Transcript: Esther's Choice

Esther’s Choice (video transcript)
By David Feddes

Today we're going to be hearing God's Word from the book of Esther. The book of Esther is kind of a strange book in some ways. It's especially a strange book to look at during the time of Advent, of celebrating Jesus’ coming. Esther is a book that doesn't mention Jesus. It doesn't mention God. What's it doing in the Bible?

We will read the book of Esther, and maybe we'll find out a little bit more about why it's in the Bible and what it has to do with Christmas.

The book of Esther takes place in the 470s before Christ. Just to give you a quick timeline of where it fits, a little more than a hundred years before that, the Jerusalem temple had been destroyed, but then it had been rebuilt. If you read in the Bible, you also read the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, which tell how worship is restored and the walls of Jerusalem are rebuilt. The book of Esther takes place after the new temple has been built but before Ezra and Nehemiah do their work. Even though in the Bible it’s after Ezra and Nehemiah, the events of Esther actually happen before that. It tells us what’s going on back in the great capital of the Persian Empire, Susa.

The Medo-Persian Empire is the largest empire in the history of the world up to that point, and Susa is where King Xerxes reigns. It is an empire that extends all the way from parts of Africa to India, covering a vast realm. King Xerxes has a huge feast for all of his big shots. From history, we suspect that he's trying to get them all in a good mood to prepare them for his planned invasion of Greece. At any rate, the Bible refers to him as King Ahasuerus—that's the name the Bible uses. History knows him better by his Greek name, Xerxes.

He holds this huge feast for his nobles, and his wife Vashti has a feast for the women. During the feast, after about a week of drinking, Xerxes sends for Vashti. He thinks it would be really cool if all the nobles could see what a beauty his wife is. So, he summons Vashti to come and display her beauty to all the nobles, and she says no.

Well, that’s a problem. Kings don't like anybody saying no to them, not even the queen. So, Vashti is deposed as queen, never allowed to come into the king's presence again. After a while, the king decides they need a new queen. There is a great scouting expedition throughout the Persian Empire. He sends servants here, there, and everywhere to try to find the most beautiful woman for him. They bring in many different women and give them all beauty treatments for a year. Then they take turns going to the king.

There is one young woman in particular named Hadassah. She is an orphan, a Jewish orphan. Her parents have died, and she is being raised by her older relative Mordecai, who is still her guardian. When the scouts discover Esther—Hadassah—they figure she is a great prospect. They bring her in for the beauty treatments, and to make a long story short, she is the one King Xerxes chooses. She is crowned as the new queen of the Persian Empire. They have found Miss Universe, and she is now the queen.

Meanwhile, Mordecai has always told her not to tell anyone she is a Jew. He knows there is bias and prejudice against Jews, and for whatever other reasons, he says, "Don't tell anybody." So nobody knows what people Esther comes from.

Mordecai, the guardian and older relative who raised her, hangs around at the king's gate. Maybe he is even one of the king’s officials. While he is there, he overhears a couple of the king's bodyguards plotting to kill the king. Mordecai doesn’t have direct access to the king, but he gives a message to Queen Esther that these two men are planning an assassination. The two bodyguards are arrested and executed, and the king's life is saved.

Then King Xerxes promotes someone to be his chief official, his favorite noble: a man named Haman. Haman is a very powerful man, and the king issues an order that everyone in the realm is to bow when Haman walks by. Jewish people aren’t known for bowing, especially not Mordecai. When Haman walks by, Mordecai stands tall and refuses to bow. This makes Haman furious. He is powerful and wants Mordecai dead.

But Haman isn't satisfied with killing just Mordecai. He decides to kill all the Jews. He reasons, "Mordecai is a Jew. I don’t like him. I don’t like Jews. I’m going to kill them all." So, Haman goes to the king and says, "There are people in your realm who are nothing but trouble. They are known to be troublemakers. They don't follow the king's laws. We would be better off if they didn’t exist. I'll give you 10,000 talents of silver—a ridiculous sum—if you’ll authorize me to take care of this problem."

The king says, "Sounds good to me." He gives Haman his signet ring, saying, "Use my ring on any orders you want, and they can be killed."

Haman is very superstitious. To determine the best day for his massacre, he rolls dice—called purim—and the dice land on the 15th day of the 12th month. That’s the day he selects to kill all the Jews. Now he has a few months to prepare for the massacre.

