Womeninthechurch16

Women in the Bible

Lesson sixteen: by turtle

We left Haman in a bit of a mess last week. He had to honor the man he disliked, because the king
found favor with Mordecai. One thing for certain Haman was not having a good day by no
means. Now it seems like a strange story to be talking about when the issue is about women. Well
see Esther was in a very valuable position for her people. She was not going to sit and be idle. She
had people praying for her. Not only praying but fasting for the solution to the problem. Now I
am sure Esther was wondering how things would really turn out. See last queen was replaced for
disobedience to the king. Now Esther had to be assured that the king loved her enough to vote
over one of his leading men. See men tend to band together on a lot of issues, not taking a
womenâ€™s point of view to seriously unless something seems out of sorts. The King loved Esther
though she must of been an extraordinary women and wife to the king.

Now Esther she calls the king and Haman for banquet. Banquets in those days could go for more
then one day. A feast in the honor of her husband who had decreed the law against her people as
well as the one who asked for the decree. The king on the second day wanted to know exactly what
the king wanted.

Esther 7:1-2 KJV
(1) So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
(2) And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy
petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be
performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

Now Esther took it upon herself to state plainly the problem. No doubt her anger at this point was
in control. Her people were sold into captivity and now the dear Haman wanted to kill her people.
Now of course we know that Haman probably did not know who Esther people were, if he had he
would not of done something so foolishly. Yet Haman anger had gotten he best of Him back in
chapter 2. Haman was upset because old Mordecai did not reverence him as a god. Haman
position had made him to big for his own britches.

Esther 7:3-4 KJV
(3) Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it
please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
(4) For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had
been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not
countervail the king's damage.

Now picture this for a moment if you can. Haman is at the dinner listening to all the queen said.
The king also was listening to his wife. She had his whole attention. Now he made a promise
before hearing the details of the request. The king was upset who would dare harm his dear wife
and her family. This brought him to question who would do such an injustice.

Esther 7:5-6KJV
(5) Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is
he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
(6) And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid
before the king and the queen.

Now the king had to think about what was said. In all reality maybe he really need to think on
this. Here was his friend and here was his wife. Who did he value more. What would he do about
the situation. Now the king walked out in the garden to try to clear his head. He comes back still
upset about the situation that he falls on the bed, questioning Haman if he wished to take his wife
away from him. The king words hit Haman like a giant smack across the face. Now Haman felt
utter shame for he knew things were about to get worse. He even tried to reason with the queen.
Haman knew he messed up and made error with the king, but he did not know Mordecai was kin
to the queen. I am sure if he could of pleaded that is exactly what he would of said.

Esther 7:7- 8KJV
(7) And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and
Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil
determined against him by the king.
(8) Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and
Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen
also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's
face.

Now all of a sudden one of chamberlains, an advisor to the king spoke up quickly and told of the
gallows that Haman built for Mordecai. Oh what a dreadful day for Haman. For his deception
and plot was going to get him. He had no choice, but to face his punishment. For the king seen
the injustice of the situation and order Haman to be hung by his own noose.

Esther 7:9-10KJV
(9) And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty
cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in
the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
(10) So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the
king's wrath pacified.

Haman mistake was to think himself more highly then others. It is a hazard in the human race.
One thinking more highly then they ought to. They think of themselves more then they think of
the love of others. There aim is to hurt and destroy anyone that will not look up to them. Kind of
like the old devil thinking of himself better then God. No doubt God was with His people to
protect them against such a deadly plot.

Romans 2:1-2 KJV
(1) Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou
judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
(2) But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit
such things.

Where do you see yourself. Are you better then everyone else. If you think so, you might better
think again. See God is no respector of people. He loves everyone the same. We all have faults
and make errors. Jesus made it clear to the Pharisees who wanted to stone a women caught in
adultery.

John 8:7 KJV
(7) So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is
without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Romans 2:11 KJV
(11) For there is no respect of persons with God.

No matter if you are a women, a man, or a child God loves you and desires you to know Him.
Sometimes that hard to imagine. The king loved his wife and would not allow any harm to come
to her and her people. The king repented turned away, changed the evil law he mistakenly made.
Haman on the other hand, guilty as they come, may of found God forgiveness, but not the kings
that day. For Haman had to be punished for bringing such destruction to the land.

Godâ€™s mercy is for all those that repent and ask for forgiveness. See to repent means to turn
away from sin, but one needs to also confess sin to be forgiven.

Romans 10:9-11 KJV
(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation.
(11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.