Womeninthechurch12

Women in the Bible

Lesson Twelve: by turtle

Last week we talked about how Esther became queen. She was an extraordinary women only
because she was a women of faith. And as we continue to study her life, we must also look at
events that effect her people the Jews. This next chapter shows how little knowledge the king
really had concerning his own wife and her family. How his power and ruling with little
knowledge how it could and would effect His family.

Esther 3:1-5 KJV
(1) After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite,
and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
(2) And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for
the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
(3) Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why
transgressest thou the king's commandment?
(4) Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them,
that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them
that he was a Jew.
(5) And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman
full of wrath.

The mistake of Haman is like many today. They think power and wealth means you can lord
over someone and make them bow to you. People like rock stars, politicians and so forth for
years have thought their power meant big stuff. And often that is how people see them. So you
got two types of people those who will allow that is idolatry and those that enforce it. However
there is a third type of people. Those who will only bow to God. Mordecai was such a guy. In
fact even though it was the law of the land he would not bow. The same thing happen in the
story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3, they refused to bow to man.

If you are a follower of God you can not bow to man only to Jesus. That does not mean you
can not work for someone, or help someone and be loyal as a friend, but you can not worship
them. They can be people in high position, but you can not bow to them.

Exodus 20:3-5 KJV
(3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
(4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in
heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
(5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a
jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me;

AS the story goes, Haman plotted to kill Mordecai and his people, not realizing it would go
against the kings family.

Esther 3:6-9 KJV
(6) And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people
of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole
kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
(7) In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast
Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth
month, that is, the month Adar.
(8) And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and
dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from
all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer
them.
(9) If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand
talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the
king's treasuries.

Haman begins to plot to destroy and yet he has no clue about this group of people except that
they do not follow all the laws of the land or at least not the way everyone else does. Fact is
religious people in general are law abiding citizens, unless it comes to a matter of belief and
worship. The only real charge Haman had was based on religion. This type of prejudice has
gone on for years and years. Back in World War II Hitler want to destroy the Jewish people.
Today there are still people who do not agree with Jews or Christians. To be able to live in a
world and have freedom, it means to have tolerance of all religions, whether we agree or not
When it comes to groups that mean to cause harm or hate something must be done.

Haman did not know what he was undertaking by touching Godâ€™s people. God takes care of
his people. It does not mean they do not suffer or have pain. It means simply that God will
defend His people. Sometimes it is not how and when we want God to take revenge it is however
in his timing.

Esther 3:10-15 KJV
(10) And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of
Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
(11) And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them
as it seemeth good to thee.
(12) Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was
written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the
governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province
according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king
Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
(13) And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to
cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon
the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them
for a prey.
(14) The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published
unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
(15) The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given
in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was
perplexed.

There is a purpose for me stopping on this passage today and not going any further. It is not
because it is the end of the chapter, or because I have nothing to write. It is a simple matter,
that often people that read the Bible and read stories like this one, feel after just a few verses
that something is wrong if God would even allow this type of thing to happen. Of course if you
know the story God once again saves His people. The is however a problem you got the old
adage of evil man against God or even good vs. evil. It is a major theme in many literary works.
And this story like many stories in the Bible have the theme of God vs. Satan, or good vs. evil.

The abuse some people will give because someone will not surrender to their well is hard to
grasp. Yet it happens. It happens more times then we want to think about. One example is
destructive cults. Destructive cults tend to desire power. Power does not belong to people it
belongs to God. God raises up leaders and tears down leaders.

Needless to say Haman would soon find himself in trouble with the King. For now Haman has
the kings favor and is in agreement with him. The King agrees with the plan and seals the
written decree with his ring and only the king can break a law he establishes. Only he can
change the law. So now you have people fixing to be destroy for unjust reason. This is extreme
case of abuse by another human being. It does happen, and more religious wars are fought over
it even in this day and time. Yet God commands us to first worship Him and then to love our
enemies to love others, and to love our neighbor. Such a hard lesson to do when you are fixing
to loose your life over faith. God as always will come through in His timing and his way. For He
is the master of counter acting Satanâ€™s plot.

Luke 6:27-32 KJV
(27) But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
(28) Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
(29) And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh
away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
(30) Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them
not again.
(31) And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
(32) For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that
love them.

Matthew 5:43-45 KJV
(43) Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
(44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
(45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to
rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.