Esther (11)—Overpowering the Enemies - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them … And all the officials of the provinces … helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent.
Esther 9:1–4 NKJV

Esther (11)—Overpowering the Enemies
King Ahasuerus continued to honor Mordecai, giving him the signet ring he had taken from Haman, and arraying him in royal apparel. Upon Esther’s request to undo the damage Haman had done, he directed Mordecai and Esther to send letters saying what they desired to every province throughout the land. This they did, permitting the Jews everywhere to defend themselves against their enemies on the day they were to have been killed.

On the day their enemies had intended to exterminate the Jews, “the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction.” In doing so, they killed 500 men and Haman’s ten sons in the capital, and 75,000 in the provinces, but did not take any of the plunder, though permitted to do so. The next day they killed 300 more at Shushan. While His earthly people have often suffered much, God in faithfulness has frustrated every effort of their foes to annihilate them.

Are we believers today to use this example from Esther to unite together to fight against those who oppress and persecute us? Our Lord Jesus could have called twelve legions of angels to His defense (Mt. 26:53), but did not do so. He tells His followers, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (5:44). Many persecutors have been won to Christ by the conduct of believers obeying the Lord.

-- Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.