ESTHER SERIES – CHAPTER 8

With the death of Haman, his estate was forfeited to King Ahasuerus who bestowed the house, property, wealth and goods of Haman to Queen Esther. Equally important, the queen told the king about her relationship to Mordecai and the king gave him the ring that he had given to Haman making Mordecai the new prime minister which was the position that Haman had previously held. Additionally, Esther positioned Mordecai to oversee the house of Haman, which was given to her by the king.

Not forgetting the plot of Haman to destroy her people Esther again approaches the king and tearfully prostrated herself at the king’s feet to intercede on behalf of the Jews. As he did before, the king extended the golden sceptre of grace toward Esther and allowed her to voice her request which was,” If it please the king, and if I have favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces: For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”

Understanding once a decree is made, written and sealed by a king it cannot be reversed by anyone including the king, King Ahasuerus gave Mordecai the authority to write a decree in his name, seal it with his ring, and then dispatch it to the lieutenants, deputies, and rulers in the 127 provinces of Persia. On the twenty-third day of Sivan the edict was written in the respective languages of the 127 provinces giving the Jews permission to defend themselves, property and possessions from any attack scheduled on their proposed annihilation date and to confiscate the belongs of whoever they defeated.

The chapter ends stating that when the people of Shushan saw Mordecai dressed in royal attire, they were exuberant and when the Jews throughout the Persian Empire received word of the new edict written by Mordecai they held a jubilant feast. Finally, because of what happened many people in the land were proselytized to Judaism.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Be careful, what you wish for others, can happen to you. Haman plans were to kill and then confiscate the property of the Jews, but now he was killed, and his property was confiscated.

Your bold intercession can save the lives of many. Esther boldly approached the king on behalf of the Jews.

With God, the impossible becomes possible. Edicts in Persia was irreversible, but God had a plan that overrode the first edict.

God will demote your enemy and elevate you to a place of power. Haman forfeited his position with his treacherous plan and Mordecai obtained it.

God will turn your sadness into gladness. The Jews were saddened when they heard the first edict, but after they received the second edict they were made glad.