September 15
Esther 5:1-10:3
Voltaire was born in Paris in 1694. He rose in prominence and became an influential writer during the "Age of Enlightenment". He vehemently opposed the Christian faith and the Bible. Here are some of his quotes: "The Bible. That is what fools have written, what imbeciles commend, what rogues teach and young children are made to learn by heart.", "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and bloody religion that has ever infected the world". He ended every letter to friends with "crush the infamy - the Christian religion". Concerning the doctrines of the Christian faith: the Incarnation, the Atonement, the Trinity, etc, he stated, "To believe them, the extreme of brutal stupidity". Voltaire went on to see a time when the Bible would become extinct. He arrogantly believed that his reasoning would stop people from reading the Bible. Ironically, within twenty years the same printing presses used to put forth his blasphemous writings in Ferney, France were now being used to print the Bible. Within 50 years a branch of the Protestant Bible Society was established in his former residence in Ferney, and his former residence in Geneva was used to store Bibles and religious tracts. On his deathbed Voltaire stated, "I am abandoned by God and man" His nurse at the bedside said, "For all the money in Europe I wouldn't want to see another unbeliever die! All night long he cried for forgiveness".
Haman had a hatred for the Jewish people. He sought to exterminate them, all of them. He came close as he put forth a plan, funded by the government to eradicate them and plunder them. Yet when the plan was revealed to the king by Queen Esther, we read of what happened to Haman in Esther 7:10, "So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided." He was killed on the very gallows he had built for his Jewish enemy, Esther's uncle, Mordecai. But the irony doesn't end there. We read in 8:1-2, "On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman." Mordecai now resided in Haman's house. Mordecai eventually replaced Haman in position in the government, as we read in 9:4, "For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent." Finally, Haman's ten sons were also hanged on the gallows. Yes, the irony was completed.
You might be thinking that our times of evil are unique, but they are not. Approximately 500 years before Esther was Queen, we read these words penned by King David in Psalm 37:1-2, 7-11, "Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb....Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret - it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." If it looks like our world is imploding, it might be, but God is and always has been sovereign. He is not biting His nails as events unfold. Evil has always gained footholds, only for God to bring things forward according to his plan. Things will indeed move forward and it will get worse in this world. But God allows us to become citizens of heaven and one day reside with Him in heaven. Not only does world history turn out well with King Jesus on the throne, but each of us personally might go through seasons of difficulty and hardship, but He has never taken His eyes off of us, He loves each and every one of us, and He will illuminate our steps if we only take our eyes off the world and onto Him.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: