His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows built, seventy-five feet high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the dinner and be happy.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the gallows built. Esther 5:14

People who care about us don’t always lend the best advice. They mean well but their loyalty to us often taints their intended wisdom. Haman’s wife and his friends were apparently blind to Haman’s character flaws. They could not see that his greed for power obscured his vision for what was really happening. Esther had initiated the invitations to dinner to trap Haman yet he assumed they were to honor him. His family and friends bought his interpretation of the events and were all too happy to suggest a gallows be made for Mordecai. Why did Haman go on to build them? Because the advice they gave him brought great pleasure and gave him a way to express his hatred.

It is easy for me to love others’ advice when it pleases my flesh. When unhealthy appetites for personal gain rule me, I will gravitate toward those who agree with me. If I squirm when challenged because of my own insecurity, I may even put together a library of authors who hold my point of view. I will appear all knowing and well connected, at least for a while, in a womb of false teaching. What I fear most can be a knowledgeable opponent.

Another person’s advice is only as sound as his connection to God, his grasp of the scriptures, and his accountability to good teachers. Before I assemble my own panel of counselors, it is prudent for me to ask myself some questions:

• Will these people speak the truth to me, even if it makes me uncomfortable?
• Will they show me the face of Christ by their lifestyle as well as their words? Many Christians are educated and quite dogmatic but without the grace of Jesus.
• Do others characterize these people as wise? If so, who are they? Who are their bedfellows?
• Does wisdom rule their lives? They should have a track record for navigating complicated situations successfully.

The issue is not whether another person’s advice makes me feel good, but is it true? And if so, is it timely and wise if applied? If the answers to these questions are yes, God is with me.

Everyone is quick to offer advice. I can be blinded by a person’s position of authority. Show me who should counsel. It may be the lowliest person I know. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.” Esther 5: 12-13

We might assume that a promotion would put Haman in such a good mood that he would forget the offenses of one man. Not a chance! The honor Haman received from Esther’s invitations to dinner turned sour in his mouth because of the memory of Mordecai’s behavior. He just couldn’t forget it as his pride was sorely injured. The wound was deep and he was hopeful that a rise to power would give him the means to convert his hatred into an action plan.

Power can be an opiate. I can be tempted to enjoy its privileges, not because I want to serve others, but because there are things in me that I assume it will get healed apart from God.

• If I was never validated as a child, I can view prestige as a cure for deep-seated insecurity. I foolishly believe that the praise of other people will compensate for not having received the validation of my parents. It never will.
• If I have been misunderstood and misjudged in my adult life, I perceive an honor as probable vindication. I can believe that the ones who misunderstood me will change their mind once they learn of my advancement. It usually doesn’t work that way.
• If I have been the victim of unfairness, I will welcome power as a means to exact justice. I may even believe I’m doing God’s work by taking action against evil and forcing good. The problem is, my definition of good is really steeped in a need for untimely justice. I view advancement as a tool to satisfy old prejudices.

The principle is this. My leadership is shaped by the good and the bad in me. If I fail to deal with dark shadows from the past, they will accompany me throughout my lifetime and infect every major decision. Even though I could potentially sit in a place of great honor, childish behavior threatens to rule my conduct. There is no daily discipline more pressing than asking God to search my heart to reveal traces of wickedness. God wants to raise up a righteous leader who can hear the Spirit’s direction without impediment. Sin deceives. Sin blinds. Sin deafens. I can’t afford the price tag.

You’ve put me in a position to affect many people. I do not want to use power ruthlessly and I have no idea the damage I can do. I embrace sanctification. Amen

“If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question,” Esther said. Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. Esther 5: 8-9

Throughout the Old Testament, God raised up one prophet after another who supernaturally discerned a person’s sin and was then sent by God to address them. For the one who had erred, his life shattered. The illusion of all being well dissipated into thin air.

I remember when Nathan came to King David after his sin with Bathsheba and confronted him about his adultery. The altercation pierced the false sense of David’s well being. Psalm 51 was David’s response.

Haman, a different kind of man, was also ultimately revealed. At this point in the story however, he was in high spirits. He believed he was secure in his place of leadership. Everything appeared to be going his way as evidenced by a private invitation to the queen’s banquet. His seemingly bright future was really a house of cards about to crumble.

