The wicked Haman knew only too well that it was impossible for even him to alter the king’s word. And so the wretched man, caught in his own snare, was forced to hasten and pay to Mordecai, the man he hated most of all, those very honors he had sought for himself, and which he himself had suggested. Having arrayed Mordecai in the royal apparel, he led him through the streets on the king’s own horse, and made the proclamation before him, as the king had ordered. After bringing Mordecai back to the king’s gate, Haman hastened home mourning, having his head covered. There he told his wife and friends of all that had taken place that morning. Then his wise men and his wife, none of whom knew the Lord, but as sometimes occurs in the Bible, uttered a prophecy, little knowing how far it would go. Said they, “If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.” There seems to have been this secret feeling among many Gentiles as to the Jew, especially in the East, for prophecies concerning the coming Messiah and the future glory of Israel had spread abroad. Balaam, wicked prophet though he was, had foretold of the Star that should arise out of Jacob (Num. 34), and after many hundreds of years had passed away there were still traces of his remarkable predictions. We believe this from the coming of the wise men to worship Him that should be born King of the Jews. Also Daniel’s prophecies must have been known, especially in view of his exalted position in the Gentile kinoms. We read in Deuteronomy 28:1313And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: (Deuteronomy 28:13), “And the Lord shall make thee (Israel) the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath”; so that when the day comes for exalting the Jew, Gentile greatness shall disappear.
This utterance of Haman’s wise men makes us think of the prophecy of Caiaphas the high priest in John 11:47-5247Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (John 11:47‑52). He wanted to get rid of the Lord Jesus and said to his council, “Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” And it is added, “this spake he not of himself; but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one all the children of God scattered abroad.”
Thus while Haman’s friends were talking with him, the king’s servants hastened to summon Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared. At the banquet, the king asked Esther the third time, her petition, assuring her that it would be granted her even to half of the kingdom. So she begins by saying, “If I have found favor in thy sight,.., let my life be given me at my petition, I and my people at my request.” It must have been an immense surprise and shock to the king that the one he loved above all in his kingdom should begin by begging for her life. But she went on: “For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish.” She said, furthermore, that had they been sold as slaves, she would have held her tongue, though it would have been impossible for the enemy to have repaid the king for the damage it would have brought upon his domain. The king was aroused! Who would dare to insult the queen he loved? and who would attempt to destroy her and her people?
ML 12/06/1959