Tag: timing is perfect
God turns the tables!
Scripture reading for May 16: Esther 5-7
“If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.” Proverbs 26:27
“An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad.” Proverbs 29:6
We must be careful when we plot revenge. All judgment and vengeance is the Lord’s. (Romans 12:19) The Lord has a way of turning the tables on those who seek revenge and plot evil. He has ways of protecting those who are innocent and especially those who are serving Him. In today’s reading from Esther, we find God turning the tables on Haman as he plots to destroy the Jews and hang an innocent man.
Haman was thrilled with his position and his influence! He boasted to his wife and friends of his good fortune and how he was the only one invited to meet with Queen Esther for a banquet. (Nehemiah 6:1-12) He was happy, except for one fly in the ointment: Mordecai the Jew would not show him honor by bowing before him! He complained to his wife and friends who proposed a plan to hang Mordecai on a gallows 75 feet high! This would have been high enough to display the execution above the walls of the city! He had the gallows built and was ready for the next day.
God was moving silently behind the scenes. The king could not sleep, so he had the chronicles of his reign read to him. He heard the story of the plot to assassinate him–a plot Mordecai had exposed thus saving his life. He asked what had been done for this man and found out it had been overlooked. He asked who might be in the court to honor Mordecai, and providentially, Haman had just walked in with his plans in place. The king asked him what he would do to honor someone special to the king. Haman thought he himself was to be honored, so he proposed a grand public honor and was shocked when the king told him to honor Mordecai! How ironic that God turned the tables so deftly and quickly!
The end of the story finds Haman hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai after being exposed as the one seeking to kill off all Jews, including the Queen! God worked His plan out for good and turned the tables! This is exactly what will happen for all of His people who serve Him faithfully. It looks like death has the final answer, but not with God! It looks as if the wicked get by with their schemes, but not at the final judgment! Check your heart today and come clean of any thoughts or plans for revenge. Forgive and turn the table back toward God’s mercy before He turns the tables on you!