When I sin, Satan is also eager to make sure I am also rewarded with the illusion of well-being. It would appear to me that I have never been more invincible, that I’ve gotten away with something and have escaped accountability. How I see myself is the exact opposite of what an intuitive servant of God sees. They know that I am perched in a precarious position. They may try to tell me that my life hangs in the balance if there’s not a course correction that begins with repentance.

So here’s the thing. I am only as strong as my ability to stand before God with no pretenses.

There is a barometer for spirituality. If I live in sin, I live in peril. I am only as strong as the person whose voice I obey. I choose You, Jesus. Amen

But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Esther 5:9-10

God shows restraint in order to give us the best things at the best time. He will delay gratification, even wait on a deliverance, if the fullness of time has not yet come where our personal story is concerned.

The sobering truth is that Satan also shows restraint but not for our good. He stalls things in order to render greater destruction. Why inflict a surface wound when, tomorrow, you can strike a mortal blow! This dynamic is what plays out in today’s scripture.

Haman’s rage is simmering. As much as he would love to see Mordecai brought to justice for his refusal to bow down to him, he realizes that by biding his time, he can bring destruction to an entire nation rather than just one individual. He’d much prefer that so he chooses to cool down and re-group. He is like his father, the devil.

Satan is an ace of a strategic planner and works mostly behind the scenes, devising schemes that will bring the most extensive damage to God’s people. I should never assume on a quiet day that he has taken a vacation. Knowing my enemy is critical to my spiritual victory and I must keep in mind that He is never soft towards me. He is not moved by my pain. He dances over it. He never says, “I think she’s had enough.” He has an unending appetite for death and destruction. I am a child of the One he hates, the One whose throne He covets. His war against God is ancient and has only intensified with time.

And Satan is imaginative. He is able to conceive the most creative plot to take advantage of my vulnerabilities. When I have a puny image of God, I play into his hands by crying uncle and embracing hopelessness. Only when I refuse to be intimidated (because I stand tall in the power of Christ crucified), will I shine up my armor and fight another day. There may be times I resemble Mordecai at the gate, weary and vulnerable, In reality however, if I obey the God of the angel armies, I am never stronger. Fortified with God’s favor on my shoulder and undergirded with the Spirit of Truth, the forces of hell are forced into submission.

You’ve already won the war and I’m on the victory side. Jesus’ name, Amen.

“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.” Esther 5:4

I’m sure Esther thought through how to word her invitation. She wouldn’t reveal why she wanted the king to attend, that would have been foolish. Notice what she chose to omit. “You and Haman must come to the banquet because I have something upsetting to tell you. Your own advisor is not trustworthy. I can prove it when we talk!”

Instead, Esther presented these facts to the king in stages, according to his ability to receive it and understand it. She needed to foster a nurturing environment in order to soften the heart of her temperamental king. That was the only way to rekindle his love and trust. As it would turn out, it didn’t take just one banquet for her to accomplish this, but two!

If Esther had done all this for personal gain, we could rightfully call her a manipulative woman. But this banquet was given to stay the hand of a king who was being manipulated by Haman to annihilate a race of people.

Have you ever given away a piece of information too soon? The person you were talking to was not ready to hear all that you shared. Because you discussed things prematurely, you jeopardized the ideal outcome. I’ve done that. I’ve learned that there’s a time to deliver good news. There’s a time deliver bad news. There’s a time to ask someone for advice and a prudent time to ask someone to make a critical decision that affects many people.

How can I know when that right time is? Only with prayer. If I find myself thinking, “I wonder if telling them is a good idea,” then I’d better hold off until I’ve prayed about it. The higher the stakes, the more time is needed to prepare the ground for the conversation.

Look at this scripture verse. The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry. Prov. 25:11 An interesting metaphor, isn’t it? When a piece of jewelry is made to order, it is perfectly sized. The type of metal and precious gems are chosen for the person who will wear it. They will delight to own it and call it their own. That is what happens when the soil of someone’s heart is tilled up through prayer. They are ready to receive the message. When it comes, it will connect with them in such a way that the pieces of truth make sense and fit together perfectly. They will willingly own the message, making it their own, and wearing it proudly through application.

