The Enemy Comes To Steal, Kill and Destroy, But God Is Our Protection
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 him honor.
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
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
There is a lot more to this portion of Esther than meets the eye. At the time of these events, Esther had been queen for about four years. The refusal of Mordecai and the intention of Haman to destroy all the Jews is tied deeply into both the history of the Jews and God's redemptive plan for mankind through Jesus Christ, who was birthed through Jewish lineage. Mordecai was a Jew and Haman was an Amalekite. They knew the history of their respective peoples and the long-standing animosity which had existed for generations between the Jews and the Amalekites.
The Amalekites were the first to attack Israel when they were fleeing Egypt into the Promised land. For this reason, God promised to be at war with the Amalekites from generation to generation (Ex. 17:8-16). Israel was to blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). The conflict was an ongoing one that had spiritual ramifications for God's redemptive plan for the entire humanity. This is the reason why God commanded Saul to attack and wipe out the Amalekites. Saul was not completely obedient (I Samuel 15).
So, many generations later, Haman the Amalekite, knowing the ongoing conflict with his enemies the Jews, saw an opportunity to kill off "the entire Jewish people." The account says: "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." Question: Why wasn't Haman satisfied with just killing Mordecai? Why did he wickedly plot to annihilate the entire race of Jews throughout the whole kingdom? What was his motivation? What did he hope to accomplish?
The Amalekites attacked Israel when they were weary and worn out from fleeing from Egyptian bondage. They attacked those who were lagging behind! Now, as a helpless group of people living in a foreign land another Amalekite, Haman, set out to wipe them all out. Think about it. The enemy seizes every opportunity to wreak havoc on God's people.
The enemy, like the Amalekites, comes to steal, kill and destroy. His goal is to abort the plan God has for His children. He doesn't just attack us as individuals, but he attacks as broadly as he can to damage as many as possible. He attacks homes, marriages, families, churches, peoples, and nations to wipe out as many as he can. He attacks relentlessly until his mission is accomplished.
We must be vigilant. Like Mordecai, we must know who we are and stand up to him. We must not give in to the destructive plans of the enemy. God is with us, and if God is for us, who can be against us? The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus has ordained and already established an abundant life for us. By His grace, you will defeat every Amalekite!
The Amalekites were the first to attack Israel when they were fleeing Egypt into the Promised land. For this reason, God promised to be at war with the Amalekites from generation to generation (Ex. 17:8-16). Israel was to blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). The conflict was an ongoing one that had spiritual ramifications for God's redemptive plan for the entire humanity. This is the reason why God commanded Saul to attack and wipe out the Amalekites. Saul was not completely obedient (I Samuel 15).
So, many generations later, Haman the Amalekite, knowing the ongoing conflict with his enemies the Jews, saw an opportunity to kill off "the entire Jewish people." The account says: "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." Question: Why wasn't Haman satisfied with just killing Mordecai? Why did he wickedly plot to annihilate the entire race of Jews throughout the whole kingdom? What was his motivation? What did he hope to accomplish?
The Amalekites attacked Israel when they were weary and worn out from fleeing from Egyptian bondage. They attacked those who were lagging behind! Now, as a helpless group of people living in a foreign land another Amalekite, Haman, set out to wipe them all out. Think about it. The enemy seizes every opportunity to wreak havoc on God's people.
The enemy, like the Amalekites, comes to steal, kill and destroy. His goal is to abort the plan God has for His children. He doesn't just attack us as individuals, but he attacks as broadly as he can to damage as many as possible. He attacks homes, marriages, families, churches, peoples, and nations to wipe out as many as he can. He attacks relentlessly until his mission is accomplished.
We must be vigilant. Like Mordecai, we must know who we are and stand up to him. We must not give in to the destructive plans of the enemy. God is with us, and if God is for us, who can be against us? The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus has ordained and already established an abundant life for us. By His grace, you will defeat every Amalekite!
Prayer: Father, I thank you that I am more than a conqueror through Jesus my Lord and Savior. Thank you that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. Help me to stand as bold as Mordecai. Amen