Esther 7:1-8a — The Big Reveal
READ THIS: Esther 7:1-8a
1 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”
5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?” 6 Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. 8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”
WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?
This passage is CRAZY! So much happens here, so let's unpack it. Queen Esther, after lots of prayer and planning, finally tells King Xerxes her request. If you remember, she has had several chances to do so now, but instead has spent that time serving the king and even her adversary, Haman. After spending time showing King Xerxes that she was willing to serve and care for them, her one request to the king is a simple one: spare her and her people, the Jews! If you have been reading with us, you know that Esther has spent the
entirety of this book keeping her Jewish heritage and lineage a secret... so this would have been shocking news for Haman and Xerxes to hear.
The response of both the king and Haman shows just how foolish and quickly their plan was put together. If either of them had understood exactly what they were doing and the consequences of their actions, they likely would have done something different. Haman made the edict completely out of anger and jealousy toward Mordecai, and it ultimately cost him. To top it all off, as Haman tries one last time to beg Esther for mercy, Xerxes catches him and thinks he is trying to take advantage of Esther. Haman's mindset of only thinking of himself has finally come back to haunt him.
THINK ABOUT IT:
1. Think about what Esther was really asking King Xerxes to do here... change an edict that he technically made! Do you think he would have been as willing to humble himself this much if Esther had asked him right away? Why or why not?
2. What are the dangers of living life like Haman has been, worrying only about yourself, your desires, and your needs?
TRY THIS:
Esther's decision and timing wasn't random... it was prayed over and thought over a TON! Today, think about a decision you need to make soon, even if it is a small one! Take a considerate amount of time to talk to God about it and ask Him to intervene exactly how He needs to in it.
SONG OF THE WEEK:
This week's song is about looking for the joy of the Lord, even in the midst of crazy and sorrowful places. As you listen to this song, think about how God was at work behind the scenes of all of this!
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