Day Four: A Pleased Enemy
Please carefully read Esther 3:10–12 and answer the following questions.
1. As we’d expect, how does Ahasuerus respond to this (v. 10, 11)?
Note: Some versions translate the beginning of verse 11 as “You keep the money,” but this did not mean he didn’t want the money. He did want it, because this was an oriental custom to at first refuse, and then accept the deal.[xi]
2. The signet ring of Ahasuerus was like his platinum credit card, allowing Haman to order whatever he wanted to be done. By these actions, Haman made himself the enemy of the Jews; their oppressor, rival, adversary, one who harasses another.[xii] How does this make Haman another picture of our ultimate enemy, and how should we live in view of that enemy (1 Peter 5:8, 9)?
3. What did Haman do right away, and how does this also serve as a historical link for us (v. 12)?
4. Interestingly, just as Haman had to get the king’s permission to attack the Jews, our ultimate enemy cannot do anything beyond what God allows him to, which is encouraging to know. How do we see this in the experience of Job’s severe trials (Job 1:12, 2:6), and by extension for us today in 1 Corinthians 10:13?
Scripture Memory: Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today.
But Mordecai would not _____________ or pay ________________________. Now it happened, when they ______________________ to him __________________ and he would not ___________________ to them, that they _________________ it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai's ___________________ would ______________________; for Mordecai had ___________________ them that he was a Jew. Esther 3:2b, 4 (nkjv)
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© 2005 by Harvest Christian Fellowship. All rights reserved. Written by Thomas Klock for Men’s Bible Fellowship, 2004-2005.www.Harvest.org