AN ORPHAN GIRL SAVES HER RACE

 

                             

Less than a month after Hurricane Katrina had devastated New Orleans, another Category 5 hurricane named Rita formed in the Gulf of Mexico and had a projected path towards Houston. On Tuesday September 20, 2005, forecasters said “Rita could be the most intense hurricane on record ever to hit Texas and easily one of the most powerful ever to plow into the US mainland”.

That same day through email a special prayer request was sent out to all our church members in Houston and also through the ARK Forum for Christians all over the world to pray for three things: weakening of the hurricane, changing the course of the hurricane to an area with no population, no death and very little damage. On Wednesday 21, 2005 Hurricane Rita had developed into a category 5 storm and was heading towards Houston.

Mayor Bill White had issued warning to Houston residents and advised them to evacuate. Millions of Houstonians jammed all the roads from north to west. Most of our church members tried to leave Houston but got stuck in the jam, so they assembled in Lee family home in the Northwest of the city.

On Friday afternoon September 23, 2005 we saw and heard the Television News that Hurricane Rita had weakened to a category 3 storm and had changed its path. God had changed the path of hurricane Rita. The hurricane made landfall on the Sabine Pass, an uninhabited area near the border between Texas and Louisiana.  There were no death and only very little damage was reported. God was merciful to us and He answered our prayers.

In the book of Esther Haman planned to destroy all the Jews in the Persian Empire because one man had refused to bow when he passed (3:5-6). Mordecai asked Queen Esther to plead with the king to spare the lives of the Jews. Esther was not allowed into the throne room unless she was called for. Anyone who entered the throne room without being summoned was immediately put to death by the guards at the door unless the king held out the golden scepter.

Although Esther knew that it would probably mean her death, she agreed to approach the king about the matter "If I perish, I perish," she said. But before she did it, Esther asked for prayer support. She told Mordecai to have all of the Jews in Shushan fast for three days and she and her maidens would do the same. When she entered the throne room, the king's extended the golden scepter toward her.  Here in Esther 5:2 we have a remarkable example of how God controls the hearts of kings (Prov. 21:1).

Instead of laying out the terror the Jews were facing to the king immediately she got to his presence, Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet. The king knew that the banquet was the setting for her real request, for he asked her, "What is your petition?" But she delayed her request and instead invited the two of them to a second banquet the next evening. It’s amazing that the king accepted the two invitations given that he had not summoned Esther for thirty days. Certainly a higher power was in control.

Haman had everything that so many people are striving for in this life:  great riches, second in command in a vast empire, unlimited power and influence. But one man's attitude was all it took to rob him of his happiness. Haman’s wife and friends suggested that he get a huge gallows constructed to hang Mordecai (5:14). Haman liked the idea of simply having Mordecai killed in the meantime! Thus, he had the gallows constructed. But what happened next (chapter 6) was  divine.

It "just so happened" that night, the king could not sleep. He called for the book of the Chronicles of the King to be brought and read.  The history book "just so happened" to be turned to the page detailing the specifics of the recent thwarted assassination plot Mordecai had overheard. This was an injustice which must be rectified immediately! "Who is in the court," the king demanded. It "just so happened" that Haman was on his way to ask the king about putting Mordecai to death.

Haman was called into the king's chamber and asked what should be done for the man the king desired to honor. Thinking that it was for him, Haman suggested an exaltation like had not been seen before. But imagine his surprise and humiliation as he paraded Mordecai through the streets!  “A man’s pride will bring him low but a humble spirit will obtain honor” (Proverbs 29:23). When Haman got home he told everyone what had happened. Their response was "If Mordecai… is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him." (6:13).

Haman rushed to Esther's second banquet. At dinner, the king again asked what Esther's petition was. Esther said that her petition was for her own and her people’s lives. The king stormed out of the room in a rage. It "just so happened that when the king walked back in, the mighty Haman was on his knees begging for his life from the orphan Jewish girl.  “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matt. 23:12).

The king accused Haman of assaulting the queen. Haman was immediately arrested and hanged on his own gallows.  David said “The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made. In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught. The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment, in the work of his own hands the wicked is snared” (Ps. 9:15-16). The king gave Mordecai Haman's place as second in authority (8:1).

Even though Haman was now dead, the Jews were not yet safe. Haman’s decree could not be nullified under Persian law. Esther again fell at the king’s feet and begged him to cancel Haman’s plans (8:3). It is very moving to see the extent to which this young girl, who has everything money can buy, identifies herself with her own people and is prepared to risk everything in an attempt to prevent the disaster that threatens them.

The king instructed Mordecai to write another decree as he pleased. Mordecai granted the Jews the right to protect themselves. There was joy and celebration among the Jews, God had blown the dark cloud that had hung over their heads away. He had given them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of despair (Isa.61:3). On the appointed day no one could withstand them because the people of all other nationalities were afraid of them.

The first decree authorized genocide. The second decree allowed the victims to defend themselves. As had happened so many times before and since, the Jews once again had supernatural victory over their enemies. Not only were the Jews saved, but now they had a strong advocate in the government's second highest position (10:1-3).  Working behind the scenes, God used Esther to save many lives. His ways are past finding out (Rom. 11:33)

 The fact that God placed Esther in a position so she could deliver her people even before they were in danger, shows His far-reaching providence at work for His chosen people.

The book implies that even when God's people are far from him and disobedient, they are still the object of his concern and love. These Jews ignored God's commands to return to their land (Isa. 48:20; Jer. 29:10). Nevertheless God remained faithful to His promises. (2 Tim. 2:13).

At times things are so bad that they seem to be even above God’s ability to help, but nothing is impossible with God (Matt 19:26). The fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). Prayer is so important because it invites God into the situation. The ministry of prayer is the most important service that the Church of Christ can engage in. Prayer is the most dynamic work which God has entrusted to His Children, but it is also the most neglected ministry. All of Scripture teach that we are absolutely dependent on God (John 15:5). The degree to which we believe that will be the degree to which we pray.