Tuesday 2 November, 2021

7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents[b] of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”

As we dive down to the low point of this story I am reminded that evil sometimes looks like it is winning. In fact this part of the story goes further, not only is evil succeeding but those who are being faithful to God are being singled out to be the recipients of disaster. 

These are the moments we most ask ‘why?’

No answer is found in this short passage of scripture. I must read on in the story, hoping that the author has a plot change in store. This is the message to me: in life I must trust and hope in the Author of my salvation. If my life takes a plot twist where evil is winning and faithfulness seems futile, I must hang on to the Author, knowing that this is not the end of His story!

Author of my salvation, right now I see that not all is right, much evil needs to be overturned. Thank you for destroying the evil in my life, increase my hope for your Kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Written by Andrew Mellor