Thy Will be Done (The Story of Esther) Part 3

by John Lowe
(Laurens SC, USA)

Scene 5, “The Petition”
After three days of fasting and praying, Esther is assured of God’s presence and provision, and she goes for it; she goes for broke.

You can just about feel Esther’s heart beating as she puts on her royal robes, and as she walks down the corridor to the King’s chamber. She’s probably praying, over and over again, “Please let him extend his scepter.”

And Xerxes is sitting on his royal throne, reading the sports page. And he looks up and he sees Esther, and Xerxes extends his golden scepter, and Esther walks up and touches the tip.

Xerxes says he will grant her petition, up to half his kingdom. And Esther replies, I would like for you and Hamon to come to a banquet I will prepare for you. And then I will tell you my petition.

Now Hamon left the palace that day in high spirits thinking to himself, “Boy, I’m really special, the King likes me, and now Esther the Queen has invited me to a banquet; just for me and the King.” Old Hamon was smiling and almost skipping as he walked. And then he walked by the King’s gate and saw Mordecai, and his high spirits flew out the window and were replaced with unrelenting rage.

He restrained himself for the moment, and when he got home, he told his wife about all the great things that had been happening. He tells her about the banquet and then he says, “But all that gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the King’s gate.”
Hamon was pretty stupid. He had a lot going for him, but he let one person steal his joy.

After hearing her husband whine, Hamon’s wife says, “Now, now, Hamon, Don’t be upset. Why don’t you just build a 75’ gallows and ask the King if you can hang that nasty Mordecai on it tomorrow.”

As scene 5 closes, we see the gallows being built, we hear the hammers pounding, and things don’t look good for the home team.

Scene Six, “The Plan”
In scene six, we see God moving in mighty ways, unfolding and implementing His plan.

And remember, there is no such thing in our lives as a coincidence when it concerns the will of God. A coincidence is simply a time, where God has chosen to act anonymously.

God can work through many things to bring about His will; He worked through a flood, a Pharaoh, a 40-year trek through the wilderness, a rod that budded, a rock that gave water, a donkey that talked, and even a cross. And here in Esther, we see God working through insomnia.

King Xerxes was tossing and turning, unable to sleep. And since they didn’t have Sominex back then, Xerxes asked for the next best thing; he asked for someone to read the book of the chronicles of his reign to him. Remember, those were the minutes? He figured that if anything would put him to sleep, it would be the minutes. And so as he lay there listening to the minutes, his ears perk up when he hears about an assassination plot, that occurred several years earlier, and how a man named Mordecai had saved his life.
And Xerxes asked, “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” And the attendant said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

Just then Xerxes hears someone coming into the outer court to speak with him. It’s Hamon, and he is coming to ask Xerxes about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he has just built.

Xerxes says, “Send him in!”
When Hamon comes in, Xerxes doesn’t give him time to ask his question, but instead asks Hamon, “What should be done for a man, whom the king delights to honor?”
Now we know that Xerxes is talking about Mordecai, but Hamon doesn’t know that, and he figures that Xerxes has to be talking about honoring him. After all, who else could it be; he thinks, “Who could be more deserving than me?” So Hamon is really going to pour it on thick because he thinks he is talking about what’s going to be done for him.

7,8 So he replied, "Bring out some of the royal robes the king himself has worn, and the king's own horse, and the royal crown,
9 and instruct one of the king's most noble princes to robe the man and to lead him through the streets on the king's own horse, shouting before him, 'This is the way the king honors those who truly please him!' "
Esther 6:7-9 (Living)

And then Xerxes says, “That’s a great idea, Hamon. Now go at once, get the robe, and get the horse, and do exactly what you have suggested. For Mordecai is the Jew that sits at the king’s gate and is sure that you do not neglect anything that you have recommended.”
Wow! Can you just imagine how Hamon felt; he was angry and humiliated.

11 So Haman took the robes and put them on Mordecai, and mounted him on the king's own steed, and led him through the streets of the city, shouting, "This is the way the king honors those he delights in."
12 Afterward, Mordecai returned to his job, but Haman hurried home utterly humiliated.
Esther 6:11-12 (Living)

I doubt that he sounded very enthusiastic when he made the proclamation.
After this, he went home, but he did not get any sympathy from his wife when he got there. And soon after, the King’s eunuch arrived to escort him to the Queen’s banquet.

Now it is time to see the courage of the Queen, for we read:
1 So the king and Haman came to Esther's banquet.
2 Again, during the wine course, the king asked her, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? What do you wish? Whatever it is, I will give it to you, even if it is half of my kingdom!"
3 And at last Queen Esther replied, "If I have won your favor, O King, and if it pleases Your Majesty, save my life and the lives of my people.
4 For I and my people have been sold to those who will destroy us. We are doomed to destruction and slaughter. If we were only to be sold as slaves, perhaps I could remain quiet, though even then there would be incalculable damage to the king that no amount of money could begin to cover."
5 "What are you talking about?" King Xerxes demanded. "Who would dare touch you?"
6 Esther replied, "This wicked Haman is our enemy." Then Haman grew pale with fright before the king and queen.
7 The king jumped to his feet and went out into the palace garden as Haman stood up to plead for his life to Queen Esther, for he knew that he was doomed.
8 In despair, he fell upon the couch where Queen Esther was reclining, just as the king returned from the palace garden. "Will he even rape the queen right here in the palace, before my very eyes?" the king roared. Instantly the death veil was placed over Haman's face.
9 Then Harbona, one of the king's aides, said, "Sir, Haman has just ordered a 75-foot gallows constructed, to hang Mordecai, the man who saved the king from assassination! It stands in Haman's courtyard." "Hang Haman on it," the king ordered.
10 So they did, and the king's wrath was pacified.
Esther 7:1-10 (Living)