Reading
Esther 6:1-10

1On that night, the king couldn’t sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king. 2It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus. 3The king said, “What honor and dignity has been given to Mordecai for this?”

Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

4The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had come into the outer court of the king’s house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

5The king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman stands in the court.”

The king said, “Let him come in.” 6So Haman came in. The king said to him, “What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman said in his heart, “Who would the king delight to honor more than myself?” 7Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a royal crown is set. 9Let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delights to honor with them, and have him ride on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’”

10Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.”


Devotional

Prevenient Grace

Where Was God?

During our time in Northern Ireland, my husband and I had the opportunity of experiencing the unique and entertaining production Luv Esther which has forever impacted our visualization of the story of Esther. I can still picture the character of Haman dressed like a member of Kiss while dancing to 90’s music. It was definitely an unforgettable experience. 

One of the most interesting aspects of this book is that there is no direct mention of God, and yet the book communicates something very specific about the character and provision of God. God is never explicitly mentioned, and yet the activity of God working in the background is undeniable. From the selection of Esther as queen to the king’s sleeping problems and discovery of Mordecai’s past heroics, the many coincidences of the book of Esther are so much more than mere happenstance. One word for this is prevenient grace, or grace that goes before. It is the hand of God working in and through the world that we often can’t see until we look back at where we have been. God is always at work, weaving together the tapestry of creation causing “everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28).

  • Do you believe in coincidences? 
  • Looking back on your own life, where do you see God at work? 
  • How might God be working in your life right now?

As you continue to read through the book of Esther and go about your daily life, look for God’s prevenient grace going before you and preparing the way for you to live as His people.