Introduction:
A. Let me start by asking you a few questions.
1. What have been the greatest challenges you have faced in your life?
2. What have been the biggest obstacles you have had to overcome?
3. What have been the hardest walls you have run into?
4. How many of them are you still facing?
B. Today I want us to talk about overcoming life’s challenges.
1. Here’s an interesting quote to ponder: “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” (Frank Clark)
2. I think there is a lot of truth to that statement.
C. Well, I think you would agree that our study of the story of Esther has been an exciting one with one cliffhanger after another.
1. And each of those cliffhangers has involved a great challenge or obstacle.
2. Week after week, we have seen the tension build to an exciting crescendo last week.
3. As we have seen, Xerxes the pagan king of Persia had disposed of Queen Vashti and had replaced her with our heroine, Esther.
a. There was something important that the king was not aware of - Esther was Jewish.
4. Years later, King Xerxes chose a man named Haman to be his prime minister.
a. There was something important that the king was not aware of – Haman hated the Jews.
5. Esther’s adoptive father, Mordecai, also a Jew, sat at the king’s gate and would not show customary respect to Haman.
6. When Haman discovered that Mordecai was a Jew, he was able to pass a law that would lead to the extermination of all the Jews from the kingdom at the end of the year.
7. But he grew impatient for the year to end, and determined to build a huge gallows on which he would have Mordecai hanged immediately.
8. Esther called on God’s people to fast and pray, and then she put her life on the line by approaching the king with her request that the king spare her life and the life of her people.
9. Last week we saw the culmination of this suspenseful story – when the king learned that Esther’s life was on the line, and that Haman sought to kill her along with all the Jews. King Xerxes had Haman hanged from the very gallows he built for Mordecai.
10. That’s where we ended the story last week, and so that’s where we will resume the story today.
I. The Story
A. Let’s begin in Esther chapter 8: That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman's estate. (Esther 8:1-2)
1. There is evidence in extra-biblical literature that the property of condemned criminals reverted back to the crown.
a. So in this case, the estate of Haman, a condemned criminal, would normally become the property of the king.
2. But the king didn’t want it for himself, so instead he gave it to Esther, who in turn gave it to Mordecai.
a. Don’t you think that would cause Haman to turn over in his grave! I think so!
3. Esther brought Mordecai into the king’s presence and revealed that Mordecai was her adoptive father.
4. And how did King Xerxes treat Mordecai? He made him his new prime minister.
5. King Xerxes gave Mordecai his signet ring and gave him Haman’s old position.
a. You talk about a reversal of position and fortune!
b. The fall of Haman had now been totally balanced by the rise of the one he sought to destroy.
c. Last week we talked about “what goes around comes around” and the OT proverb, “if a man digs a pit…”
B. Now, Haman may be gone, but his edict for the destruction of the Jews was still in place.
1. The Bible says: Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him (Esther 8:3-4).
2. Esther knew that now was the moment to achieve the overthrow of Haman’s decree and deliver the Jewish people.
a. So Esther humbly fell before the king and wept.
b. The genuine tears of anyone, especially a woman whom one loves, are absolutely irresistible.
3. So the king again extended the gold scepter to Esther, thus signaling his approval and giving her permission to speak.
C. The Bible says: “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king's provinces. For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?” (Esther 8:5-6)
1. Notice again how Esther was respectful and was not presumptuous… “If it pleases the king…and if he regards me with favor…and is pleased with me…and if he thinks it is the right thing to do.”
2. Esther’s repetition of “how can I bear” expresses the depth of her empathy and concern for others.
3. So what did Esther want the king to do to rectify the situation? She wanted him to write an order that overruled the first – she wanted the first order to be revoked.
4. We live in a culture where such things occur with a measure of regularity, and we hardly raise an eyebrow when someone in authority changes his or her mind.
5. But back then, in the land of Persia, it was something unheard of.
6. Daniel 6:15 clarifies the fact that according to the law of the Medes and Persians, no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.
D. So what would the king do about Esther’s request?
1. The Bible says: King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have hanged him on the gallows. Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king's signet ring - for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked” (Esther 8:7-8)
2. Although Haman’s law could not be removed from the books, a new law could be written that attempted to neutralize Haman’s law.
3. So the king basically said, “Here’s the pen, you have my signet ring, so write another edict in my name counteracting the other.”
E. So Esther and Mordecai did just that.
1. The Bible says: At once the royal secretaries were summoned - on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai's orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language. Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king's signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king (Esther 8:9-10).
2. So just like the first edict, this one would be written in every script and language and would be sent out to the entire kingdom.
3. Just like with Haman, Mordecai wrote the edict in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the king’s ring.
