The inconvenience of it all. There are times when writing comes easily. The devotionals flow with ease and I know exactly where the Lord is leading. The path forward is crystal clear. And then there are times like tonight. I’ve started and stopped numerous times. Everything I wrote felt forced and I knew that wasn’t it. So here I am just waiting and watching time. “Lord, I have to get up early tomorrow – I know You know that, but, uh, Lord, if You could please move things along that would be kind of You.”
Yeah. No.
Recently, I was blessed to share about a passage in Esther 6:1-12. This blessed me because God chose to inconvenience King Ahasuerus with insomnia. That night he got up and commanded that the book of records of the chronicles be read to him. Oh, that boring book of records of the chronicles. But God was working in the inconvenience of it all. Somewhere deep in the list of kingdom activities that occurred was an overlooked piece of information God chose to lift off the pages. Some years prior, Mordecai learned that two of the king’s chamberlains had plans to harm the king. Mordecai shared the information, hence saving the king’s life. That tidbit of information was in the records. It was also noted that there hadn’t been anything done to thank Mordecai.
The inconvenience of it all beautifully sat upon the will of God perfectly designed and orchestrated. What the King didn’t know was that Haman, Mordecai’s arch enemy, had decided just the night before to build gallows to hang Mordecai on because he wouldn’t bow to him as Haman walked by the gate. Haman also decided just the night before that he was going to the king in the morning and request permission to hang Mordecai. What Mordecai didn’t know was that God would use a sleepless night to spare his life. The king had no idea he just saved Mordecai’s life as well!
First thing the next morning, after King Ahasuerus pulled an all-nighter of listening to the reading the records, he was prepared to honor Mordecai. Haman quickly made his way to the court palace. The king’s servants told him Haman was present. He let him in and asked him what should be done to a man that the king wanted to honor. Haman quickly responded because he thought certainly he was the man the king was referring to. He gave him a detailed explanation of how the person should be honored….let the man get to wear the royal clothing that the king uses, the horse that the king rides on and wear the royal crown which the king wears and let one of the king’s top officials lead the man through the streets. Yeah. Do that king.
The King told Haman put everything in place and do that to Mordecai. Oh, the inconvenience of it all. No. It wasn’t a mistake and it wasn’t inconvenient in the least. It was the perfect will of God and the beginning of the end for Haman.
Yes, there’s more to the account, but tonight we will pause there. God used the inconvenience of a sleepless night to bring deliverance to Mordecai who had no outward power to change his circumstances. He knew Haman hated him yet he had no outward ability to speak for himself. But he didn’t need to – God used an unlikely incident to render his enemy useless. Oh the perfect timing of God.
This is encouraging because nothing goes unaccounted for – even the times, events, people, places, statements, etc., that are made. Everything is seen, heard, and accounted for by God and it only seems insignificant or inconvenient to us, for a season. So here I am at the end of tonight’s devotional and I’m grateful. When I started writing, I didn’t know that this is the manner God would have me go and I am once again reminded that although events/times/actions may appear to be inconvenient, there is God-purpose attached to it all. The inconvenience of it all? Yeah. No. It’s been recorded.
6 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.5 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. (Esther 6:1-12 KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)