All of this is impossible without You. Show me how to live this way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” Esther 5:3

I turned 64 this year. I can’t believe it, really. I still feel like a young woman. I’ve got lots of spunk, love to play but also work hard, and I’ve got plenty of dreams I’m still pursuing. When I read this morning that the king asked Esther what it was she wanted, I was reminded that we can have different answers – depending on who is asking us the question.

If a distant friend calls us on our birthday, we’re content with just a phone call. If a relative asks us what they can give us, one with whom our relationship is strained, we will wrestle with our answer. We sense the gift is obligatory and possibly with strings attached. When asked by a spouse or child, we probably have no trouble coming to life and telling them what we really want! We know how their heart feels about us.

Esther was not in the presence of one with whom she was comfortable. She could have been put to death for even approaching the throne. How shocked she must have been by the presence of a king who was generous toward her. It could have gone the other way and she knew it.

I am moved by how different it is when we face our King. He gave the life of His own Son to make intimacy possible.
• Esther faced a proud, imperious man. We come to a loving and gracious Father.
• She faced her King upon threat of death. Our Father bids us ‘come’, and to ‘come confidently’.
• She had the law against her. We come dressed in grace.
• Esther had no one to plead her case. We have Jesus ~ who advocates for us before our Father.

I do not need to shrink back from asking God for anything today. He is anxiously anticipating my arrival to Him in prayer. I don’t need to make an appointment. He has made all the time in the world for me.

I’m not wringing my hands at the thought of coming before Your throne. My name is already on Your lips. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

This verse is widely quoted but tends to be applied to anyone who suddenly finds himself in a great place of leadership, as did Esther. I believe this certainly applies to Esther and others like her, but I would be careless if I failed to understand that this principle is for every child of God, whether they are in leadership or not.

My husband is a contract manager for a company that oversees the care of government facilities. He is in leadership over many people and bears his post with great skill and dignity. He is not blind to the fact that his influence commenced long before he was ever promoted to his current position.

Many years ago, he was a ‘tool sorter’, serving his present company at an entry-level position. He worked by himself in a massive dark warehouse along the riverfront of Cincinnati. The facility was unheated and month after month he made order of an acre full of nuts and bolts, wrenches and hammers, heating and air conditioning parts. During the winter, the building was damp and cold. During the summer, hot and oppressive. The truth was, he was brought to that position ‘for such a time as this.’ It was a test, not only for him but also for those in leadership who came to distinguish his sterling qualities. He was like a Joseph who was faithful in the small things, who ‘became acquainted with matters of state’ from the ground up, so that when it was God’s time for advancement, he would be fully prepared. Today he is a vice-president in that company.

Many work in a position they call a wasteland. Others struggle in a marriage that seems to go nowhere. Still others labor in a church that appears more dead than alive. It is critical for us to realize that there is no such thing as wasted time. If we are in contact with just one other person who watches us live our life, we must rise to the occasion and mark our days with faithfulness, gratitude, and humility. Living righteously in captivity yields the most powerful witness of all.

In many ways, I can be tempted to feel trapped. Help me discern opportunity instead of resigned defeat. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Esther 4:4

Mordecai was grieving. He wore sackcloth and ashes as a sign of mourning, as was the custom of his people. Esther couldn’t bear to think of him in this much pain so she sent him a set of clothes. He refused them, for his grief was simply too profound.

Each of us expresses pain uniquely. No one can write our script for us, though many
try. Sometimes our pain makes others uncomfortable because it tempts them to feel powerless. They may lash out, tell us to get over it, or ‘send us a new suit of clothes’ in hopes that we’ll change our face and our rhetoric. Those who are the most uncomfortable are those who have not had the courage or opportunity to express their own grief. Perhaps the intensity of their emotions frightened them. Or, they might have feared that they faced a deep abyss from which there was no safe return.

