The King Could Not Sleep

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The King Could Not Sleep

God has ways  of working  that we people can never fathom.     When we might feel  that all is hopeless,  God is at work  for us, bringing about events  we could not imagine.     There are many instances  of God’s miraculous handling  of events  throughout the Bible.     One is recorded  in the book  of Esther.    It’s good  to remember these events.

Because of Israel’s unrepented sins,  Persia was allowed  to conquer Israel.     Then  God worked many events  so that a God fearing Israelite named Esther  became the queen,  being chosen  by King Ahasuerus  as the most beautiful  and desirable  among women  in the empire.

Esther’s uncle,  Mordecai,  found out  about a plot  to kill King Ahasuerus  and reported it.    The would-be assassins were hung  for their dastardly plan.     As events progressed,  a man named Haman  was promoted  to a position of authority  in the kingdom.    In all his pride,  Haman wanted everyone  to bow down  to him  as he rode by.     Mordecai refused  to bow down,  bringing Haman’s anger  to the boiling point.

In hatred,  Haman asked the king  for permission  to kill all the Jews,  claiming that they did not obey  the king’s laws.    Not realizing the deception  or the fact  that his wife,  Esther,  was a Jew,  the king granted Haman permission.

While Haman formulated his plans  to kill the Jews,  Queen Esther invited the king  and Haman  to a dinner,  causing Haman to become even more proud  of his position  of influence.     But,  when he again saw Mordecai refusing  to bow down to him,  Haman had to tell  of his grief  to his wife  and friends.     Then Esther 5:12 through 6:3  recounts,

Haman also said,  “Even Esther  the queen  let no one but me come  with the king  to the banquet  which she had prepared;   and tomorrow also  I am invited by her  with the king.    Yet  all of this does not satisfy me  every time I see Mordecai  the Jew sitting  at the king’s gate.”

Then Zeresh  his wife  and all his friends said  to him,  “Have a gallows  fifty cubits high made  and in the morning  ask the king  to have Mordecai hanged  on it,  then go joyfully  with the king  to the banquet.”     And the advice pleased Haman,  so he had the gallows made.

During that night  the king could not sleep  so he gave an order  to bring the book  of records,  the chronicles,  and they were read  before the king.     And it was found written  that Mordecai had reported  concerning Bigthana and Teresh,  two of the king’s eunuchs  who were doorkeepers,  that they had sought  to lay hands  on King Ahasuerus.

And the king said,  “What honor  or dignity  has been bestowed  on Mordecai  for this?”     Then the king’s servants  who attended him said,  “Nothing has been done  for him.”

Little did anyone realize  that God  was at work.     Who but God  could have led Esther  to become queen?     Who but God  could have led hateful Haman’s friends  to give him  bad advice?     Who but God  could have taken sleep away  from the king  on that particular night?     Who but God  could have caused the records  of Mordecai’s good deed  to be read?     Who but God  could have led the king  to want  to give Mordecai an immediate reward?

In the end  of all this intrigue,  Haman was hung  on his own gallows,  Mordecai was promoted,  and the Israelites were saved.     What an awesome  turn of events  because of  faith.

God also works  for our good  in the same awesome ways.     His power  and leading  for His children  cannot be fully known  or explained  —  but God’s end results  are marvelously wonderful.

The main point  in the book of Esther  is to live by faith  according to God’s will  and trust the Lord  to do His work  in His way  —  even when things look hopeless  outwardly.     As Romans 8:28 says,

And we know  that God causes  all things  to work together  for good  to those  who love God,  to those  who are called  according to His purpose.

We don’t have to be afraid  of living  according to God’s will.     When we live  the way God wants us  to live,  He will take care  of everything  in the end  —  simply because  we are His dear children.

As we trust  in our Lord,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  You are almighty  in absolutely everything.     Thank You  for loving us,  forgiving us,  and caring for us.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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