- araratchurch
- Feb 27, 2023
- 2 min read
“That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him. In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king’s private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes.”
Esther 6:1-2 NLT
We often consider the story of Joseph as it is one of the best examples of God using circumstances to fulfill His purposes in and through the lives of people. Additionally, as we have discussed before, if we are firmly planted in the plan of the Lord, He will make sure that our part of that plan will happen, one way or the other.
After Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers, then falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, it seemed that the tables might be turning for him. As he was in jail, two of Pharaoh’s servants—the cupbearer and the baker—were thrown into jail. After they had been in prison for some time they each had dreams which Joseph interpreted. Each dream came true with the baker being executed and the cupbearer being re-instated. Joseph’s request of the one to whom he gave good news (the cupbearer) was simple:
“Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place.”
Genesis 40:13-14 NLT
However, after having been reinstated, the cupbearer forgot all about Joseph.
“Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.”
Genesis 40:23 NLT
Two years passed in which Joseph heard nothing back from the cupbearer. But then the Lord gave Pharaoh two dreams needing interpretation. Bingo! the cupbearer remembered his mistake, he remembered about Joseph.
“Finally, the king’s chief cup-bearer spoke up. “Today I have been reminded of my failure,” he told Pharaoh.”
Genesis 41:9 NLT
Long story short, not only was Joseph called in to interpret the dreams, he was put in charge of carrying out the plan needed to save Egypt, as well as his own people, during the seven years of famine.
In our opening scripture we see that the king—having left the banquet with Esther and Haman—now finds it difficult to sleep. So, he has the record books brought and read to him. And—wouldn’t you know it—there’s something in there about Mordecai!
Make no mistake, if there is something the Lord wants to be remembered, and/or done, He has a way of getting people’s attention. Now, it may not come when you want it; but as they say, it’ll come right on time!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Feb 24, 2023
- 2 min read
“Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast." This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.”
Esther 5:14 ESV
I recently read 10 accounts of people who died at the hands of their own booby traps. In each of the cases it seems that the victims were trying to stop would-be burglars/intruders and ended up killing themselves with their own devices.
In one case a 50 year old man strung up a piano string at the edge of his marijuana field to stop thieves or law enforcement. However, the only person caught by this trap was the man who set it up. It seems that he got liquored up and went speeding through the field on his quad bike, only to end up being decapitated by his own booby trap.
Unbelievably, one man was cut in half by a chainsaw booby trap he had set up!
The other stories vary as to the weapon or implement used in the booby traps; but the common thread was that the builders of the booby traps were the ones who fell victim to the work of their own hands.
“Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.”
Proverbs 29:6 NIV
Just as these stories tell the ironic tragedies of people being killed by something they created to kill someone else, just so, evil plots of evil people meant to be exacted on others, will eventually lead to their own destruction.
The Psalmist expresses this truth with these words:
“The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others. Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set. The Lord is known for his justice. The wicked are trapped by their own deeds.”
Psalms 9:15-16 NLT
And now, this brings us back to the part of the story of Esther we considered yesterday.
Whereas yesterday we considered the fact that Haman was willing to do anything to get what he wants, today we consider the fact that his evil plot to deal with Mordecai might not turn out the way he thinks!
Yes, in our opening scripture it seems that Haman is giddy with the prospects of seeing Mordecai’s lifeless body hanging on a 75 foot structure he would have built for the display. But, as with the guy with the piano string and the other guy with the chainsaw, Haman just might end up on the business end of his own device.
Let us remember that traps set up for other people—or judgments we pass on others—may come back to be exacted on its own creator.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Feb 24, 2023
- 2 min read
“Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast." This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.”
Esther 5:14 ESV
Ahab was the seventh king of Israel. Sadly, he was only one in a line of evil kings.
As the story goes, Ahab saw a vineyard next to his palace that he wanted for himself. After offering Naboth (the owner of the vineyard) money or a different vineyard for it, Naboth turned him down because this vineyard was his inheritance. As evil often does when it doesn’t get what it wants, Ahab threw a temper tantrum, after which, his evil wife Jezebel concocted a plan to have Naboth falsely accused and stoned. Upon hearing of Naboth’s death, Ahab immediately went to claim the vineyard. In the meantime, the Lord spoke to Elijah and told him to give Ahab a message:
“Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord.”
1 Kings 21:20 ESV
After this Elijah pronounces a severe judgment on Ahab. Indeed, Ahab was killed in battle; and eventually, all of the members of his family were also killed.
“What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out, simply because you have the power to do so. When you want a piece of land, you find a way to seize it. When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence. You cheat a man of his property, stealing his family’s inheritance.”
Micah 2:1-2 NLT
Make no mistake, evil plots how to get what it wants and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it. And that brings us back to Haman.
In our opening scripture we see that Haman—having expressed his angst with Mordecai—is encouraged by his wife and friends to build a gallows upon which Mordecai can be hanged. Apparently, waiting for Mordecai to be killed later on was just too much for him; and now, there’s a way to get what he wants even more quickly than he thought. And…Haman is ready to carry it out. What could possibly go wrong?
We may look at stories like that of Ahab and Haman and wonder how they could do or allow such evil just to be able to get what they want. But—rather than marveling at their level of evil—let us examine ourselves and make sure that we don’t let evil slip into our way of being and doing through our own agenda. It happens more often than we even know.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!