Esther 4-8, a mentor of mine Major Ian Thomas from Torchbearers of the Capernwray wrote an allegory about Esther, it is called “If I Perish, I Perish.” It is a great read and well worth the experience to see how the flesh, human spirit and Holy Spirit interact for supremacy of the Soul of man. In our previous post I identified that Haman is an Agagite, which means that he is ancestor to Esau, Agag and the Amalekites which Moses and Joshua in Exodus 17:8-16. In verse 16 we find the LORD saying he will have war against Amalek from generation to generation. When we think of the lineage of Agag, it is “the enemy of the Jews.” In 1 Samuel 15, Agag is the downfall of King Saul. He was told to destroy all of the Amalekites, but kept Agag alive and the possessions that he, King Saul thought was worthy. The LORD said destroy everything, possessions, people and animals. He didn’t and Esau’s line continued. Agag like Satan lives to fight another day. Such is the case in our Esther book. If Saul would have been obedient to the LORD, we wouldn’t be fighting Esau’s line today in the Middle East.
You might be asking what is the big deal, well let me finish the line of Agag. Esau fought against Jacob, the chosen of God to carry out HIS plan for humanity. We find the lineage of Esau goes like this, Esau [also called Edom], Agag, Amalek, Haman, Edomites fought against Israel in taking the possession of the Promised Land. Edom- is also called Idumea; where Herod the Great comes from. We know the story that at the birth of Jesus the Christ, that Herod the Idumean, tried to kill all baby boys who would be a threat to his throne. See Esau has never stopped trying to reign on the “Souls throne.” The battle rages even today for our own Lord of our lives.
Back to our story in Esther, Haman comes to great power, where even all the residents of King Ahasuerus has 126 provinces. King Ahasuerus in the allegory is the Soul of man. Haman is the flesh who looks to establish his own kingdom; Esther is the human spirit and Mordecai is the Holy Spirit. When we see in Esther that the “Flesh” becomes king in Haman, he seeks to destroy all that would oppose him. Now understand that the King [soul] gave power to rule over all. When there is opposition to the flesh – such as Mordecai not bowing down, the Flesh looks to destroy not just the representative, but all of its associations. So the Holy Spirit seeks to ascend to its rightful place in the life of man – but is constantly under the attack by the Flesh. Enter Esther, connected to the Holy Spirit [Mordecai] is in position to influence the King[soul], but only under his beckoning. Access to the Soul is not allowed except it allows. The Soul is pleased with the Human spirit and allows access to the innermost part of man.
Haman has become so enraged with Mordecai, that he plots to kill him and his people. Note that Haman, the Flesh does not want some power over the Soul, he wants ABSOLUTE CONTROL. With the Human spirit in position, the Holy Spirit reveals the plot of the Flesh, and the Jews. Now Esther had not revealed her true identity, so Mordecai reminds Esther that she is the only one who can spoil the Henchman Haman’s plot to eliminate the Holy Spirit in the life of the Soul. Esther takes the task that is before her, and risks all, her very life to get access to the Soul. It is interesting that Esther doesn’t just jump in and spill everything she knows, under the leading of the Holy Spirit she has two banquets. In these encounters we find that Haman [the Flesh] overcome with pride being allowed to have private access to the SOUL. The Flesh is powerful, erects a gallows to destroy the Holy Spirit once and for all. But before the second dinner engagement; we find that the Soul has been awakened to his past. The Plot that Mordecai [Holy Spirit] prevented in chapter 3 is brought to light. The Soul asks the Flesh, what should be done for the act of saving the King; well Haman winds up leading Mordecai around in parade fashion with great glory bestowed on him by the King [soul]. The second dinner, Esther reveal’s the plot, but now the Holy Spirit has united with the Human spirit to dethrone the Flesh. The King exits and then Haman, the Flesh tries to persuade the Human Spirit [Esther] for mercy. In walks the King [soul and finds the Flesh laying all over the Human spirit.] Under the influence of the Holy Spirit in the Human spirit, the Soul not sees the Flesh exposed.
