Esther 7:8-10 – Rough Justice

Building bombs is not an advisable endeavour. Just in case you need convincing, consider the Wisconsin man who recently plotted a terrorist attack. He had everything an aspiring bomb maker could possibly need: chemicals, timers, and instructions on how to prepare deadly explosives. Sadly for him, but thankfully for the general public, he never completed his murderous project; a premature explosion left him buried under what was left of his homemade lab. The bomb that he had so carefully assembled literally blew up in his face.

Today’s passage is an explosive one, but not in the way Haman intended. This wicked man had spent a long time putting his holocaust together. The King was on board, the date was set-all he had to do was light the fuse and watch the carnage unfold. Except, what this master strategist didn’t anticipate was that the Queen had a bombshell of her own.

Just a few hours earlier, Haman had been putting the finishing touches on his plot. In a furious overreaction, he had a 75 foot gallows built on which to display his defeated enemy’s corpse. Little did he know that his vindictiveness would blow up in his own face.

As Esther revealed her true identity, God worked in Ahasuerus’ heart. The most powerful man on the planet was led to feel pity for the Jews…and frenzied hatred for the architect of their despair. There was to be no escape from justice.

The only question that remained: how was Haman to be dispatched? You’ve got to love the irony. At the very moment it was needed most, there was a gallows ready for use. Psalm 7:16 sums it up perfectly: “His mischief returns on his own head, and on his own skull the violence descends.”

What’s the lesson in all this? It’s simple. God will thwart his enemies. It doesn’t matter how clever, well resourced, influential, or determined they are. He can use their very weapons to seal their doom. Esther’s God always wins.

Questions
1. Satan conspired to have Jesus crucified. How did God use his own weapon against him?
2. What does Haman’s fate teach us about God’s justice?

Prayer Points
1. Give thanks for how God always wins. Pray that he would remind you of that as you see powerful enemies rebelling against him.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.