ESTHER’S INTELLECTUAL GIGANTIC PROWESS.
Esther wasn’t only beautiful but she was also intelligent. Unfortunately, some women are beautiful but down on the intellectual pole. Beauty and brains is what makes a woman, but can be better if such seek after a pure life of worship not defiling her body.
Esther was offered three opportunities to write on a blank check of fortune; rather than being a millionaire overnight, she made use of her intellectual strength to get what money cannot buy.
The first opportunity came immediately after a narrow escape from death (Esther 5:2-4);
“And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.”
“Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? And what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.”
Esther’s risk finally paid off, it was worth fasting. Now here’s a blank check presented to Queen Esther that could have made her a billionaire overnight, instead she asked for a pleasurable banquet, (Esther 5:4)-and her wish was that the king and Haman the enemy, would honor, her invitation. Is that not intangible? Is that worth the lives of people about to perish? Why did she even ask for a banquet at first? Why beating about the bush?
At the 1st banquet, the king reminded her of his multi-billionaire check. In the face temptation, her intelligent quotient was high on the brain pole. She remained focused on her goal, which is to save her people. The king was also suspicious to know that Queen Esther’s dying wish wasn’t a mere pleasurable banquet!
“There’s something more to it” he must have thought to himself. He was patient not to force words out of her mouth rather gave her another blank check hoping that she will reveal it to him honestly. King Ahasuerus gave her another chance and she made a mandate out of it by these words below;
“If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as thee hath said.” (Esther 5:8)
Now the king granted Queen Esther’s second request because of the mandate she made, which eliminates the excuse of another postponement of her intending request.
It is indeed an honor to be invited to a private banquet and Haman was that man, provided with such an honor to dine with the king and the queen privately. Undeniably, his high and broad shoulders got even bigger, making him a happy man from that day hence forth. Not once but twice was he invited! Yet how was his joy cut short so soon that with all his power and influence he could not sabotage a common slave, Mordecai.
“but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.” (Esther 5:9b).
Well anyone in such in authority as his, would get furious if a gate man refuse to pay due respect. Haman couldn’t just believe how daring and disrespectful a gate keeper could be when everyone in the kingdom will bow and he won’t. Haman is the giant, Mordecai is the inferior. He needed to remind himself by narrating his riches, glory and power to his wife and friends, even the special invitation he got from the queen. Since all these are true about him, how come this Jew Mordecai, the king’s gate keeper wouldn’t bow to me! He pondered.
“Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak onto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon; then go thou merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.” (Est5:14)
What a brilliant idea! This is what powerful, rich and wicked people do with their money and position when they are been threatened. A giant like Haman can actually subdue a Jew (God’s own people) like Mordecai? Well the show never ends until it is over!
The king wasn’t sick yet he had a sleepless night that day. When a king like this could not sleep, he could order his physician to get him some sleeping herb, music, entertainment or something to knock him off to bed. King Ahasuerus ordered the book of records, of the chronicles; which contained detailed history of past events like war, betrayal, feasts, birthdays, credit, debts and so many other things that are of prime importance to the kingdom and to the kings who have reigned before him and will be relevant to kings after him. Reasons best known to the king but the book was brought before his presence. See (Esther 6:1-3).
It was however written in the book, of how Mordecai saved the king’s life by reporting a coup organized by Bigthan and Teresh and no reward was given to Mordecai. This record without rightful reward left a mark of guilt within the king’s heart (Esther 6:1-14). Just then Haman was about to report his personal strive against Haman with the king but the king was engrossed in something different at the same moment “So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
Pride soon became Haman’s best adviser that later led to his destruction and family. He thought in his proud heart that the king was referring to him so he made a very fat reward see Est6:7-9. Verse 11 of this chapter was the most humiliating time of Haman’s life.
“Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on the horse back through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour”. Est6:11.
Off course, he did feel bad! I thought that was a warning God making Haman see that Mordecai a Jew was a child of God and cannot be hurt or put to shame! Proud Haman couldn’t see it even when his wife and friends told him so see Esther 6:13-14 but it was too late to reconsider his plan against the Jews as his presence was needed at the Queen Esther’s banquet which he wouldn’t like to miss, little did he know it was dooms day for him. Chapter seven to ten was a pleasurable ride for Queen Esther, Mordecai and the rest of the Jews.
She soon reported Haman’s plot against herself and her people the Jews. (Esther 7:5-6) “ Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? (6) And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.”He was even accused furthermore of trying to rape the queen! See Esther 7:8 No miracle can deliver Haman! The gallows he had earlier prepared for Mordecai was reported by the kings chamberlains to the king that it was accurate to judge the matter, Haman and family were hanged on the gallows, his ten sons specifically included(Esther 9:13)
Queen Esther asked for more; a request to deliver her people from the law binding that she and her people be slain, since the king’s order could not be reversed because of his ring seal, he made a counter decree see Esther chapter 8. Even Mordecai was made a giant in the process. The main giant in the process created another giant and killed at least 785 people, enemies of the Jews; Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmshta, Arisai, Aridai and Vajezatha.See Esther chapter 8, 9 and 10. The giant in Esther was totally effective and efficient even creating another giant, Mordecai.
If you claim to have a giant in you, calculate the risk you are able to take according to your faith. Don’t just walk on water because Jesus did, make him know you can if he wants you to, (Matthew14:25-31).That was the case of Esther’s brilliant plan, she didn’t just rush into the king’s inner court but made a sacrifice that touched God, and He touched the heart of her husband, the king, it was no mistake when the king began to grant all Esther’s request even to half of his kingdom! We’ve got a lot to learn from our patriarchs of old, about their good works of faith and mighty deeds.
Queen Esther and Mordecai has been the major characters used in this context to explain and prove that everybody is entitled to be a giant even the king Ahasuerus, and Haman the Agagite were all giant but functioned differently.Some unto honorand others unto dishonor.(2Timothy 2:20). Examples of giant unto honour, David, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Queen Esther, Paul, Phillip, Peter, Jesus and several others; giants unto dishonor like; Samson, Goliath, king Saul, Lucifer and others.
Jesus Christ as been set as our ultimate example that we should follow and look unto him being the author and finisher of our faith Hebrews 12:2a. What empowered Jesus to be a giant, to do a lot of miracles signs and wonders among his brethren, making him the head and a perfect leader for all to follow? An icon to reckon with, a legend to be remembered like as dead but living in glory. He definitely possessed a giant in himself according to (Acts 10:38)“ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
BY: Adedeji Oshigbesan