When Mordecai hears about the decree, he puts on ragged clothes, wails, and makes a huge scene in front of the palace. Queen Esther knows that making a scene in front of the palace is not good for his health, so she sends a messenger named Hathak to talk to him. Mordecai tells Hathak everything that has happened, including the exact sum of money Haman promised to pay into the king's treasury for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai also gives Hathak a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, asking him to show it to Esther, explain the situation, and urge her to go to the king to beg for his favor and plead for her people.

Hathak delivers the message to Esther, but she replies, "Everyone knows that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is only one law: to be put to death—unless the king holds out the golden scepter to spare their life. But I haven’t been called to see the king for 30 days."

The message is reported back to Mordecai, who responds, "Don’t think that just because you are in the king’s palace, you will escape any more than the other Jews. If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows? Maybe you have come to your royal position for such a time as this."

Esther sends her reply: "Go, gather all the Jews in Susa, and hold a fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

Mordecai goes and does everything Esther instructs him to do.

When Esther approaches the king, he holds out his golden scepter, welcoming her into his presence. He says, "What is it you want, Esther? I’ll give you anything, even up to half the kingdom."

Esther replies, "What I’d really like is for you to come to dinner tomorrow, and I’d like you to bring Haman along."

So the king and Haman are invited together to attend this feast. They go to the feast, and the king says, "Well, honey, what is it that you really want?" She replies, "You know what? I'd like you to come to another feast tomorrow with Haman."

Another feast? The king agrees to attend, and Haman is as happy as can be. He leaves the palace after the feast, excited about the next one, feeling like the king’s favored guest. As he walks out, Mordecai is standing there, and Haman, in all his pride, thinks, "I'm the top guy in the empire except for the king. I'm so rich you can't believe it. I've got everything, but as long as that Mordecai stands there, life isn't really worth living."

He goes home and tells his wife and friends about how rich and successful he is, and how he's the king's favorite—the only one invited to dine with the queen and the king. He boasts about being at the feast today and about the invitation to another one tomorrow. Then he says, "Yet life is barely worth living because of that Mordecai, who won't bow down to me."

They say, "Well, Haman, aren't you powerful? Here's an idea: build a gallows 75 feet high and go to the king tomorrow to ask that Mordecai be hanged on it. That'll make you happy." Haman likes the idea and orders the gallows to be built.

What we know from Persian culture is that this "gallows" was likely not what we think of with a dangling rope, but rather a large stake used to impale someone. The victim would be lifted into the air to dangle and die. Either way, it's a gruesome execution method, and Haman is pleased with the plan. He decides that tomorrow will be the day he gets rid of Mordecai.

That night, however, the king has trouble sleeping. He thinks, "We don't have sleeping tablets. What would make me drowsy? I know—have someone read the court records to me." They bring the records and start reading aloud. It just so happens that they read the part about a plot to assassinate the king, which had been foiled thanks to a tip from Mordecai. The king suddenly remembers, "Did we ever reward Mordecai for saving my life?" The officials reply, "No, nothing was ever done for him."

The king catches a little sleep, and the next morning, Haman comes in, intending to ask for permission to execute Mordecai. Before Haman can say anything, the king says, "Haman, I need some advice. What would you recommend I do to honor someone the king delights to honor?"

Haman thinks to himself, "Who could the king possibly want to honor besides me?" So he says, "Here’s what you should do: take a horse the king himself has ridden and a robe the king has worn. Have one of your highest officials lead the honored man, wearing the royal robe, through the city on the royal horse. Announce to everyone, 'This is how the king rewards the one he delights to honor!'" 

The king says, "Excellent idea! Hurry, Haman, go and do all that for Mordecai the Jew."

Haman is stunned. But he has no choice—he must carry out the king’s orders. So Haman leads Mordecai through the streets, declaring, "This is how the king rewards the one he delights to honor," even though Mordecai is the very man he wanted dead. Furious and humiliated, Haman returns home, downcast.

He tells his wife Zeresh and his friends what happened. Zeresh, who had encouraged him to build the gallows, now says, "If Mordecai is a Jew and things have started going his way, you're in big trouble. You're pretty much done for, honey."

Just then, it's time for the second banquet. The king, Haman, and Esther attend. Once again, King Xerxes asks, "Now, Esther, what is it you wanted?"

Esther replies, "I hate to bother you, my king, because you’re so important. But there is a plot to kill me and all my people. I wouldn't have bothered you if they only wanted to make us slaves. But they want to kill me and all of my people."

The king demands, "Who would dare do such a thing?" Esther points and says, "An enemy and a foe: this wicked Haman!"

The king is so furious that he storms out to clear his head. Meanwhile, Haman, in sheer desperation, throws himself on the couch where Esther is reclining, begging for his life. Just as the king walks back in, he sees Haman sprawled on the couch and shouts, "Is this guy going to assault the queen right in front of me?"