Mordecai heard the news of the impending Jewish holocaust. He felt the gravity of the king’s decree. He expressed himself appropriately. The times were dark and weeping was a reasonable response. His refusal to put his grief aside could have been the very thing that got Esther’s attention and ignited her to take courage to intervene. In essence, Mordecai’s actions said to her, “I can not and will not stop grieving. The Jews are facing a crisis. The world feels like it’s coming to an end.”

Oftentimes, I may be the only one who sees the gravity of certain situation. I may express my concern; even show my grief over impending doom. Others may try to tone down my fervent pitch. If I have the courage to persevere – despite their protests – I may motivate them to see that the story is as bad as it is. Only when the truth is faced, can a true solution be entertained and implemented.

Lord, I often see trouble coming before others do. Give me the courage to express myself in a way that reflects the danger without communicating that there is no hope whatsoever. Faith still cries. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. Esther 4:1

Mordecai had already been in hot water when he refused to bow down to Haman. When he was asked why, he explained that he was a Jew and would only give homage to Yahweh. He took a stand among the few who encountered him everyday at the king’s gate.

Things escalated from there. Haman rose to power and declared war on all Jews. That might have been the time for Mordecai to hide. He did not. He not only vented his grief, but took it to the streets. He publicly identified with his people, the enemies of the crown. He knew theirs was a righteous cause and must be defended, even at personal risk.

There may be times in our lives when we are called to stand beside someone who bears the brunt of undeserved, negative public opinion. We perceive that a lynching is taking place, driven by an unholy agenda. The test of our character is on the line. If we identify with them, we will share their stigma. If we hide, we will lose our self-respect and forfeit God’s favor.

Mordecai did not know the end of the story. He could not have predicted deliverance, though he prayed for it. He was familiar with the dark history of his people. That they would again be assaulted would not have been a surprise to him yet God infused him with the strength to take a stand in spite of the real threat of personal injury and death.

I have lived long enough in this world to know that there is often no justice here. Not all who are mis-judged will be vindicated. If my goal is to be well liked, I will never take risks and put my reputation on the line for the sake of someone else. If my goal is to identify with Jesus however, I will be willing to identify with someone who suffers righteously. To be like Mordecai, I must begin by taking a stand in remote corners. Then when called, to public places. His boldness lived on throughout history in the lives of the apostles who stood before rulers and religious leaders and defended their faith at great cost.

Jesus, You were never afraid to stand for the truth. My goal is not to live comfortably, but to walk behind You. I must not only profess it but mean it when the time comes. Help me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Spurred on by the king’s command, the couriers went out to present the edict that had been issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to celebrate but the city of Susa was bewildered. Esther 3:15

The king granted Haman the power to enact a course of action against the Jews. He even gave him his signet ring so that the king’s signature would be applied to Haman’s royal documents. All Jews, men, women, and children would be killed. The massacre would take place on a single day, eleven months from the signing of the decree.  What did Haman and the king do upon issuing the Jews’ death sentence? They sat down to drink! Perhaps Haman didn’t want the king to be sober and rational, fearing that he might come to second-guess his judgment of trusting Human to such extreme degrees. Whatever the reason, they turned to a narcotic to further numb whatever conviction was left.

Convictions can not be trusted when they are not in submission to the Spirit of God. While most of mankind has a sense of right and wrong, his moral compass will fail at some point. He will wield his power in destructive ways, often unknowingly, and leave a wake of bodies in his path. How many of us have suffered under careless leadership that looks like this?

• A boss instituted new policies that were beneficial only to him. The rest strained under the yoke while he enjoyed a payoff of some kind.
• A government, plump with extraneous programs, taxed the people to pay for their self- absorption. The people languished under the burden while the government fattened.
• A parent, stressed by life, made a critical decision that caused all in the household to suffer.

Oftentimes, those who wear power so recklessly know they have acted unwisely. But instead of owning their mistakes and making restitution, they are like King Xerxes and his advisor, Haman, who sought for a way to sedate their failing consciences.

If I bear the consequences of others’ poor choices today, God has not forgotten me. All is not lost. What Satan planned for evil, God can still redeem for good.

If I am the one who holds the scepter of influence, may I be like Solomon and thirst for wisdom. God will show me how to make decisions that characterize His perfect leadership.

I will use power today in a way that affects other so I submit my conscience to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.