Bible In One Year-Day 186 (Saturday, July 5, 2014)

Commentary: Esther4-6. Haman got promoted above all the princes that were with King Ahasuerus. He was a symbol of destruction, pride, hatred, indignation, racism and retaliation.

Esther 3:5 “And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.”

In his indignation against Mordecai, he persuaded the king to issue a decree to back up his intention to exterminate the Jews.

Esther 3:13 “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.”

When Mordecai heard this, he was so embittered that he never minded violating the King’s law, Esther4:1-2. The Jews all around the provinces went into fasting and prayers.

Esther 4:3 “And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.”

When Esther heard what Mordecai did, she tried to persuade Mordecai out of it but he wouldn’t. Mordecai made Esther to know that it was time for her to make her relevance known as her people were in trouble. And if Esther was not ready to do something, she was not safe either, and that the Jews would still get a redeemer but without the father’s house.

Esther 4:13 “Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews”.

This hot conversation between Esther and Mordecai resulted in Esther taking the risk of entering where she shouldn’t but the Jews must support with prayer and fasting. This is one great attribute about a virtuous woman.

Proverbs 31:27 “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.”

She went in the power of the Spirit of God and the king was arrested in her favor.

Esther 5:2 “And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.”

Though she found favor and grace before the king, yet, Esther still hung unto wisdom which was another virtue in a virtuous woman. There are some problems in our lives that would require prayer and fasting just as Jesus says;

Mark 9:29 “And he said to them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

Prayer and fasting worked beyond the imaginations of the Jews; it turned the table around in favor of the Jews. After Mordecai had finished his prayer and fasting, he resumed his work at the gate. There Haman saw him again and he sought for counsel from his wife and close friends on what to do to terminate Mordecai. They came out with a deadly means of bringing open shame unto Mordecai. This shows how deep the hatred he had for Mordecai. He went to meet the king to ask for permission to carry out his plan on Mordecai. Unfortunately for Haman and fortunately for the Jews, the good God Mordecai’s ancestors served and had covenant with did not disappoint him in the time of need; He had withdrawn sleep from the king over night and spoken to him concerning Mordecai through the Book of history; the Book of Remembrance. Haman walked in at the time the king was deliberating on what to do to Mordecai. Haman who loved to be recognized publicly and honored as a king was asked by the king to advise him. Haman thought the king wanted to give him another promotion because Esther had earlier invited him and king to the queen’s banquet. He gave a wonderful advice that befits a king. He was disappointed when he was told to do as he had said to his enemy, Mordecai. The king further instructed him not to leave anything undone of what he had suggested;

Esther 6:10 “Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.”

For the first time, Haman’s advisers and his wife acknowledged the covenant of God in the Jews. It is quite unimaginable for Haman to decorate his own enemy as he (Haman) wanted himself decorated; the king did not say he should send somebody but for him to do it himself. There is power in prayer and fasting. Note that they go together. If you fast without prayer, you are only dieting. They must go together; this is the Bible way of fasting and prayer. However, it is faith that releases the power in it. Mordecai and Esther left the rest to God after prayer and fasting and God showed His faithfulness.

Let us seek for the old path where we could find rest. Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, wherewith we could escape the calamity to come. Our reading for today is Esther7-10. Keep the fire burning and alive.

Pastor Supo Abayode

+1-302-230-6792

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

Delaware, USA