“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. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.3 ‘What honour and recognition has Mordecai received for this?’ the king asked.‘Nothing has been done for him,’ his attendants answered.4 The king said, ‘Who is in the court?’ Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.5 His attendants answered, ‘Haman is standing in the court.’‘Bring him in,’ the king ordered.6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, ‘What should be done for the man the king delights to honour?’Now Haman thought to himself, ‘Who is there that the king would rather honour than me?’ 7 So he answered the king, ‘For the man the king delights to honour, 8 let them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honour, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour!”’10 ‘Go at once,’ the king commanded Haman. ‘Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.’11 So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour!’ NIV

There is nothing we enjoy more than seeing the villain get his, or her, comeuppance. The book of Esther is masterful story-telling, and this sixth chapter makes for delicious reading.

Many years ago, Alex Haley’s book, ‘Roots’, created something of a sensation. Eventually it was serialised, and just before it was shown on television, there was a lot of publicity surrounding it. Haley was interviewed and asked about the secret of its success. He replied, ‘I don’t really know, but I do remember something my grandma used to say: ‘’You never know when the Lord’s going to come, but He’s always on time!’’ ‘

Not only does this sixth chapter show that we shouldn’t despise the day of small things; it also illustrates the perfection of God’s timing. The book of Esther is full of what many would call ‘coincidences’, but believers would want to say they are ‘God-incidences.’ There may be days when we cry out, ‘How long O Lord?’ We may be sure that the Lord will always be on time. But His movements will be according to His own timetable and not ours. It may look to us like He is cutting it very fine indeed!

Warren Wiersbe makes the point that ‘providence means ‘to see beforehand’. He writes, ‘If any chapter in the book of Esther reveals the providence of God, it is this one… God is working on your behalf today, so trust Him (Rom.8:28).’ ‘With the Word’, p.275.

PRAYER: I confess to you Lord that I do not always understand your timing, but please help me to trust where I do not see.