Esther 7:4 - For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated.

So great was evil Haman’s hatred for the Jews that he paid Persian King Ahasuerus 10,000 talents of silver to declare a genocide (Esther 3:9).

The king agrees. The genocide decree is issued and scheduled for an exact date (Esther 3:13).

Esther ends up foiling Haman’s plot but what would have happened to God’s plan of salvation through the Jews if Haman had succeeded? Would they have been wholly wiped out? Even the Israelites who had returned to Jerusalem were still under Ahasuerus’ rule and decree.

Direct mention of God is missing from Esther. The Jews have been in exile for worshiping other gods. Israel was warned centuries before what idols would get them:

Deteronomy 31:16-18 - And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them. Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?’ And I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to other gods.”

God hid his face. And his name is hidden in Esther.

And yet, God’s hand seems to move:

Psalm 23:5 - You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies

And so God did it. Esther invites the evil Haman, enemy of the Jews, to a feast. Twice!

Esther 5:4 - Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.”

Esther 5:6,7,8 - after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish?… Esther answered… let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them

Jesus himself ate at the same table as the traitor Judas:

Matthew 26:20-21, - When it was evening, [Jesus] reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”… Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

And, behold, the fate of Haman:

Esther 7:10 - So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.

And, behold, the fate of Judas:

Matthew 27:3,5 - when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned… he went and hanged himself.

God doesn’t trifle when his holy plan, chosen people, and Chosen One are attacked. He rescues at the right time.

Conspiracies against God will happen until the end. Revelation 17 speaks of the final plot and concludes:

Revelation 17:14 - the angel said to me… “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Perhaps by faith we see God in the book of Esther. “Show, don’t tell,” goes the famous line.

May we stand with God - by faith - stronger every day - to the end!