Haman's Plan Underway - Eshter 3:12 - Equipped for Battle

Haman has been granted permission to exterminate the Jews. He would finally have his revenge upon rebellious Mordecai whom he would not only repay personally for his insubordination, but also his entire people. With the king's ring of approval in his hand, in chapter three and verse twelve, Haman begins to put his plan into action. We read:

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.

Our verse begins, “Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month,...” Let us be reminded that according to the Persian way of government, the king did not have absolute power and authority. If a law was written, it could not be altered even by the king himself. So, Haman's first action, “on the thirteenth day of the first month”, after receiving permission from King Ahasuerus to remove the Jews was to call for the “king's scribes”. These men would be responsible for putting the law of extermination into writing, and then it could not be changed by anyone.

The verse goes on to say, “and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language;” Let's notice how thorough Haman was in his plan – he had the scribes to write to “the king's lieutenants, governors, rulers, and every people” who were in the Persian empire. He excluded not one group even if they spoke different languages. He also had the scribes write “all that Haman had commanded”. There wasn't one detail left out of Haman's plot. Can we imagine how desperate for revenge Haman was?

Finally the verse reads, “in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.” Haman was certain to have the writings sealed with the king's name and ring which denoted King Ahasuerus' approval of the declaration. Haman was without exception detailed and meticulous in his plan. He left no stone uncovered as he desired the complete elimination of the Jews.

We may note that Haman is a type of Satan in our lives. He plots against us, desires to have us eliminated, and is thorough in his plan. When we read the book of Job we get an idea of how Satan plotted against Job to destroy him, and even though he seemed to make strides, Job remained faithful. What if Satan is plotting against us right now? Have we given him a reason to exterminate us such as building the kingdom of God? Perhaps as we meditate upon this verse today we may realize the importance of continuing in our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so that when the plans are made against us, we will not fall. May the Lord keep us by His mighty power.

Next time we will see how Haman's plot was to be conducted on a specific day, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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