Old Testament: Esth 5.4–8

To read the Bible in a year, read Esther 4–6 on June 22, In the year of our Lord 2022

By Don Ruhl 

Esther had a huge request to make of the king. She needed him to stop the empire from carrying out a plan to wipe out the Jews, or to allow the Jews to fight for their lives without the government stopping them. Therefore, she did things carefully and built anticipation in the heart of her husband. She invited him to a feast that she had prepared and asked that Haman, the enemy of Jews, come along. Once they arrived and ate, she built the anticipation more: 

So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!” Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

– Esther 5.4–8 

Esther shows that if we have a legitimate request, we should think carefully on how to get what we need or want. 

Questions: 

• Are you impatient to get what you want? 
• Do you see that God is running things? 

To subscribe go to EmailDevotionals.com and click “Follow”