One of the king’s officials pipes up, "You know, Haman built a 75-foot gallows for the man who saved your life, Mordecai."

The king commands, "Hang him on it." And that's the end of Haman.

However, there’s still a problem. The decree to kill all the Jews is still in effect, and Persian law states that a royal decree cannot be annulled or reversed. The king says, "Here’s what I'll do: Mordecai, I’ll give you my signet ring and make you the chief official. Let’s figure out a solution."

Since the original decree set the 15th day of the 12th month as the day to kill all the Jews, Mordecai and Esther come up with a plan. They issue a new decree, allowing the Jews to defend themselves on the 13th day of the 12th month.

When the time comes, the Jews defeat their enemies. On the 13th and 14th days of the 12th month, all those who had plotted against them are killed, including Haman’s supporters. God's people are saved.

On the 15th day, instead of mourning their deaths, the Jews celebrate their victory and rescue. This day becomes known as Purim, named after the lots—called purim—that Haman had cast to determine the day of the massacre.

Though the book of Esther does not mention God or Jesus, it is still part of the Bible—the Word of God. It teaches us that even when God seems absent, he is working behind the scenes to carry out his purposes and protect his people.

In Esther’s life, there was a deadly plot against her, just as there have been many attempts throughout history to wipe out God’s people. But through it all, God has a divine plan to protect and preserve his own.

Genesis 3:16 speaks to this ongoing struggle: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." This verse sets the agenda for the entire Old Testament, showing that there will be enmity between the serpent, representing the devil, and the human race.

Revelation 12 mirrors this struggle with a vision of a seven-headed red dragon, representing the devil, looming over a pregnant woman about to give birth. The dragon wants to destroy the child as soon as it is born. This vision symbolizes the ongoing conflict throughout history: Satan's opposition to the promised Savior, the child of the woman, who will ultimately defeat him.

From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, the Bible tells the story of God’s plan to rescue humanity and defeat evil. When Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel, Cain killed Abel, and it seemed the righteous seed had been destroyed. But then Eve gave birth to another son, Seth, continuing the line through which God’s promises would unfold. 

During the time of the pharaohs of Egypt, while the Israelites were in captivity, Pharaoh gave an order that all the Israelite babies be murdered. This wasn’t just a harsh decree from an Egyptian king; it was also the serpent trying to destroy and wipe out God’s people. After God gave a promise that the deliverer would come from David’s line, the wicked queen Athaliah came to power in Judah. She tried to wipe out the entire royal family, likely including her own grandchildren. Vicious and murderous, she killed them all—except one.

Then we have the story of Haman, who wanted to wipe out all of God’s people. The Bible says Haman was an Agagite. You may not know who the Agagites are, but Agag was a king of the Amalekites, an ancient and brutal enemy of God’s people. Haman, descended from that line, wanted to annihilate the Jews. But this wasn’t merely a tribal feud—behind it was the seven-headed dragon, the devil, working to eliminate God’s people. 

When Jesus was born, the evil king Herod heard that a promised child had arrived. In his paranoia, he sent soldiers to Bethlehem to kill all the babies, hoping to destroy the promised one. In all these events, the devil’s deadly plots aimed to stop the child destined to be his undoing. Yet God's plan was never thwarted. 

Abel was murdered, but Eve gave birth to Seth, and from Seth’s line came people who worshiped the Lord. Pharaoh ordered the death of all baby boys in Egypt, but two midwives—Shiphrah and Puah—defied the order and spared the newborns. God blessed these midwives with families of their own.

A godly woman named Jochebed gave birth to a baby boy. Like many mothers, she must have thought, "This is no ordinary child." She hid him at home for as long as she could, but eventually, when the baby became too noisy, she placed him in a waterproof basket. Miriam, the baby’s older sister, watched over him as the basket floated among the reeds. Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river, found the baby, and her heart melted. She rescued baby Moses, who later became the one God used to deliver Israel from Egypt’s oppression.

When Athaliah tried to wipe out the royal family, a godly woman named Jehosheba—wife of a high priest—rescued the infant Joash, preserving the line of David despite the massacre. When Haman plotted to destroy the Jews, Esther and Mordecai intervened to rescue God's people. When Herod issued his deadly order, an angel warned Joseph and Mary, and they fled with baby Jesus to Egypt, saving him from Herod’s soldiers.

