Esther 7 reminds me that we reap what we sow. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life“. Few of us farm, but we do understand that the harvest comes after a time of planting and growing. Remember, the ambitious Haman had become the king’s high official and in an act of hatred and revenge, he had created a law to kill all of the Jews. The chapter begins with Haman joining the king at the banquet that Esther had prepared. Only days before Haman was sure he was being honored, but nothing seemed to go right for him today. Esther had piqued the king’s curiosity by waiting to make her plea. The king asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted“. Sadly some of us act like we have to catch God in a good mood before we can come to Him in prayer. Jesus was born to bridge that gap between God and man. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16). Why do you hesitate?
Then Queen Esther answered the king, “If I have found favor with you, O king… grant me my life this is my petition. And spare my people this is my request. For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation“. The king wanted to know who would dare threaten his wife. “Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?” Esther did not hesitate to point to the tormentor of the Jews. “The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman“. For very good reason, “Haman was terrified before the king and queen“. Like Haman, if we ignore the cross of Christ, we have good reason to be terrified too. Many people today have the mistaken belief that as long as they do more good than bad in their life they hope the scale will tip in their favor with God. Let me be clear, that is not what the Bible teaches. Romans 3:10 say, “There is nonerighteous, no, not one“. The Bible is clear that we do not want to stand before God trusting in our own good works, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Let’s see how things work out for Haman.
“The king got up in a rage… But Haman… stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life“. He was about to harvest all he had planted. “Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining“. The king exploded, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?“. In the ultimate act of irony, one of the king’s attendants said, “A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house… So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai“. Tragically, he got what he deserved. Friend, here is the good news. Because of God’s love for you, He made a way you and me to escape what we deserve. Jesus Himself paid the price of my sins so that I could receive forgiveness. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). According to Romans 10:9, the only requirement is that you believe. “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved“. “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15).