GOD CARES FOR HIS CHILDREN
The things that were written down in the Old Testament are there for our learning (Romans 15:4). An education that arises from this source leads us to have comfort and patience through those words. One fact that continues to stand out throughout all the Scriptures is the care which God has for those who are His. We have a High Priest, Jesus the Christ, who is touched by the feelings of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15). Come with me now on a brief journey through the book of Esther.
Ahasuerus (Xerxes) was a having a feast in his kingdom. At the same time, his wife, Vashti was having a feast for the women. After seven days of drinking, the heart of the king was merry. He sent for his queen to come that he might show off her beauty to the drinking crowd around him (Esther 1:10,11). The queen refused such a command from the king. Because of this refusal the king was greatly angered. He sought advice as to what should be done to the queen. There was a fear that her refusal might cause other women to take the same course. The king then removed her from the throne (verses 12-19).
Esther is chosen from several women to become the new queen. Mordecai was a Jew that had been taken from Judah by the Babylonians. Esther was his uncle's daughter (2:6,7). She would not have come to throne except that Vashti refused to come before the king. Esther was a Jewess but Mordecai had told her to keep that a secret, which she did.
There were two men who planned to assassinate the king. They were Bigthan and Teresh. Mordecai learned of the plot and let Esther know. She informed the king and the matter was investigated. It was found to be true and both men were hanged for their plot. In their place there arose a man of prominence because of their demise. His name was Haman (2:19-23; 3:1). Over a period of time, Haman became angry with Mordecai because Mordecai refused to bow to him and reverence him (3:5). His anger would cause him to seek not only the death of Mordecai but all Jews as well.
Does God care? Does He take note of what transpired on this earth regarding humanity, and in specific, His children? Haman sought to turn the king against the Jews. He described the Jews as having laws that were diverse from all other people (3:8). Since God is the origin of those laws, it is not hard to understand why the Jewish people stood out from among all other people. Haman added that the Jews would not keep the king's law. He was given permission by the king to kill all the Jews. The decree went out to people all over the provinces that the Jews were to be killed, young, old, little children and women. No one was to escape.
Esther risked her life to save her people. Mordecai had told her that if she did not move to save the Jews, then she would not escape either (4:14). She arranged for a banquet for the king and Haman. Haman thought that the king's intent was to honor him. What bothered Haman was that in spite of this invitation, he was still angry with Mordecai. The wife of Haman, Zeresh, told him to build a gallows and hang Mordecai before them all (5:14).
The king had a restless night and chose to read. He read where Mordecai had saved the king's life from the actions of Bigthana and Teresh. The king then sought to find out what honor had been given to Mordecai (6:3). When he found out that no honor had been given this good man, he sought to do something about. In the end, Mordecai was honored and Haman was hanged on his own gallows.
Vashti refused to come before the king. Esther became queen. Mordecai saved the king from the assassins. Haman was promoted. The Jews were threatened. Esther risked her life to save her people. These events are not unrelated. God saw to it that His children were protected. We live under a different dispensation now. However, the care of God remains. No we will not be delivered out of the lion's den or a fiery furnace. Because of what we learn about God, we know of His abiding love and care for those especially of the household of faith (John 3:16; Galatians 6:10).