The Living Word
Esther 6:1-13 Mordecai Honored
That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. "What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?" the king asked. "Nothing has been done for him," his attendants answered. The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had erected for him. His attendants answered, "Haman is standing in the court." "Bring him in," the king ordered. When Haman entered, the king asked him, "What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought to himself, "Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?" So he answered the king, "For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king's most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, 'This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!' " "Go at once," the king commanded Haman. "Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended." So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, "This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!" Afterward Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him--you will surely come to ruin!"
The Word In Motion
Your enemy, the devil, hates you as much as Haman hated Mordecai. He is out to get you any way he can. He would love to hang you up and make a public display of you.
But you are of Godly origin. The devil cannot stand against you – he will surely come to ruin. No matter what he does, whether he inflicts the pain of Job or demands to sift you as wheat as he did Peter, his end is fixed, he will not prevail.
You will! Stand strong! What you fight, your circumstances, problems, difficulties – they are all part of God’s plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11.."For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you hope an a future."). It’s a good plan (also Romans 8:28..in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose).
God really excels at turning things around on the enemy (this story is only one of them, think “crucifixion” for the best example). He does it through your circumstances so that He can crush satan underneath YOUR feet (Romans 16:20...The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.).
Armed with this information, you CAN give thanks in every situation (I Thessalonians 5:18...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.).
Come on, let’s go squish some devil today!