Bridge to Esther

Esther 7:10

Satan’s Defeat

10. Harbonah had told the king about the gallows standing ready in Haman’s yard. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. How suddenly Haman’s life was ended! In one day, he went from being the most honored servant of the king to one of the most despised and dishonored. Then was the king’s wrath pacified; he calmed down.

Something to think about:

Haman failed. The man he was planning to hang was still sitting at the king’s gate, while he was dying on the gallows.

Not only did Haman fail: Satan also failed again! Behind Haman stood Satan, the master planner! The Bible reveals to us that there is a great battle going on between God and Satan. Satan, who was once one of God’s highest angels, rebelled against God. Since that moment, he has been busy trying to destroy God’s work—it was he who led Adam and Eve and all the rest of us into rebellion against God.

Satan learned that God would send a Savior to this world Who would take up the battle to defeat Satan. But if he could stop the Savior from coming, then maybe the victory would be his. So he enlisted Cain and suggested that he kill Abel. That plan failed when God gave Adam and Eve another son, Seth.

Then Satan learned that the Savior would be born of the Jewish nation. Several times he tried to kill the Jews: in Egypt, Pharaoh ordered all the baby boys to be drowned; many years later, Queen Athaliah tried to kill all the royal sons of King David’s family. Haman’s plan was yet another attempt to kill the Jews. However, every time Satan’s attacks completely failed, because God Almighty remains in control.

Satan was unable to prevent the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, from coming into the world. The Lord Jesus fought the battle against Satan His whole life, and He won the victory on the cross.

Satan has been defeated by the King of kings, Jesus Christ. That’s also the great comfort in this book of Esther. The world today remains full of evil, the power of Satan is still strong, and many hearts are still captive in his sinful grip. But he is defeated; he can only do as much as the Lord allows him.

Are you in bondage to the king of darkness? Do you serve Satan, or is the Lord Jesus Christ your King? How would you know if you serve Satan?

Look at how you think: do you want to please yourself? Do you calculate what you can get out of everything for yourself? Are you revengeful? Do you care more about yourself and what others think of you than what God thinks? Such a mindset shows clearly which king you serve.

What will you gain from the king of darkness? You will get nothing except his company forever. Haman had to leave behind his riches, his honor and everything that was dear to him. With countless like-minded people, Haman has to endure the never-ending punishment God will give to all those who despise Him as King!

Think again. Which king is more worthy of your trust and love? Satan demanded many lives for a bit of gold, and it all ended with death. God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ gave His life, rather than taking ours, so that we may live with Him in endless glory. Bow before this King of kings Who is ready to forgive all our sins.