PODCAST
A Banquet Gone Wrong
November 4th, 2024
Esther 5:1-8
In Esther 5, the story of Esther is in some of its most tense moments. Esther and Mordecai knew of Haman’s plot to kill all the Jews, and they knew they must act quickly so that their people could be saved. However, this passage leaves the reader with some questions. For instance, why does Esther ask King Xerxes and Haman to a banquet just to ask them to another one for the next day?
Scripture doesn’t reveal why Esther delayed her request to a second banquet. Various solutions to this question have been proposed, among them, that Esther lost her courage or that it was “strategic maneuvering” on her part. John Wesley felt it was divine providence, as that night, the king couldn’t sleep and thus rediscovered Mordecai’s actions in saving his life (see 2:19-23; 6:1-14).*
A life with God is like this sometimes—a bit messy, sometimes confusing, and leaving us with questions. I think we can take a cue from Esther—press on. Press on, persist, and allow God to give us courage in the midst of situations that don’t go as planned.
*Elaine Bernius, New Beacon Bible Commentary: Ruth, Song of Songs, Esther (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 2020), 271.
Author: Bethany Acre
