Haman's plan to destroy the
Jews is underway, and now his desired command has been written into
the Persian law. If we look at the circumstances, we might wonder
“where is God in all this process?” However as we continue to
study, we will see His invisible mighty hand at work. In chapter
three and verse fourteen we learn more of what occurred after the law
was written. We read:
The copy of the writing
for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto
all people, that they should be ready against that day.
The
verse begins, “The copy of the writing for a commandment to be
given in every province was published unto all people,...” We
notice first the word “copy”. Now that may not be significant to
us who easily use copiers to make multiples of one of our writings,
but these were hand written copies. It took some time for the king's
scribes to write all these notices. We remember there were one
hundred and twenty seven provinces, so when an empire altering law
was introduced, there was a large effort and undertaking that took
place. Nonetheless “every province” heard the news of the
extermination order of the Jews.
The
verse goes on to say, “that they should be ready against that
day.” The reason for the commandment being published was to
prepare everyone in the provinces for the particular day set aside to
eliminate the Jews from among them. They were to all be ready for
this massive day of carnage, and prepare themselves in advance for
such an effort. The copy of the writing of the commandment would let
them know that the king's order was that they all be involved, and
preparation for their involvement was compliance with his new rule.
Can we
even begin to imagine such an effort just because Mordecai did not
bow? When hatred fills a person to the degree of Haman there is no
limit to their methods to rid themselves of the object they hate. Not
only did he get himself involved in the purposed removal of Mordecai
and his people the Jews, but he desired that everyone in the empire
join with him in the effort.
The
enemy of our soul, Satan, behaves in this manner. He desires that
everyone he can convince to be against the Christian. We should not
be surprised when he uses others to execute our destruction. His plan
according to the gospel of John in chapter ten and verse ten is “to
kill, steal and destroy” us.
Fortunately as God was involved behind the scenes of Haman's plan, He
is also behind the scenes in ours as well. John chapter ten and verse
ten also says, “I am come that they might have life, and
that they might have it more abundantly.”
May we ever realize, “If
God be for us, who can be against us?”
Next time we will see the behavior of
Haman and the reaction of Shushan to this decree, 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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