My college roommate from 1978-1980,  Don Goulding, threw me a lifeline in 1993. He hired me to work in his company in downtown San Francisco. In 1992, after 10 years as a Youth Minister, I made a transition into selling Life Insurance and struggled to make money. Don offered me a good salary and business mentoring. This picture and article was in the San Francisco Business Times.

Esther 7

Pride is a cruel and blinding master. Yesterday Haman was on the top of the world. He gathered together his wife and friends and spoke in great detail of his greatness and accomplishments. This morning he had a significant set-back when the king chose to honor the man that Haman had hoped to hang. But that was then, and this is now. Perhaps this afternoon will rebuild Haman’s dignity as he dines with the king and queen.

From bad to worse
As the king and Haman drink wine at their private banquet with the queen, the king once again says, “what is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted to you. Even to half the kingdom, it will be done.” The king was still dizzy with love and affection toward Esther. Her beauty and poise remained irresistible to him. Esther took a deep breath, whispered a prayer and dropped a bomb on the king.  She said, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition and my people as my request; for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated.” Esther spoke these words with purpose. She quoted Haman’s official document that was distributed to the provinces. 3:13 says, “Letters were sent by courier to all the kings provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, woman and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelve month.” Haman’s brained must have exploded with fearful realization. The king replied, “Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do such?” Esther replied, “A foe and enemy is this wicked Haman.”
Hang him high

The king left the room enraged. Most likely to get the guards. Haman took the opportunity to beg the queen for mercy. When the king returned, it appeared Haman, in his begging, was on top of the queen. The king said, “will he even assault the queen with me in the house?” At that moment the guards seized Haman. One of the servants said to the king, “the gallows standing at Haman’s house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on behalf of the king. And the king said, ‘hang him on it.’”

God is in control

All the elements of a screenplay with a villain, a heroine, a hero, deceit, intrigue, plotting and a huge “turn of events” were orchestrated by God in real time before the eyes of the actors. God is never mentioned but His presence could not be clearer. He is God and no enemy, spirit or flesh, will usurp His covenants or foil His plan. What man and Satan intend for evil, God uses for good. We live through good times and bad times. The happiness of our lives is blended with pain, trials and challenges. But it is never random or chance. We are not victims. Our God rules and reigns the events of our lives, whether good or seemingly bad. And in all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!