Please join us for our next Online Bible Study!
“16-Day Love Challenge:
Matching our Words and Actions with
1 Corinthians 13:4-8″
by Cherie Zack and Rebecca LeCompte.
This study begins November 4th.
Be sure to go to our Registration page for more details, and to sign up today!!
The Registration page can be found by clicking on this LINK.
We hope you will join us!!
The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? It will also be granted. If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edit tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged on gallows.”
Esther 9:12-13 NIV
In my Bible, the introduction to Chapter 9 is entitled “Triumph of the Jews.” The enemies of the Jews thought they could take out their enemies, but the Jews were able to turn the tables on them! We also see that Haman’s ten sons were killed in verse 9 – so why the strange request from Esther? Why hang ten dead men on the gallows? Seems a bit—literally—like overkill. We’ve seen that all of Esther’s actions have been intentional so far, so what is the point of this request? Darlene mentions that a public execution would put fear in the people (page 103). It would do that, to be sure! My Study Bible gives additional insight.
In Deuteronomy 21:22-23, God gives these directions through Moses: “If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse.” To the Jews, this is a reminder of God’s deliverance and fulfillment of a promise made to them long ago through Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse…” (Genesis 12:3 NIV).
If you go to your Bible, you will notice that I didn’t include the remainder of verse 3 in Genesis. It concludes “… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Wow, what an amazing promise! Did you realize that the promise to Abraham became your blessing, too? Through Abraham, God makes a mighty nation—the Jews—His chosen people. Through Abraham, God sends Jesus to fulfill His plan and redeem us all. Hallelujah! One of the beautiful revelations of studying Esther is how Esther’s story is our story! We are all Esther–beautiful, favored by the ultimate King (God), chosen, given a helper (the Holy Spirit), redeemed and saved from our enemy (Satan)! But here is a key difference—and please give it the reverence it deserves—in our life story, the One hung on the gallows, the One hung on a tree – is Jesus…yes…Jesus.
In Galatians 3:13 -14 (NIV) Paul writes “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” I read this and I am so humbled, so grateful, so joyful! You see, Jesus became the sacrifice that saved me from death. Jesus became the curse so that I can receive the blessing! Because He triumphed over the cross, over curses, over death, He rendered Satan’s power ultimately useless over me! Just like the Jews’ enemies in Persia, who thought they were going to destroy them, Satan has had the tables turned on him! WE ARE SAVED!! WE ARE REDEEMED!!
Praise God today, sisters, because He has made the power of the Cross available to us who believe in Him! Don’t live in fear of the enemy; live in the hope and confidence of those redeemed out of the hand of the devil. Just like the Jews were overwhelmingly victorious – so will you be in your life. Read the story of Esther again and apply this knowledge to your life – I am Esther and, just like God worked in her life, He works in mine! God bless you, sisters! WE ARE REDEEMED!! Let the knowledge of that change your life!
Holy God, thank You for the Book of Esther! Thank You for Your words that give us wisdom, knowledge, hope and all of Your precious promises. Help us to live today and every day with the knowledge that You love us very much and that You want us to live abundant lives of joy! Thank You that Your son became the curse, OUR curse, so that we can receive the blessing HE deserved. May we be eternally grateful and strive to live out our days in humble, grateful submission to You and fulfill the purposes You have for us! Thank You for loving us! Help us to love others the same way. In Your Son’s name we pray, Amen.
