FOILED CONSPIRACY

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MORDECAI

Read Esther 5–10

     That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him…."What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?" the king asked. Esther 6:1, 3

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     The book of Esther contains some similarities to the story of Joseph in Egypt. Esther and her guardian, Mordecai, were captives in Persia, and like Joseph, God’s providence brought them into favor with the King. Esther was crowned Queen, and Mordecai in the end, was second only to King Ahasuerus. He …was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen. (10:3b NKJV)

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     Mordecai ‘just happened’ to hear about a conspiracy against King Ahasuerus in time to warn Esther, and the king ‘just happened’ to awaken in the middle of the night–calling for the record that Mordecai had saved his life–just in time to foil the conspiracy by Haman to annihilate the Jews. (Esther 6-7)

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     The truth is that nothing ‘just happens’ to God's people. If we truly believe this, we will live with the confidence that God works out everything according to His good plan. Lord, remind me when I forget, that I will never be sorry for trusting in You.

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     "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, "thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

RESTORATION AND BLESSING

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RETURN TO JERUSALEM

Read Ezra 1–6

     In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia …” Ezra 1:1a NIV

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     When the prophesied seventy years of Israel’s captivity had past, God moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to send the people back to their land. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, "They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia". (Ezra 6:14)

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     God had caused the Medes and the Persians to take over the Babylonian kingdom just in time to fulfill His Word. He used worldly powers to bring judgment on His people, and now He used them to bring restoration and blessing.

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     The road to restoration was not easy; the people had to work hard to rebuild the destroyed temple–and later the city walls. They would face discouragement and harassment from their neighbors; but in spite of this, the work went on and they were restored to the land.

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     Thank you, Lord, that Your discipline is not forever, and its purpose is for our good–for You have said, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves,” (Hebrews 12:5–6 NIV)

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     "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5 NIV