After telling his wife and
friends about all his riches, promotion, greatness and his trouble
with Mordecai, Haman was advised to build a fifty cubit gallows for
Mordecai to be hung upon. Haman agreed and the structure was built.
In chapter six and verse one we begin a new section in the story of
Esther as we see the king with insomnia and what he does about it. We
read:
On that night could not
the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the
chronicles; and they were read before the king.
Our
verse begins, “On that night could not the king sleep,...”
King Ahasuerus was having a difficult time sleeping, and the
interesting aspect to this insomnia is that it just happens to be on
the very night that Haman, his wife, and his friends decided it would
be a good idea to build the gallows. It was “on that night”
this took place, and if we use our mind's eye just a little we
can see King Ahasuerus tossing from side to side trying to sleep, but
just can't get the job done. Could it be that God is keeping him
awake? We shall see.
The
verse continues, “and he commanded to bring the book of records
of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.” The
king did something many of us might do when we cannot get to sleep –
he called for the “chronicles” which were history books
and records. He more than likely thought this would be boring enough
reading that he could get over his restlessness and go to sleep. We
might picture his servants getting the books, bringing them in his
room, and reading them to him. Just the formalities that were
recorded in these books would be enough to put most people to sleep.
However, could it be that God was intervening in this part of our
story?
What
happens when we cannot sleep? Do we get a boring book, watch a boring
movie, or maybe-pray? The king could not sleep on the very night of
Haman's plot against Mordecai, and as we consider this verse, perhaps
our thoughts should be toward the Lord of all our times both when we
are at rest and when we are restless. When we cannot sleep it might
be that our best action is to go to Him and listen to something He
may have to say. As God was involved behind the scenes of the story
of Esther, He certainly is behind the scenes in our lives as well.
Next
time we will see what the king discovered through the chronicles, so
read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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