Introduction

Good morning, everyone. Let us continue our study of Esther, Chapter 3. The theme is "The Crisis of the Jewish People's Extinction is Coming." It is not as if one provokes someone or does something wrong, and then suddenly faces a crisis of extinction. In fact, the people of God, living in this world, are constantly being threatened with destruction by the things of the world.

Even if you have not provoked it and simply want to live peacefully and devoutly, it is not possible! This illustrates a problem: even if you do not want to fight, you must fight. It forces you to fight! Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must understand that you will either be a victorious Christian or a Christian defeated by the devil.

If you are a victorious Christian, God will surely support you. No matter what crisis comes, it does not matter! As the New Testament says, "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." I tell you, this is absolutely true.

I want to encourage everyone and lift up our faith. You must know that our God can save us. He is the God who raises people from the dead. There is nothing that God cannot save. Those who trust in Him will never be put to shame, and no one can destroy you!

If you are Abraham, those who curse you, God will curse; those who bless you, God will bless. How powerful is that! But the question is, are we Abraham? Are we Isaac and Jacob? If we are Joseph, even if we are enslaved and imprisoned, we will still become prime ministers when we come out. There is no problem at all!

Therefore, brothers and sisters, our faith cannot be too dull. We must know this when there are no problems, and we must know it even more when there are problems. No one can mess with you! Regarding the affairs of this world, we should not think that the problem lies with others. The key is whether we are truly descendants of Abraham.

The Amalekites and Israelites are Enemies for Generations

The Amalekites and Israelites are enemies for generations. This is a "grudge" planted by Esau and Jacob. Esau and Jacob were the sons of Rebekah. It is strange that Rebekah, who loved God and pursued heavenly blessings, gave birth to two sons. Jacob's descendants are called Israelites, and one of Esau's descendants is called Amalekites. And one of the Amalekite tribes is called Agagites.

I tell you, God will curse Esau, and this tribe will not succeed no matter what they do. And those of Jacob's tribe, if they want to jump out of the circle of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it will not work either! Their generational enmity is what God has said. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the first to attack them were the Amalekites. Therefore, the Amalekites and Israelites will fight generation after generation.

God's original intention was for King Saul to wipe out the Amalekite King Agag, but he left Agag alive. Later, Samuel personally killed King Agag. Mordecai was a Jew, but Haman, the prime minister who was second only to one and above all others at that time, was an Amalekite. Could Mordecai bow down to Haman? He could not!

People said, "You must bow! Just nod your head and bow your waist. It does not matter." But Mordecai said, "No, I am a Jew, and we are enemies with the Amalekites for generations." Mordecai was very clear about this, so he had Esther conceal her Jewish identity.

Was Mordecai's refusal to bow down to Haman wise or foolish? Actually, regardless of right or wrong, even if Mordecai's refusal to bow down to Haman led to the Jewish nation facing a crisis of extinction, could God save them? God could still save them! Therefore, our faith is not built on whether we do right or wrong, but on our God!

But there is one thing: if a Christian compromises with this world, then you are ruined! This world represents Esau, and Esau represents this world. This is how it all comes together. I will read it to you:

After these events, King Ahasuerus 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?”

Although they spoke to him day after day, he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them that 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 Ahasuerus. (Esther 3:1-6)

Everyone is Watching to See What Will Happen to Mordecai

At that time, Haman was the prime minister, a first-rank official, while Mordecai was at most a third- or fifth-rank official. Could an arm twist a thigh? Everyone felt that the outcome was already determined.

Mordecai often told his colleagues about God's miraculous deeds. This was not the first time he had experienced God in the matter of Haman. Some time ago, Mordecai had reported that someone was trying to harm King Ahasuerus. How did he know about this? Therefore, miraculous things often happened to Mordecai.

Although the Bible does not say so, one can imagine that they kept advising Mordecai, "Just bow to Haman! We are good friends. I really do not want to see your head being chopped off by Haman, and we may all be implicated. Our jobs will be ruined because of you." But Mordecai insisted, "I will not bow. I am a Jew. I have my God, and my God will save me!"

In fact, our brothers and sisters often encounter huge challenges, but if you look to God, you will not be put to shame! You stand there and see God's work. Although our God does not partake of earthly food, He knows that we do.

Perhaps some say that Mordecai had already seen through everything and that it would be fine to just die! But is that what God thinks? No! God sees us relying on Him on this earth, and He takes charge of our earthly affairs. So, do not misunderstand God.

I encourage everyone to see through many things, but not to lie down and wait for death after seeing through them. Instead, after seeing through them, you will have no pressure. What are you afraid of? Our God is the God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead, the God who saved Mordecai and the Jewish nation. He saves all who trust in Him from the hands of the devil!

At that time, everyone was watching to see what would happen to Mordecai. That is, they wanted to see what his God would do! Was the Agagite tribe more powerful, or the Jewish tribe? In the end, you will surely see a beautiful testimony.

Haman Wants to Destroy the Jews

Haman thought that harming Mordecai was a small matter. If he were to destroy all the Jews in King Ahasuerus's kingdom, that is, Mordecai's people, would that not be exactly what Haman wanted? Haman thought: The Jewish tribe has been enemies with the Amalekites for generations. If I destroy you, I will see whether your God is more powerful, or I, Haman, am more powerful?