Then, of course, there is the greatest rescue of all. Jesus Christ grew to manhood, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, rose again, and rescued all of God’s people. Revelation 12 describes this cosmic conflict: the seven-headed dragon, the devil, stood ready to devour the child, but the child was born and caught up to God and to his throne.

Almost all of Old Testament history is summed up in a couple of lines from that vision: "The child was born, and he was caught up to heaven." It happened just as God had planned. He sent the child, who would reign over all things, and the devil failed to stop him. This pattern shows the terrible conflict throughout history. We must see our own lives in light of this larger struggle. The dragon still prowls, seeking someone to devour. He hates humanity but especially targets God's people.

Throughout history, there has been an unusual hatred toward the Jewish people. This isn’t just ethnic prejudice; it is rooted in the devil's hatred because the Jews brought forth the Messiah. The same hatred extends toward babies because they remind the devil of the baby Messiah. Satan despises children and Christians. The Bible says that after the child was caught up to heaven, the dragon turned his wrath against the rest of the woman’s offspring—those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. When you see attacks on Christians, churches, or families, those aren’t just psychological issues or social problems. They are attacks from the dragon, who harbors a special hatred for those who stand with Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

We must understand the big picture. Each of us lives out our own story within God’s grand narrative. The child has triumphed and reigns, but the devil is furious because he knows his time is short. In the time he has left, he will cause as much pain and damage as possible. Yet his defeat is certain. Each of us must faithfully live out our place in God’s story, embracing the role he has called us to fulfill for his purpose and plan.

This brings us back to the story of Esther, set within that larger picture of God's plan and the devil's opposition. Esther faced a deadly plot, but she was also part of a divine plan. She had a choice to make. Mordecai made that choice clear to her: "You’re scared, aren’t you? Don’t think that because you are in the king’s house, you alone will escape. If you try to save your own skin, you’ll lose it." Jesus also said, "Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it."

Mordecai told Esther, "If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place. God will carry out his plan, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

Esther faced a pivotal moment. Who was she? Was she just an orphan, a beautiful woman admired for her looks? Was she merely the queen of Persia, with slaves and luxuries at her command? Or had God made her queen to rescue his covenant people? She had to decide whether to reject her covenant identity or embrace her position to fulfill God's plan.

Esther could have perished in selfishness and fear, but instead, she chose to act. She said, "I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. If I perish, I perish." She asked for fasting—not to starve, but to seek God’s help. Though God’s name isn’t mentioned, their fasting was an act of faith. She knew she needed divine help to face the danger ahead.

Even as Esther made the right choice, she was not reckless. She approached the situation with wisdom and strategy. She sought the king’s favor by inviting him to a feast—and then another feast. She carefully planned her moves, setting Haman up for a fall, and then she seized the right moment to expose him. Haman, who had plotted against God's people, met his downfall.

There comes a moment sometimes in your life that’s crunch time. All the moments matter, but there’s a time when you know, this one really matters, and now I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do. Esther knows her purpose. She may not have known what was going on when she found herself part of a beauty pageant or when she was handed over to a king she wasn’t particularly fond of. She may have wondered, what’s going on with my life? But now, she knows.

In that moment, she asks for fasting. Yes, God’s name isn’t mentioned, but they weren’t fasting just to get hungry. They fasted for three days without food or water because she knew that when she went to the king, she needed help. She dared to face that danger. Even though she made the right choice, that didn’t mean, now let’s go be foolish. She was very clever in how she went about it. She approached the king and sought his favor.

The way to a man's heart might be through your looks—or maybe through his stomach. So, she invited him to a feast and said, "How about another feast?" She worked to get the king in a good mood and set Haman up for a fall. Then she sprang the trap. Esther cleverly figured out her plan to carry out God’s plan. She seized the moment, and Haman? Well, Haman was a goner.

In all of this, we see the hidden hand of God. God's name isn’t mentioned in the entire book of Esther. Why did Vashti refuse when the king ordered her to come? She may have had her own reasons, perhaps very good ones. But there was also another hand at work, ensuring someone else would become queen at the right moment.

Why was it that Esther looked like Miss Universe? Just so she could feel good about her appearance? The philosopher Blaise Pascal once said, "If Cleopatra's nose had been half an inch shorter, the face of the world would have changed." The same could be said for Esther—if she hadn’t been beautiful, the face of the world would have changed. But she was beautiful, because God, the hidden hand who plans all things, gave her that beauty.

Why was it that Mordecai just happened to overhear the plot to assassinate King Xerxes? Why was it that the king couldn’t sleep on the exact night before Haman planned to visit? Why did the attendant open the court records to the very place that reminded the king, Mordecai saved your life, and you didn’t reward him? Haman’s hasty plans backfired entirely.

