The Great Reversal
Esther 7:1-9:17
God is the God of reversal. God takes His people from the threats of life, threats of self, threats of others, threats of slavery, threats of extinction and reverses the circumstance. This is the Biblical idea known as repentance. One of the primary Hebrew words for repent is shuwb (bvw), meaning to turn or return.[1] The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, meaning a change of mode of thought and feeling or a reversal of the past.[2] Repentance is a complete change in direction, turning 180 degrees from the previous trajectory. This idea can be seen throughout Scripture in the actions of God and in the actions of His people.
Ultimately, the book of Esther is a book of reversal or repentance. In that repentance, the people of God seek after Him. In humbly fasting at Esther’s request in chapter 4, Israel returns to their God whom they had abandoned before the exile. In addition, God performs a great reversal on behalf of the people. Their circumstances are sealed. They face death because of the king’s edict, which was prompted by the actions of Haman. Yet, God, through the willing service of Esther, reverses their circumstance. In the midst of God’s reversal, other reversals also take place.
1.
In chapter 7, Esther publicly confesses to her
ethnicity as a Hebrew, reversing her previous action of hiding her connection
to the covenant people. Esther is no longer content to exist safely in her
position as queen, but must identify with the people of God. Esther now stands
as one with the Hebrew people, declaring that her fate is the same as theirs.
2.
The second point of repentance comes for Haman
and Mordecai. This is a reversal of fates. Haman is now the one destined to
hang on the 75 foot gallows and Mordecai is delivered. In addition, Mordecai’s
fate is further reversed as he is presented before the king and given the
position of authority once held by Haman.
3.
The next reversal comes for the Jewish people. This
reversal allows the Jewish people to escape from the fate Haman had planned for
them. They will no longer be put to death, but be allowed to live. In fact,
they are given some ownership of their own destiny, offered the opportunity to
stand up and protect themselves against those who would threaten them.
4.
Another reversal comes at the end of chapter 8
where many people of different nationalities become Jews. People who had not
previously aligned themselves with God, now do so because they see the power of
God in the reversal of fate for the Jewish people.
The same God who brings about reversal in the lives of so many, according to the story told in the book of Esther, can also bring about reversal in our lives. God desires to reverse our situation: bringing safety when we feel threatened, bringing freedom where there is slavery, bringing peace in the midst of war, and bringing life out of death. In order to experience the reversal promised by God throughout Scripture we must turn from our destructive habits, identify with the people of God, change our direction and behavior, and follow God wholeheartedly. The Prophet Isaiah writes of God’s reversal upon our repentance in 55:7: “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.”
Prayer: Merciful God, you always step into our life situations and
desire to bring about change. You long to transform our world and our lives.
You yearn to bring renewal, strength, and hope in the midst of our trials and
struggles. Help us to turn toward you and away from the things of this world
which so easily entangle our hearts and minds. Guide our steps as we walk in
the direction you desire. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen!
[1] F.
Brown, et al., The Brown, Driver, Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon.
(Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997), 996.
[2]
William D. Mounce, The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992), 317.
No comments:
Post a Comment