Faithfulness

Esther 8:1-8

Faithfulness

We finish up our study of the book of Esther this morning by looking at the events of chapters 8, 9, and 10. Last time, we left off with Esther presenting her request to the King, which was simply to save her people.

The king becomes angry, leaves the scene to cool off for a few minutes, but when he returns it looks to him as if Haman is assaulting the Queen. Haman, is actually begging and pleading with the Queen for mercy.

The king sees what he sees though and has Haman executed and hung on the gallows that Haman prepared for Mordecai. Haman was considered a traitor, so his assets were seized by the king and given to Esther and Esther gave them to Mordecai.

Mordecai was essentially promoted to Haman’s position in the kingdom. He was now the king’s right hand man. We don’t know what happened to Haman’s wife or friends, but we do know that his sons were killed in the battle with the Jews, the very battle that Haman had the king write a decree for.

Esther once again comes before the King and asks what he can do to stop the murder of her people. The king pretty much responds by saying an order is an order, even he cannot over turn it, but she can make her own order.

Mordecai wrote a decree for his people in the King’s name. The decree gave the Jewish people the right to defend themselves against any enemy that might attack them, including women and children.

This sounds bizarre to us. God doesn’t want us to kill our enemies does he? But when you look at some of the things in the Old Testament we see part of God’s justice and Holiness is through His wrath. We also see His wrath in the New Testament, especially in the book of Revelation.

A perfectly just and right God must punish sin. There is a price to be paid. Thankfully, for us, the price has been paid through Jesus Christ. Those who do not accept that payment will suffer the penalty for themselves.

So, the people get this message from the king and they rejoiced. In chapter 9, the day arrives for the battle to take place and the Jews destroy their enemy. 810 people were killed in the area and 75,000 were killed around the country.

As I mentioned, Haman’s sons were killed in the battle. God’s people came out on top. God kept His promise to Abraham about blessing those who bless him and cursing those who curse his descendants.

After the battle, Mordecai sends a letter out to his people to remember this day and establish a feast called Purim. This is an annual feast to commemorate what the Lord did for them on this day and the story of Esther is typically read.

What can we learn from this story? Like most Biblical accounts, faithfulness is an important lesson from God’s Word to us. As we see, when God’s people are faithful, they prosper, maybe not immediately, but it is part of God’s long term plan.

When His people are not faithful, they suffer. Again, maybe not in the short run, but over the long term they do. The same holds true for us today as well. God wants us to be faithful followers of Christ. He wants us to live by faith.

Hebrews 11:1 give us a great definition of faith. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Faith is being sure and certain of the right things. The things of God. The promises of God. Faith is the confidence that God will do what He says He will do.

To apply our faith is to live as if God will keep His promises. That is the question for you, Do you believe that God will keep the promises He has made to us in His Word? If so, then live your life accordingly.

If you aren’t sure about all of His promises, then read His Word, study it, pray about it. He will show you what He wants you to see.

No doubt, some of your are sitting there thinking, “I believe, I believe, but it just doesn’t seem like God comes through for me sometimes. I am struggling, why doesn’t He help me out?” Or maybe there is a past hurt that you have experienced and God didn’t come through like you thought He would.

There are some people that become maybe disappointed with God. They feel as though God let them down. He did not answer their prayers the way they expected. Maybe they even gave up on God, stopped praying, going to church, or even reading the Bible.

That is a bad road to take. Our faith is tested all the time. It is tested to prove if our faith is real or is it something we just say we have. Our faith is tested to help us grow and to strengthen us. And of course, our faith is tested to give God the glory when we persevere.

God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the way we expect. We need to remember that He has a plan and He knows what He is doing. Things will work out. Just because He doesn’t give us what we want, doesn’t mean He doesn’t give us what we need.

God loves us, make no mistake about it. That is not the question. But sometimes part of love might involve discipline.

So be faithful, like Mordecai and Esther. They were sure and certain God would hold to His promises and they were right because God is right.

If you find yourself disappointed with God, ask Him to strengthen your faith. Read though the story of Esther, or Ruth that we looked at a few months ago, or any of those Old Testament Characters, Job, David, or Daniel and His friends.

Look at their lives and see how they lived out their faith even when times were rough for them. And remember that God is there with you through it all.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank your for our time in your word this morning. We thank you for those examples of faith in Esther and Mordecai. Help us to be people of faith. Forgive us for those times when we fail and strengthen us again to give you the glory and honor.
AMEN.