hear about the decree to kill all Jews. In fact, no one knows she is a Jew. She only hears about it because she discovers that Mordecai is distressed about something.
Mordecai’s faith in God, despite his distress, is impressive. “ if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (4:14) Understandable that he should say, “well my girl, this is why God has got you into this privileged position - it’s all down to you.” But he also tells her that if she doesn’t act, God will find another way of saving Israel. That’s faith.
Esther puts a plan into action. First of all, she has to approach the king without being asked. This is risky, and could lead to her immediate execution, but the king is in a good mood and receives her. She asks for a banquet and that Haman is given a place of honour.
Meanwhile, God is at work too. Xerxes is reminded of Mordecai’s good service, and decides it’s high time the man was rewarded. With delicious irony, he asks Haman to think of a suitable reward. Haman, thinking it’s for him, names something very tasty indeed, and then gets the task of doing it all to Mordecai, through very gritted teeth, I’m sure.
At the banquet, Esther gets her chance to speak, and exposes Haman’s plot. Things go from bad to worse for Haman, who ends up impaled on the spike he intended for Mordecai. He’s a pantomime villain, and he dies a pantomime death.
This is a gorgeous story, but surely it has been polished. It happens with such silky smoothness that it must have been tweaked from what actually happened. That doesn’t matter, we can enjoy it for what it is, but I for one don’t feel the need to pretend that this is historically accurate.
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