The Ultimate Sacrifice

 

Bible Passage: Esther 7

Scripture:

Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs serving the king said, “Now look, there are gallows fifty cubits (75 ft.) high standing at Haman’s house, which Haman made for Mordecai, whose good warning saved the king.” And the king said, “Hang him on it.” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger subsided.
(Esther 7:9-10 GNT)

Observation:

a. Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high: As in the case of the people executed in Esther 2:23, Haman was probably not hanged with a rope around his neck; he was impaled on a huge stake in an ancient precursor of crucifixion.

b. Which Haman made for Mordecai: Haman found his end on the same instrument he had intended for the death of Mordecai; he was caught in his own trap against Mordecai.

i. God often works this way and we should pray as the Psalmist did: Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown (Psalms 7:14-16).

ii. Perhaps the greatest example of this was when Satan thought that he had won by getting the crowd to crucify Jesus, but the cross turned out to be the instrument of Satan’s defeat.

c. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided: The death of a substitute satisfied the wrath of the king. In the case of Mordecai and Haman, it was the guilty dying in the place of the innocent; in the case of Jesus and us, it is a matter of the innocent dying in the place of the guilty.

Application:

Haman deserved the king's wrath as he was proven guilty but in the case of Jesus, how He sacrificed His life for all the sinners to satisfy the Father's wrath; that's true love. I appreciate what these Bible verses say,

"But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence. You must, of course, continue faithful on a firm and sure foundation, and must not allow yourselves to be shaken from the hope you gained when you heard the gospel. It is of this gospel that I, Paul, became a servant—this gospel which has been preached to everybody in the world." (Colossians 1:22‭-‬23 GNT)

As Paul's mission in life is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, this is also my desire that wherever God leads me He will open doors of ministry for people to hear the truth and encounter the love of Christ both in words and deeds.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I pray that you give me wisdom and strength to share the gospel. Help me be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit to whoever You want me to share Your truth and may the hearers accept You as their personal Lord and Saviour. As they acknowledge you as their Lord and Saviour, teach them O Lord Jesus to have that delight to read Your word and willingly apply it to their lives. May you also give them the courage to share the Good News to others, as well.

In Your most precious and mightiest Name, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Credits: 

S.O.A.P Bible Study Method

Enduring Word Bible Commentary

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