This is what theologians call providence—God’s appointing of all things. Think of Cleopatra’s nose, and then all the affairs of Cleopatra, Mark Antony, and Octavian (who later became Caesar Augustus). If those events hadn’t happened exactly as they did, there wouldn’t have been a Caesar Augustus to issue a decree that all the world should be taxed, sending a certain couple to Bethlehem, fulfilling a prophecy written 700 years earlier. No one can predict what will happen in 700 years unless they are in charge of everything that happens in between.

Even the actions of the wicked are within God’s plan. Haman wanted to find the luckiest possible day to carry out his plot, so he cast lots. But the Bible says, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.

If you’re tempted to panic over the evil plots in the world, memorize that truth: There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. Haman was hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai. As the Bible says, "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will roll back on him who starts it rolling." If you try to harm others, be careful—you might end up dangling from your own gallows, or the boulder you rolled may roll back and crush you.

The Lord works out everything for its proper end, even the wicked for a day of disaster. That’s a stern warning: when you choose, choose carefully. There are two sides—the one where a great and terrible power makes evil plans, and the other where no wisdom, insight, or plan can succeed against the Lord.

Fast forward to Jesus Christ. What was Satan's greatest weapon? His greatest triumph was the day of Purim—intended as the day to wipe out God's people—and the day of Jesus’ death, when the worst crime in history was committed. The sinless Son of God was condemned and killed, and the worst death ever suffered took place on that cross. Yet we call that day Good Friday. Why? Because Resurrection Day followed. The day chosen for the destruction of God’s plans became the day of Satan’s own defeat. Sin and death—the weapons of the devil—turned back on him.

The Bible says Christ made a public spectacle of the devil, triumphing over him at the cross. Haman’s self-destruction was just a preview of the dragon’s own self-destruction.

Think of Jesus Christ. I don’t want to stretch things too far, but the four main characters in Esther each give us a glimpse of Jesus. Like Mordecai, Jesus stood unbowed. The devil offered Jesus a shortcut, saying, "You want to rule the kingdoms of the world? Just bow down to me." But Jesus replied, "It is written: You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him only." He stood firm.

Like Esther, Jesus is our mediator. Without Esther in the throne room, the Jewish people had no hope. Without Jesus Christ in the throne room of heaven, we have no hope. There is one mediator between God and man—the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself for our sins.

Strangely, Jesus also reflects Haman—not in his character, but in his death. The Bible says, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree." Jesus bore the curse of death that Haman deserved—and that we deserved. We like to think we’re all like Esther, standing on the right side, doing the right thing. But without Christ, we’re more like Haman. The Bible says, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us." Jesus took on our guilt—he was treated like Haman, executed on a tree where we belonged.

Even King Xerxes, for all his flaws, gives us a glimpse of Christ. In Esther, Xerxes is called the king of kings, ruling over all the lesser kings. Though Xerxes was foolish and easily misled, our God is the true King of Kings, sovereign over all. He alone is immortal, dwelling in unapproachable light. No one can enter his throne room uninvited and live. Yet, he came to us, becoming one of us, born as the lowliest among us in a stable.

Because of that, we no longer need to fear. The Bible says we can now approach God’s throne of grace with boldness and find mercy in our time of need. Not because we have the right on our own, but because he came to us and invites us into the throne room. The Father extends the golden scepter, and we live.

What a marvel this is—that Jesus Christ accomplished all this for us. He came to be God with us. There were times in history when God seemed silent, when it appeared he was absent, yet he was in control all along. God is never powerless, never thwarted.

The Bible says, "In the fullness of time, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under the law." In the fullness of time, for such a time as this, he came into his kingdom.

Prayer

We pray, Father, that you will help us always to rejoice in your majesty, power, wisdom, and plan that accomplishes your saving purposes and sends the unrepentant toward their destruction. Thank you for your mercy and grace toward us, your people.

We remember the Jewish people in exile—though they were there because of their sins, you did not forsake them. And we thank you that you have not forsaken us. In our Lord Jesus Christ, you lived among us. In the fullness of time, you saved us through him.

Now, Lord, as we face the fury of the dragon—angry because his time is short—help us to resist the devil, that he may flee from us. We pray for those enduring the terror of the devil's attacks. Grant them your mercy. Help us, Lord, to live faithfully, embracing your purpose for our lives, knowing that we were appointed for this time.

By your Spirit, unite us to Christ, and may we rejoice that he was born in Bethlehem and born in our hearts. May we always rejoice, especially in this season. For Jesus' sake, Amen.