4. And because of the urgency, the couriers road on the finest horses in the kingdom.
F. But the question looms: what did the edict say and how would it counteract Haman’s edict?
1. The Bible says: The king's edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them and their women and children; and to plunder the property of their enemies. The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies (Esther 8:11-13).
2. Mordecai’s edict gave the Jews the right to gather themselves together and defend themselves on the date set for their destruction.
3. And even more than defend themselves, they were allowed to take the life of anyone who might attack them, and they had a right to plunder and take ownership of their attacker’s possessions.
4. Did you notice that they were given the power to do the same thing that others had been given the power to do to them: to destroy, kill and annihilate.
5. So even though the original decree could not be revoked, at least now there was a level playing field.
6. Persian law gave them the right to fight back – remember this was justice, not revenge.
G. The story continues: The couriers, riding the royal horses, raced out, spurred on by the king's command. And the edict was also issued in the citadel of Susa. Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them (Esther 8:14-17).
1. The final verses of this chapter are the antitheses of the end of chapter 3.
a. At the end of chapter 3, Haman’s edict left everyone stunned and the Jews mourned.
2. Notice the emphasis that was put on the haste with which the dispatches were carried to their destinations.
3. And because all this originated in Susa, the people of Susa knew of the new edict before any other part of the kingdom, so the celebration began immediately in Susa.
4. Can you imagine the relief and joy the Jews must have felt?
a. It must have been like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s all rolled into one!
b. It must have been like the day prisoners were released from Auschwitz, or like Berlin on Nov. 9, 1989 when the wall came down.
5. And as the edict reached every part of the province, celebrations erupted there as well.
a. There was feasting and singing all night long!
6. Did you notice the description of Mordecai – There was great power in his presence – he had on royal robes and was wearing a large crown of gold.
a. Mordecai had a new wardrobe and he probably had a chariot with fancy rims.
b. Mordecai is like a rock star now, he’s on the cover of Time magazine, and Twitter is blowing up with him.
c. Mordecai was the new sheriff in town.
d. And the fact that a Jew was directing affairs in the capital city may have had something to do with the fear of the Jews that came over the Persians.
e. And rightly sensing that it would be an advantage in the future to align themselves with the Jews, many people declared themselves Jews.
H. And can you imagine Esther’s relief and joy as well?
1. As Esther returned to her palace room that night, everything had changed in every way.
2. She had trusted God and had done what needed to be done.
3. She had ignored protocol and interrupted the king.
4. She had waited until the time was best to say what she had to say.
5. She had boldly stood against wickedness and had courageously exposed Haman’s cruel plan.
6. She had then pled for her life and the lives of her people, and a new edict was written that would lead to their preservation.
7. As she laid down on her bed that night exhausted, she must have thanked God for what He had done.
8. And as she drifted off to sleep she could still hear the music and laughter of the Jews as they celebrated in the streets of Susa.
I. Before we finish our story for today, I want us to briefly see what happened when the day set for the destruction of the Jews arrived.
1. The Bible says: On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those seeking their destruction. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king's administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful. The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them (Esther 9:1-5).
2. We don’t have time to read the whole chapter, but let me summarize some a number of important things from chapter 9.
3. First of all, it is obvious that God was giving the Jews the victory over their enemies.
a. How else could there have been such a reverse in the law?
b. How else could such fear of the Jews and Mordecai have fallen upon the Persians?
c. How else could the Jews have so effectively defended themselves?
4. Second, I want us to notice that although many of their enemies died as the Jews defended themselves, it is impossible to know what the death toll would have been if Haman’s edict had been carried out.
a. The death of the Jews may have totaled a million or more had Haman’s edict gone unchallenged.
b. It’s important to note that no enemy of the Jews was in danger unless that person initiated an attack on the Jews.
c. The Jewish people did not wander around randomly killing people, but only acted in self-defense.
5. Third, I want us to notice that even though the new edict gave the Jews the right to plunder their enemies, we are told three times in chapter 9 that “they did not lay their hands on the plunder” (Vs. 10, 15, 16).
a. The deliberate decision not to enrich themselves at the expense of their enemies would not go unnoticed in a culture where victors were expected to take the spoil.
b. This self-denial would be taken as proof of the upright motives of the Jewish community.
6. Fourth, when the king heard the outcome of the day of destruction, he asked Esther what else she might request, and Esther asked that the Jews be allowed to defend themselves one more day and that Haman’s dead sons be hanged on the gallows.
a. So why did Esther ask for a second day? Probably because she knew there were likely be reprisals from the first day.
b. And why did Esther want Haman’s dead sons to be hanged on the gallows? Probably to publically send the message that what these men and their father stood for would never be allowed again.
