On the twelfth day of Adar, the Jews were afraid. Sure doom awaited them the next morning. Everything looked bleak and impossible, and there was nothing they could do to stop it. Their enemies had removed every legal protection for them, and their destruction was a forgone conclusion. Haman and those who sought to overtake them were licking their lips like cartoon wolves. But “that was the month when their sorrow was turned into rejoicing and their mourning into a holiday” (Esther 9:22). The Lord took a hopeless situation, used ordinary, obedient believers, and rescued His people.
Goodness, there are some things that scare me. I sometimes feel like the wolves are circling around my very house and howling at the door. But perhaps the greatest lesson of Esther is this: even when God seems to be absent in every way, He is still at work. His providence is at work, even if no one speaks His name. On the twelfth day, everything looked black, but on the morning of the thirteenth, the sun rose, and God had changed everything.
A sudden reversal of this sort is not calculable or predictable. This wasn’t the scheme of Esther and Mordecai. The unexpected turn of events was unexpected precisely because it came from outside the realm of human control. Some greater power had acted, and had unraveled the finely crafted plot against the Jews.
How did He act? He moved hearts. First, Mordecai and Esther. Then Ahasuerus. Then the satraps, the governors, and the administrators. Then the people. God changed hearts, affections, and allegiances. He moved some to fear and some to courage. But make no mistake: all the actors in this extraordinary story were His actors. Each played a part in God’s plan of redemption.
Esther, once part of a condemned people, was now offered whatever she wanted. Ahasuerus, her king, gave her unprecedented autonomy. The king who had banished Vashti in a show of might, was now handing over the decisions to his new queen in complete trust. His heart was changed.
God is a God who acts, not according to the whims and wishes of men, but according to His own good purposes, in His own good time. But, like Haman, the enemies of God’s people face their own undoing instead. And in this story detailing oppression turned into redemption, His people saw their mourning turned into holiday rejoicing. He turns sorrow into dancing, and mourning to laughter. Even when we are surrounded by the darkness of the twelfth day of Adar and there is no hope in sight, the redemption of the morning is coming. Take hope!
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In the commentary of my study bible it says this about the mass killings- The Jews were given the right to fight back, they only killed those who wanted to kill them and they did not take their possessions even though they could have. There were no additional riots after the 2 day slaughter, so obviously selfish gain or revenge were not primary motives of the Jews. They simply wanted to defend themselves and their families from those who hated them.
Thanks for clarifying. I thought it was odd also.
Lifting up Heidi, Lindsey, and Amber in prayer today. I’m so thankful we can share, be encouraged, and receive prayer in this community. SO much truth to glean from today’s passage! I loved the quote “God is a God who acts, no according to the whims and wishes of men, but according to His own good purposes, in His own good time.” May Your will be done in my life Lord!
Today reading does feel heavy with social justice issues (just like others mention), involving taking firm actions and execution. The Bible says, The transgressors will ALL be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off (Psalm 37:38). And Psalm 92:9 says, For surely Your enemies, O LORD, surely Your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered. Notice the word “SURELY”, it means SURELY. And God did exactly just that in Esther. The enemies of the Jews got killed. Our God is a fearsome God. Among all this, our God is righteous in all His ways.
I love how the writer points out the king’s heart was changed from Vashti to Esther, small subtle detail. It gives me such hope! It brings to my mind this verse in Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it whichever way He wishes.”
@ Lindsey: please don’t give up. I will tell you a small testimony. I was once asked to pray for a friend, who had repeated miscarriages. At that point, she was in the 1st trimester when there was another complication, again. We prayed and prayed, then the miscarriage happened. Gone. Bummer. She was so devastated; she gave away the baby’s stuff she had prepared. I asked the Lord, you are the author of life, please give life. Months later, all of a sudden, she said she is having a baby girl. And now her baby girl is 1 year old, the cutest chubby baby with laughs that melt anyone’s heart. All I want to say is, please don’t give up your hope in God. It might not work out right now, BUT GOD! (as Tina always says). Delight in the Lord Lindsey, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Blessings and cheers to you!
@Heidi: praying for your family. May God give you rest and deliver you all from your struggles. The Lord gives sleep to his beloved. You are His beloved.
Rebecca, reminded me of so much in this devotional today. But what will stick with me the most is, “God is a God who acts, not according to the whims and wishes of men, but according to His own good purposes, in His own good time. and He turns sorrow into dancing, and mourning to laughter.” I need to remember God is in control and all is good and great in His hands. He is my father and I am His daughter. My faith will carry me through all things if I let it and turn to God and Christ with all things.
Have a blessed day sisters.
@Corrine Smith I read this the same way you did. I think it might be a bit embellished on that side.
@Adrienne, thank you for filling in the gaps. Very well written ♥️ so powerful. God is sovereign.
I also had a hard time with all the killing. But when I took a step back and looked at the whole story I can see how God will always deliver his children who he loves. There is a spiritual battle out there even today to destroy gods children, God’s word, and the work Jesus did on the cross. But I wanna be a brave Esther and allow God to work through me to bring people into God‘s kingdom. Because God is patient and wants all to be saved. But he will destroy those whose goal is to destroy his kingdom and his children. He is our deliverer. Jesus told us to pray “deliver us from evil”. So I am rejoicing because He surrounds us with shouts of deliverance!! Thank you Father❤️