Daily Devotions
The Great Reversal
Title: The Great Reversal
Reading for May 26: Esther 6-10
Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.
Esther 9:1
The book of Esther is full of ironies.
- Ahasuerus commands Vashti to come and she refuses, thus losing her position. Later, Esther comes uncommanded before the king and gains position.
- Mordecai, a Jew, refuses to bow to Haman, and later Haman bows before Esther, a Jew.
- Haman is lifted up by Ahasuerus and then humbled.
- The Jews fast and then they feast.
- Haman is hung on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai.
- Haman bestows honors upon Mordecai he suggested to the king for himself.
The most important irony is in our text. The enemies of the Jews hoped to destroy God's people, and on the very day when this was to happen, the enemies of the Jews suffered a great defeat.
Does this sound familiar? On the day when the Devil believed he had gained his greatest victory (by hanging God's Son on a cross), it was on that day that he forever destroyed himself.
Father, we marvel at your wisdom and plan to save us and how you used the Devil himself to destroy his evil work against us!