II. The Application
A. There are two lessons that I want us to consider from today’s section of the story of Esther.
B. First, there is no wall so great that God cannot take it down.
1. Walls of evil and wrong can be built so high and thick that we wonder if they will stand forever.
2. But what we must remember is that no wall, no matter how imposing it may seem, can stand against God forever.
a. Right ultimately prevails over wrong.
b. It did in Esther’s day, and it will in our day, and at the last day.
3. Consider a few other examples from history.
a. The Egyptians thought they had God’s people walled in slavery.
1. Those “walls” stood for 430 years, until God sent Moses to Pharaoh, and that long-standing, seemingly impenetrable wall came tumbling down.
b. Forty years later, Joshua and the Hebrews invaded the Promised Land near the walled city of Jericho.
1. To the human eye the walls of Jericho were an imposing structure of stone.
2. But those walls were nothing in the presence of the living God.
3. Joshua 6:20 simply reads, “The wall collapsed.”
c. Here’s an interesting example – When God decided the nation of Israel needed to be disciplined for their unfaithfulness, God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to break down the walls of Jerusalem, even though they were so formidable and had been protected by God in the past.
4. There is no wall so great but that God is not greater still.
a. Any wall that God wants taken down will come tumbling down.
5. So what walls are there in your life that may need to be taken down?
a. Is it a wall of your past abuses, injuries, mistakes or choices?
b. Is it a wall of discouragement, depression or gloom?
c. Is it a wall of temptation, sin or addiction?
d. Or is it a wall of your own stubborn will, or the stubborn will of someone else in your life?
6. Take heart! God is in the business of breaking down walls.
7. If there is one thing the story of Esther announces in bold letters is: Because of God, there is always hope – no matter how great the challenge or obstacle – God is greater.
C. A second lesson is this: Except in the hand of God, vengeance is too powerful and tricky a tool for anyone else to handle.
1. The fruit of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5 is the worthy target of all people who want to walk in a manner worthy of God.
2. The last in the list of perfecting traits is the hyphenated word – Self-control.
a. Self-control is a lifetime project, just like the other fruit of the Spirit.
b. One man described self-control as “the managing of our attitudes, feelings, and actions so they serve our long-term best interests and those of others” (Richard Walters).
c. Self-control frees us from slavery. It causes us to stop bad habits. It keeps us in check.
d. And when it comes to retaliation, self-control restrains us.
e. Without it, we gear up to get even or worse.
3. Esther’s story, as we have seen today, is a natural for a discussion of retaliation and revenge.
a. As we have seen, Esther, Mordecai and the rest of the Jews restrained themselves against their enemies.
b. They had the power to do far more than they did, but they applied self-control.
4. The Old Testament character, Joseph, had the right spirit when it came to retaliation.
a. As you will recall, his brothers hated him and sold him into slavery.
b. They didn’t care if he died, and had fully expected him to do so.
c. Instead, Joseph wound up prime minister in Egypt, which was the only land that had food in during famine.
d. When they came to Joseph in Egypt for help, although he recognized them, they did not recognize him.
e. Joseph had the power to do anything to them he wanted.
f. But ultimately, Joseph’s spirit was, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20).
g. Joseph not only provided them with food, he moved the whole family to Egypt and gave them the best of the land.
h. No retaliation there, only disciplined self-control.
5. How can we be like Esther and Joseph in the face of our enemies when we have the power to enact revenge?
a. With God’s help, we can put Romans 12:17-21 into action: Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
b. When we trust God and allow Him to dole out any punishment, we gain mastery over ourselves and all our earthly, fleshly tendencies – we gain self-control.
c. I like the attitude of one person who refused to get revenge. He said, “I’m not going to get even, I’m just going to tell God on you!”
d. But, ultimately, what is even better than telling God and leaving the vengeance in His hands? Forgiveness.
e. Forgiveness is a wonderful antidote for retaliation and revenge.
f. Forgiveness and self-control go hand in hand.
D. We began with some questions, so let’s end with some questions.
1. As we face some of life’s greatest challenges, will we put our trust in God and rely on His strength to be able to do and be all that God asks of us?
2. Will we believe that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength?
3. Will we trust in God and cooperate with Him as He breaks down the walls and obstacles in our lives?
4. And will we allow the Spirit to cultivate self-control in our lives that we might be able to restrain our fleshly, earthly impulses, especially the one that causes us to seek revenge?
5. May God help us to overcome life’s challenges in the Spirit and power of Jesus Christ!
Resources:
Esther: A Woman of Strength and Dignity, by Charles Swindoll, Word Publishing, 1997.
Esther, by Joyce Baldwin, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, IVP, 1984
