There are so many fascinating twists and turns in the story of Esther. So much spiritual insight and revelation that I always seem to gain a deeper revelation every time I read the story.
Of course, ever since God has been revealing His “so that” moments I can’t help but read about Esther in a whole new way.
From the beginning, we are hit with a “so that” moment!
Think about it. Queen Vashti was summoned by the King to come before him in her royal crown in order for all to see her beauty, but she refused! To which the King was furious and asked his right-hand men what he should do.
Their response was to basically throw her out of the kingdom since she was not performing her queen duties.
You know, like coming before the king when summoned.
Queen Vashti is thrown out and of course, we know what happens. The king gets lonely and his men suggest they bring all the virgins before him so he can choose the next queen of Media and Persia.
You see, Vashti had to dishonor the king or do something that would cause her to be cast out of her role “so that” Esther could step into her God-ordained role.
Sometimes, people around you need to be moved “so that” God can position you for the plans and purposes He has in your life.
God will put you in situations that will alter your future for His glory.
Let’s look at Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, and the one who raised her since her parent’s death.
Got your Bible? Let’s begin the story of Esther.
Read Esther 2:21-23
Esther is the queen at this time and Mordecai is sitting in the King’s gate when he overhears two of the King’s eunuch’s planning to kill King Ahasuerus. Upon hearing this, Mordecai immediately tells Esther who tells the King. There is an inquiry into it and it’s found to be true. The two eunuchs are put to death and Mordecai’s name is written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the King.
Just want you to keep that story in the back of your mind as we head through the scriptures to another “so that” moment.
Chapter 3 tells us the story of Haman, the one that the King basically put in charge of all the princes who hated the Jews. Of course, Mordecai, being a Jew, gave him a reason to hate the Jews, even more, when he refused to bow down to Haman and pay him homage. Haman made it his mission to annihilate all the Jews from the kingdom of Ahasuerus.
So Haman goes to the King and tells him there are people in his kingdom that have different laws and will not follow the laws of the King. He is asking for permission to destroy these people and the King agrees with him and seals the deal by giving Haman his signet ring.
In chapter 4, Esther is told of Haman’s plot to kill all the Jews and this is where the well-read verses come into play.
Esther 4:10-14
9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For 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?”
Esther knows what she needs to do!
Chapter 5 tells how Esther went before the King, who held out the golden scepter to Esther because she found favor in his sight. She asked for the King and Haman to come to the banquet that she prepared for him. While there, she asked if the next day they would both join her for another banquet and she will let her request be known at that time.
Haman walks out of there thinking he is all that but is furious with Mordecai because he once again did not bow down and pay homage to him. This hate towards Mordecai has infiltrated his heart so much that he plans on going to the king and suggesting that Mordecai be hung on the gallows he had prepared.
Well after the banquet with Esther, the King can not sleep so he commands his servant to bring him the book of the records of chronicles to be read to him. They read to him about Mordecai telling of the plot to kill him and he asks if anything has been done for him. To which they responded, “Nothing has been done for him. “
Read what happens next…
Oh, and by the way, if you relate more to movies, out of all the movies of Queen Esther that I’ve watched, this one is the closest to scripture and the best-made movie I’ve seen…
Esther 6:4-10
4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered.
6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” 7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”
10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
I probably shouldn’t be smiling but come on! That is hilarious. When someone has to eat humble pie, especially your enemy, I can’t help but smile because that’s just the way our God is. He makes a banquet in the presence of our enemies.
Remember that story of Mordecai revealing the plans of those two eunuchs I wanted you to keep in mind?
Well, that was a “so that” moment. In order for Mordecai to be written in that book, he was at that place and time “so that” he could overhear the plans, tell Esther, save the king, and ultimately be written in the book.
Sometimes God will position you in a place where you will have to stand up for truth and justice. But when you do that God will show up and show out for you. You will be glorified as you are glorifying God.
Did you notice the other “so that” moment? The one where the King couldn’t sleep? He couldn’t sleep “so that” he would call for the books to be read to him and realize that he never thanked Mordecai for saving his life.
Another thing to think about in our relationship with God. On those nights we can’t sleep, we need to be asking God if there is anything he is calling us to do at that time since we can’t sleep. Sometimes the enemy attacks our sleep but sometimes our Abba Yahweh calls us to see, do, or experience something more than we can understand.
Finally, the biggest “so that” moment of the entire book of Esther was that Esther was raised for such a time as this “so that” she could save an entire people, the Jews from certain death, and God would be glorified.
Oh, and of course we can’t forget that the enemy, Haman along with his family, were hung on the gallows that were made for Mordecai. Plus Mordecai took Haman’s position and was overall the princes of the kingdom.
Hallelujah! Leave it to our God to annihilate the enemy and exalt us before men. All for His Glory!
Did you read along at all? Did you see some more of God’s “so that” moments in the book of Esther? What about in your life? Can you look back and see God’s hand in your life through circumstances and events that happened?
I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.
Until tomorrow…
Y’all Be Blessed,
Audrey
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