Esther 3:9

New International Version

If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents^[a] of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”

For Meditation

It is the same language everywhere and spoken in palaces, offices, bedrooms, and, sadly, in churches.

“There is a certain people in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate… and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them… issue a decree to destroy them” (Esther 3:8-9).

How many have fallen victim to this language that seeks permission to destroy others they hate? They hate, not because their victims have done anything wrong, but because the life or action of their victims has bruised their egos.

King Xerxes honored Haman with a seat higher than any other noble in his kingdom, and everybody bowed to him (1-2). Mordecai would not bow to him, and that incensed him. To kill Mordecai would not satisfy his bruised ego; it had to be the entire Jewish people in the kingdom of Xerxes. Nobody should belittle the depth of hatred between families and nations. This time, it was between the Jews and Amalekites, which Haman, from ancient Amalek, set out to settle scores for the killing of King Agag by Samuel (1 Samuel 15:1-33).

How dare anybody refuse to obey King Xerxes! Again, a report has bruised the self and ego of a man, and without due process, Xerxes gave permission to Haman to carry out his outrageous plot. After the decree to exterminate all the Jews in his kingdom got published, the king and Haman sat down to drink. That is how callous the human heart can be, but that law bewildered the city of Susa (Esther 3:15).

Joseph suffered a similar situation. After his brothers had thrown him into a cistern and left him to die, they sat down to eat a meal (Genesis 37:23-25). When they had crucified the King of Glory, they divided his clothes by casting lots for the pieces (Mark 15:24). Only God knows how many of us have become victims of hatred and sold for destruction in some ways because our lives and actions touched some people in the wrong way. However, God, who knows the hearts and the wicked deeds of human beings, maintains the ultimate word in every situation.

The brothers sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt, but God raised him to the highest position and authority in Egypt only after the Pharaoh. The Jews killed Jesus and buried Him, but God raised Him from the dead and seated Him at the highest position of authority by His right hand in heaven. By the providential hand of God, He delivered Mordecai and the Jews from the evil plot of Haman. And by the same divine act of God, the king impaled Haman on the pole he raised for Mordecai.

Is your situation similar to that of Mordecai? Have you heard the language of hatred and betrayal? Take heart! For God, who has the last word in your life, never sleeps nor slumbers. He will bring you justice in His time.