In this chapter Esther and Mordecai devise a plan to save the Jews from Haman’s genocide edict.
“Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, ‘Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.’ ” (v7-8)
The bad news is, the original edict signed by the king and sealed with his ring could not be revoked – the king’s commands cannot be reversed once enacted. The good news is, they were allowed to issue a counter-edict which empowered the Jews to defend themselves against their future attackers.
Again, we see parallels here between the king and God. When God issues a command, it cannot be reversed. For example, God’s righteousness and justice demand the penalty for sin is death. Therefore, all of mankind must die, because all have sinned. God cannot reverse this requirement for justice without compromising who He is. He did however issue a counter-edict, that says all who repent of their sin and call upon the name of Jesus as their Lord and king will still die physically (upholding the original edict), but their spirits will live in eternity with Him (a counter-edict changing the outcome of the first).
This edict / counter-edict system is quite clever, and has literally saved our souls for all of eternity. God has maintained His righteousness and integrity, while remaining just and true to who He is – a loving God. Unfortunately those who do not repent of their sin and declare Jesus as Lord will fall under the first edict and will not join us in eternity. Let’s praise God For His merciful and gracious ways, and pray that God reaches the lost through us, so they too may join us in eternity with God.
Father God, our Glorious and Gracious Lord, You love us beyond description. Your righteousness and justice know no bounds, yet Your love made a way for us to remain in Your presence for all eternity. Please work in and through us to reach more people with the gospel of salvation. May they seek redemption and become our siblings in Christ. May we all live under the counter-edict of Jesus’ victory over death, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training