July 11th | Esther 7
For Such A Time As This
The book of Esther is a remarkable book in the Bible. For one, it is remarkable because it never mentions God by name. You might wonder why this book is in the Holy Scriptures if it never mentions the name of God, but while His name is not written, it is all over the pages of this book. God’s hand and providence are seen moving and shaping the events of Esther’s life and His people, the Jews.
Esther is chosen by the king and placed in a place of great authority as Queen. Then the evil Haman makes a plan to kill Esther’s adoptive father, Mordecai, and also all of the Jewish people. Esther is fearful. What could she do, a humble woman before such a powerful man like Haman and the powerful king? Mordecai urges Esther to act by saying,
Esther 4:14,
“14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
In God’s great providence, He placed Esther as queen to act and be God’s instrument to save God’s people. It would not be easy, and it would require great courage, but God’s plan is always the right plan. Esther confronts the mighty Haman before the king, and I believe God uses Esther to turn the king’s heart away from Haman and to the Jewish people. In a stunning reversal, the gallows meant for Mordecai were used for Haman.
Esther 7:10,
“10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.”
This reversal is a picture that should point us to Christ because this is what Christ did on the cross. A stunning reversal of Jesus the perfect one, dying on the cross meant for us, sinners before a holy God. The cross meant for us was taken up by our gracious king.
Yet, Jesus’ death wasn’t the end, but rather the beginning of a great reversal. Satan thought he had won. Much like Haman, Satan rejoiced in the power he thought he had. But on the third day, Christ rose from the dead! Just as the king stripped Haman of his power and hanged him on the gallows, at the resurrection, Christ defeated satan and destroyed sin and death forever!
Praise God for the powerful reversal of the cross of Christ. Jesus can take our shame on the cross, and through the resurrection, he defeated death forever. Praise be to Christ! Today, you might be in a position to proclaim this truth. God in His providence might have ordained a place for you to speak up like Esther. Would you recognize God’s plan for such a time as this and speak up about the truth of the gospel?