At that time, the Jews in Jerusalem were also under the rule of King Ahasuerus. Haman did not quite believe that God was powerful. He only believed in the power in his hands. From the perspective at that time, Haman was definitely more powerful! But if you look at it from God's perspective, no matter how powerful Haman is, he is not more powerful than God.

The entire Book of Esther does not mention God, but behind every event, you can see God's hand. Why was the queen banished to the harem? Why was Esther, a Jew, chosen to be King Ahasuerus's queen? Why did Haman want to destroy the Jews? Because God wanted to destroy the Amalekites!

In the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, in the first month, the month of Nisan, they cast the pur (that is, the lot) in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. (Esther 3:7)

Haman decided to destroy his generational enemy, and then he chose an auspicious day. If the day chosen was closer, he would have completed the matter before Haman was hanged on the gallows. But there were more than ten months in between. Is not the casting of lots also controlled by God? It is controlled by God! Then Haman began to implement his plan.

Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”

So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.” (Esther 3:8-11)

The Decree Has Been Issued, the Date Has Been Set, and the Crisis of Extinction Has Been Determined.

Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Ahasuerus himself and sealed with his own ring. Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and little children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day. The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was also issued in the citadel of Susa. (Esther 3:12-15)

I ask you, can such a thing be reversed? Everything is set! But Mordecai's trust in God is truly powerful. The date has been set, the crisis of extinction has been determined, and the king's ring has been sealed.

King Ahasuerus did not have a very good feeling towards the Jews. If he knew that Esther was a Jew, he should not have made her queen. Therefore, Mordecai was very clear about King Ahasuerus's preferences. He knew that King Ahasuerus was not very interested in the Jews.

"There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws." King Ahasuerus was a shrewd person. How could he not know that these were Jews? He knew, and then he wanted to destroy all these people.

I tell you, the crisis of the Jewish people's extinction comes one after another, perhaps God makes it so. Why did King Ahasuerus sit in this position? Zerubbabel returned to Jerusalem as governor, but the hearts of the Jews were still in the world. Although they were Jews on the surface, they were Amalekites in their bones. Do you think God is worried or not? This is the key!

Do not think that you are a Christian and that you are great. If you are God's people inside, have the faith of Abraham, and have the logical system of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob flowing through you, then it counts!

As a result, God arranged for a King Ahasuerus, and then the events of Haman, Esther, and Mordecai happened. It is said that King Ahasuerus reigned for more than 20 years. Later, his son King Artaxerxes succeeded him, and then King Artaxerxes sent Ezra back to Jerusalem.

In fact, King Ahasuerus did not like the Jews very much, but Mordecai and Esther were both Jews. As they were being dealt with, they infiltrated his inner circle, but he did not know it. King Ahasuerus felt that Haman was good, a talented person who could help him govern the country.

Later, God created an opportunity for the entire nation of Israel to repent, fast, and pray for three days, and then the Jews were saved. Later, because of Esther, a public holiday called "Purim" was created.

At this time, were these Jews still living their small lives? Were they still doing their small businesses? Were they still taking care of their house renovations and their sons' weddings? They could not. In fact, this was directed by God.

I feel that people are quite muddled. When everything is going well, they feel that there is no time to serve God. When there is a crisis and they are about to die, they call on God, fast and pray for three days, and put everything down. In fact, it is not that they cannot put it down, but that they are reluctant to put it down. When they are about to die, they put it down.

I have a friend who is busy every day. I said, "Why are you so busy?" He said, "I cannot put it down!" He felt that if he did not work and was not busy, his company would collapse. Then one day, he was diagnosed with cancer, so he put it down. How can he put it down now?

I feel that people are really muddled. Why do they have to wait until the crisis of extinction to decide to put it down? If you rely on God every day and are willing to set aside time for God, would this happen?

Some people come to me to pray after they get cancer, feeling that they have time at any time, but when the cancer is cured, they have no time. There was a sister who used to have depression and could not do any work! After coming to us, her depression was cured, and her family's business was doing well, and then she felt that she had no time! Therefore, we really often need to carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

The Whole City is in Turmoil

What does "the whole city is in turmoil" mean? How many Jews were there in the citadel of Susa? Many! The Jews intermarried with the local people, and one family was connected to five or six families! Those five or six families were connected to even more, and everyone was connected. Through two or three layers of relationships, you definitely knew this person, and then everyone knew that the Jews in the citadel of Susa were going to be destroyed. Were the Jews in a panic? Yes, they were. Did they put it down? Yes, they did.

Then some people said, "It is all Mordecai's fault. If you had just knelt down and bowed, the problem would have been solved, and we would not be in this situation." The key is that the Jews and Amalekites are enemies for generations. God has determined this. The whole city is in turmoil, and then they do nothing.

Oh, I am really moved. Brothers and sisters, do not try to distinguish between right and wrong. Nothing is outside of God's control. If you really kneel, then you are finished, and God cannot save you. Do not think that compromising with this world is a solution to the problem. You must be strong, and nothing can kill you.

Summary

The Apostle Paul said, "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." Every time we experience something, we are shocked. If you have not been shocked for a long time, and you can still love God very much, then you are truly specially chosen by God.

Although we live in this world, we can be a security guard or a prime minister in the palace, but we cannot love this world. You can offend anyone, but do not offend God! If you do not offend God and please Him, what problems can you have? No problems at all!

We will share this Bible study up to this point. May God bless everyone!

null

null