· Esther 6:13: This story is very much about Satan (Haman) vs. Christ (Mordecai). As we said at the start, we are not treating this as an allegory that can be pushed to the limits. We are just seeing some illustrations of what we see elsewhere in Scripture. There were numerous times that Satan sought to destroy the line of Messiah. Through Cain he killed the first righteous son; but then came Seth. He tried to move God’s hand to destroy all Mankind in the flood, but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. At a time when Sarah was to become pregnant, where was she but living in the palace of Pharaoh as one of his concubines. This goes on and on throughout history, to the slaughter of the innocents in Bethlehem, the temptations in the wilderness, the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, and to the cross. In my way of thinking, Esther illustrates the believer who is called to use his or her life to serve God. Mordecai is more like Christ. He is the one leading Esther, and in the end he is exalted in the kingdom.
· Esther 5:2,6; 7:2: Three times the king encouraged Esther to make her request, whatever it is, “up to half the kingdom.” Esther did not say she had an additional request other than having the king and Haman come to her banquet. But then again, why does anyone seek an audience with the king but to make request. He knows that, yet he is not hesitant so as not to encourage her to ask for too much. You can say that the king’s words about “half the kingdom” are traditional ways of speaking. But still, they are traditional words that tell people the king has a desire to be generous with them so ask whatever you will.
o All this is because, of course, Esther “found favor in his sight” (5:2). From our previous word study, this is the Hebrew “hen,” used first of Noah (who found grace in the eyes of the LORD, Gen. 6:8), and used 6 times in Esther (2:15,17; 5:2,8; 7:3; 8:5). If you look at these you will see: 3 times it is what Esther had from people, she found favour in their sight; and 3 times it is the basis for her requests of the king, “if I have found favor in your sight.”
o I don’t have to tell you there is a “devotional thought” here. God is the One who encourages us to come “boldly” (freely, with confidence) into His presence to find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16). We may, because of the way we are treated in the sinful world, we hesitant at first, like Esther (4:11). After all, she was going before the sovereign who had dismissed her predecessor. She knew if the king did not favor her, she could legally be put to death. We ought not forget that we too are entering into the very throne room of the Sovereign Lord of all Creation. But if we have found grace in His sight, which is ours by faith in Christ whose blood has opened up the way into the holy of holies, then we should enter freely, as often as we need to. And we should expect a generous welcome. Especially when we come in Jesus’ name, the One who has received all the kingdoms as His inheritance.
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