Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay honor to him. Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
– Esther 3:1-6
Devotion
The picture of Haman presented to us is that of a haughty, imperious, proud, and cruel man. Mordecai’s refusal to bow down to him may be that Mordecai was familiar with the character of Haman. Whatever the reason, the malice of Haman is stirred, not only against Mordecai, but against all his people. Haman’s plot for extermination of the Jews would take several months to unfold. Yet this gave time for all the events which ended in the deliverance of God’s people. Once again, we see God’s promise to take care of His people. God will preserve His people and He will do it through the life of Esther.
The Big Question
God’s Word is filled with many great promises! What promises of God do you love the most? Jesus came into the world to be God’s final deliverer! He conquered the grave and delivered us from the sting of death…sin. How does Jesus’ ultimate victory over death encourage you and impact the way you live today?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what God revealed to you today.