As the book ends, Haman the Flesh dies on the gallows meant for the Holy Spirit [Mordecai]. We are subjected to the same plot daily by the FLESH, Galatians 5:19-21 exposes the flesh for what it really is; so who do you want to sit on the throne of your life? The Holy Spirit in the Soul or the Flesh seeking its own glory?
preachbetweenthelines 
Esther -Queen for the Season
Esther 1-3
Growing up there was a reality show called “Queen for the Day.” Basically, it took normal women, many being homemakers and put them through an elimination process, to get the final contestant and she would be crowned Queen for the Day. In our passage this week, we have the young maiden-virgin Esther who would be crowned “Queen for the Season.” As we will read later, Mordecai, her cousin will make the famous statement – “Who knows but for such a time as this, you are queen.” [paraphrase of Esther 4:14]
I find that many times looking back at my own life, wondering why now, why here? Of all the places and times I could have been born and lived – I find it both challenging and mysterious that people were born at the exact right time – Galatians 4:4 tells us that Jesus was born in the fullness of time. When the timing was right, God sent forth Jesus born of a virgin. This tells me that there had to be a particular environment for Jesus to be born. Investigating this we find that the world was under “Pax Roman” – peace of Rome and the roman road system built; also the language was Greek, and the unrest within Judaism. People were looking for a Messiah figure, several imposters have been documented in istory.
Back to Esther; in the first two chapters we find King Ahasuerus reigning over 127 provinces and living in Susa. This is also during the Babylonian Exile period. During a “look at Me” gathering the King having drank a bit too much, commanded the Queen at that time to present herself – I have no idea why Queen Vashti refused, other than not wanting to be a spectacle. If we look at this story, we find that both King and Queen were feeling their oats so to speak. Well, the King didn’t take the rejection lightly and held a court counsel to determine what to do. Basically, Queen Vashti lost her title. The problem then if the episode was let stand without any action, would that the women would look upon their husbands with contempt. This issue in itself is worthy of future study beyond this blog. Basically, to prevent the empire to have marital upheaveal – Queen Vashti was expelled.
Well, you can’t have an empire without a Queen, so the plan was to have a “Beauty pageant. At this point, I’m sure many of the readers are saying “How sexist and demeaning!” I’m just telling the story, okay. So all throughout the empire, beautiful virgins were sought and put under the care of Eunuch Hegai “and cosmetics were given them.” Yes even back then women adorned themselves with cosmetics. This is when Mordecai suggests that Esther [aka Hadassah] participate. Esther must have been something to behold, for every one who sees her is taken back with her beauty. For a year, the ladies were doted on with all beautification spices and cosmetics. Each lady had one night to influence the King enough to be slected. This almost sounds like the “Bachelor” reality show. ANyway, Esther is called to the King for the evening – I won’t speculate on what happened at this point. Anyway Ether finds great pleasure and favor from the King. The favor would result in Esther being crowned Queen – “yet Esther had not yet revealed who here kindred people were.” An incident involving a spoiled plot against the king is thwarted by Mordecai and written in the annals of the Empire history.
The plot thickens when Haman, an Agagite; [ancestor of Esau, and an Amalekite, Agag and Amalek have always been against the Jews “Jacob’s offspring” – we find that this fight has been on-going for centuries; Herod the Great was an Idumean and a relative of Esau – so the war rages on] is advanced to a great position of authority and given the King’s signet ring. All were to pay homage and bow down before Haman – except Mordecai refused. Haman filled with rage tries to get King Ahasuerus to enforce an edict that anyone who did not bow, would be killed. Haman indicted all the Jews – saying they were against the king and needed to be destoryed. So the edict was released to all 127 provinces and the people are terrified. Chapter 3:15, while drinking with Haman in Susa, the rest of the city was in confusion. This is usually our state of mind when we don’t understand why thinking happen as they do. Too often we react rather than respond to life situations and usually then it is an emotional one. Just like Covid-19, this story of Esther must be seen in its entirety before we can get some semblance of understanding. Next week the rest of the story and why each episode is important to the end of the story – which plays out during our own life time.
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Tagged as Agag and Herod, beauty pagents, contempt for husband, Esther, for such a time as this, Jews and Haman