Esther 8: The Follow Through

At the end of Esther chapter 7 we see Haman heading for the gallows—the ones he built for Mordecai. His pride cost him his life. (And boy does that make me stop and look at the pride in my own life!) In chapter 8, we watch as Queen Esther is given all of Haman’s wealth. All that he worked for and schemed for is given to a Jewish woman. Not only that, but Mordecai replaces Haman in the palace.

What a turn of events! It’s been ten weeks since Haman issued the decree to wipe out the Jews. Ten weeks of mourning and worrying for the Jews. Now Mordecai is in the palace, but the clock is still ticking because even after the evil man dies the consequences of his words and deeds continue on.

What Haman started—the annihilation of the Jews—was still in the books so Esther went back in to the king, risking her life again for her people. She knew her goal, kept her eyes on it, and kept working. If she had only wanted revenge, she would’ve quit when Haman was killed. If she wanted restitution, she would’ve quit when the king gave her Haman’s estate. But she didn’t want those things. So she risked her life by going to king, uninvited. Again. King Xerxes extended his scepter to her, granting her the privilege of approaching him.

This is the part that struck me the most. Maybe because of all that’s going on in my life right now, maybe because it’s a message that keeps coming before me…

Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept and implored him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews. Esther 8:3

Esther approached the king to intercede for her people. She wanted them to be delivered from death. She wanted it badly enough that she was willing to risk her life—repeatedly—for it.

Deliverance. We all know people who need delivering. We all probably have family members who need delivering. Are we interceding for them? Would we even consider risking our life for their deliverance?

It was a master stroke of the Devil when he got the church and the ministry so generally to lay aside the mighty weapon of prayer. ~R. A. Torrey

Intercession is life changing. Because Esther interceded, her people were delivered. James 4:3 says we don’t have things because we don’t ask for them.

How about us?
Are we getting side tracked from the work God has for us to do?
Are we giving up before the real objective is accomplished?
Are we interceding for our people?

“One concerned person devoted to prayer can make a great difference in this world, for prayer is the key that releases the power of God.” ~Warren Wiersbe

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