Don Smith :: The Study of Providence - Esther 6

Exposition of Esther - Chapter Six

How Was God’s Providence at Work in the night before “The Tree”?

1. In God’s providence the king’s insomnia provided an opportunity to hear about the Jew.
   1. Esther 6:1-3
      • The king who couldn’t sleep, requested the chronicles of his rule be read to him.
      • To his amazement, he heard from the written record that Mordecai had not been recognized and rewarded for his previous act of bravery and fidelity in preventing a plot to kill the king. (Esther 2:2:19-23)
      • To neglect such a patriotic deed was unthinkable.
2. In God’s providence, the king was moved to bless “the Jew.”
   1. Esther 6:4-11
      • At the very moment the king realized this neglect, Haman appeared before the king.
      • The king then asked Haman what should be done to honor a man who had found favor with him.
      • Haman, thinking the king was asking how to honor him, had a dream-day wish.
      • He suggested the favored man should be paraded throughout the city wearing a royal robe and riding on one of the king’s horses.
      • He thought this was his BIG moment!
      • Instead, the king instructed Haman to do just as he had suggested—for Mordecai.
      • How humiliating to put the royal robe on “the Jew” instead of himself and then have to lead him through the city on the king’s horse! (Numbers 24:10-14)
      • Another similarity to Haman’s humiliation was realized by Christ’s enemies when He was lead through Jerusalem riding as a king on a colt. (Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 21:1-11)
      • This stirred their anger to finalize their plot to kill “the King of the Jews.”
3. In God’s providence wise men warned Haman that his fall was sure.
   1. Esther 6:12-14
      • Haman returned home mourning and wearing a sack over his head.
      • After he lamented his twist of fate, his advisers offered little hope for a turn-around.
      • They believed if Mordecai was of the “Seed of the Jews,” then Haman had no way to succeed against him saying, “You will surely fall.”
      • Apparently these wise men knew Jewish history.
      • They were convinced the Jews had favor with their God.
      • Perhaps they heard of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, Ezra, Nehemiah and famed stories of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt, Joshua’s defeat of the Canaanites, as well as David’s rule and Solomon’s wealth and wisdom.
      • The reputation and fame of Israel’s God had preceded Haman’s enmity.
      • While still early day, the king ordered his servants to hasten and bring Haman for the party Esther prepared for the three of them.
      • He was escorted to “The Last Supper!”