Planned for Evil: God Makes It Good

“‘What is it, Queen Esther?’ the king asked her. ‘Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.’” (Esther 5:3)

The Book of Esther is a rather slim and unusual volume in the Old Testament. I say it’s unusual because it never once mentions the Lord or God explicitly. As far as Scripture goes, that’s an anomaly. Why, then, is it included in the Bible?

It is a necessary entry because it points to Christ. It is inspired (God-breathed) by the Lord. You’re probably wondering how in the world it points the reader to Jesus if it never mentions God. But a closer glance shows the hand of God in every detail.

First, a quick summary of the premise: During the reign of King Ahasuerus of Persia, an edict is issued to summon his wife, Queen Vashti, to his royal palace. She declines. Angered by her stubborn refusal, he commands that she no longer be allowed into his presence. Fearing similar rebellion from other women, he then declares that every man should be the master of his own house. He has his eunuchs to gather women from all over the provinces for his harem. One of these women is Esther, the cousin of a Jewish man named Mordecai. Esther quickly becomes the king’s favorite and highly honored. Thus begins our story.

Right away, the narrative is provocative. There’s an angry king, a beautiful queen, the threat of violence, and plenty of intrigue. It’d make a pretty good movie. But unlike the characters of fiction, these are real people in the historical past. And more specifically, it highlights a period in which God’s chosen people are captive to the whims of a pagan nation.

As the story proceeds, a man named Haman is promoted to higher position amongst the king’s royal officials.

“The entire royal staff at the King’s Gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded this to be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.” (Esther 3:2)

Angered by Mordecai’s actions, Haman schemes to have the Jews put to death. He orders their execution in every province to be carried out on a specified day. He even concocts the idea to hang Mordecai on a gallows constructed 75 feet high. But Mordecai is clever and convinces Queen Esther to speak to the king on his behalf. She must keep her ethnicity a secret, but he believes she is their best hope to curb Haman’s plan.

And it works. The king, highly infatuated by her, decrees that she may have anything she asks of him. So she invites both Haman and the king to a series of banquets. One night, the king is unable to sleep. He reads from a book which records the daily events in his kingdom.

To his surprise, he encounters an event in which Mordecai foiled the assassination of attempt of two eunuchs on the king’s life. Mordecai had not been honored for his aid. So he talks to Haman, who does not know whom the king is speaking of, what should be done for the man who committed this great deed. Ever greedy, Haman’s response is telling.

“Haman told the king, ‘For the man the king wants to honor: Have them bring a royal garment that king himself has worn and a horse the king himself has ridden, which has a royal diadem on its head. Put the garment and the horse under the charge of one of the king’s most noble officials. Have them clothe the man the king wants to honor, parade him on the horse through the city square, and proclaim before him: This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor.’” (Esther 6:7-9)

So Haman is ordered to carry out this instruction for his hated enemy. Humiliated, he races home and is told by his wife that his doom is certain. At the next banquet, Esther requests that the king recant Haman’s decree against the Jewish people. The king is angered by Haman and retreats to the palace garden to stew. When he returns, he finds that Haman (who’d been begging for forgiveness from Esther) has fallen asleep on the couch where she was. Enraged, thinking that he’d wanted to sleep with her, the king called for Haman’s death.

And so he hung Haman on the very gallows intended for Mordecai. Later, the Jews were called to arms to defend themselves from Haman’s plot. A great victory was before them, and Haman’s sons soon met the same fate as their father. The Jews rejoiced, freed from their terror, and commissioned a new holy day.

The final result: “Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, famous among the Jews, and highly popular with many of his relatives. He continued to seek good for his people and to speak for the welfare of all his descendants.” (Esther 10:3)

So how does this story serve Scripture? How does it point to Christ, to the Lord our God?

While reading this story, another passage came to mind:

“But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result – the survival of many people. Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your little ones.’ And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” (Genesis 50:19-21)

The lesson we can take away from the Book of Esther is that the Lord always provides for those who believe. His people are never forgotten, even in their sin and their exile from the Promised Land. What one man and Satan intended for abject evil and violence, God turned to the good of all involved. Haman was dedicated to Mordecai’s death and the eradication of the Jewish peoples, but God pulled the rug out from under him. His own plan became his undoing.

There’s a lot of evil in this world. Sin is present in all of us and always active. But what we or others would use for evil, God utilizes as an opportunity for the greater good. Even tragedies like mass shootings, though God does not condone or wish them on His people, are something he uses to point people to Christ and away from their self-centered views and evil ways. He grieves for the lost, rejoices when they are united with Him, and repays the evildoers in kind for their wickedness.

“It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, since it is righteous for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to reward with rest you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful angels, taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” (2 Thessalonians 1:5-8)

Quoting Deuteronomy, Paul says in Romans: “Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

God is faithful. He has mercy on His people even in their weakness. But evil He cannot tolerate, so it must be turned to ash and repurposed for His good. Thus we see His divine and loving hand throughout the Bible, including the Book of Esther, and know that He is the Lord our God and He is worthy of all praise.

Thanks and praise be to Him. I hope this has been an interesting (and quick) look into an underused selection of Scripture. I pray that it has been edifying for all of us who believe on Him. Peace be with you and God bless!