Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:14-15.

Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior. Psalm 38:21-22.

What a contrast there is between those who desire and plan evil and those who seek to know God’s will. We meet Haman in our chapter, Esther 3. In the notes it said that Haman was an Agagite, a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites who were ancient enemies of Israel. And he is second in command to Xerxes. When Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, Haman desired to destroy not only Mordecai, but all of the Jews in the Persian empire, v. 1-9. Can you imagine? It’s not that difficult. We have seen that in the not distant past of our World War II. In the notes: (Haman’s death decree was against all Jews in the Persian empire; thus, it would have included the land of Israel. If his decree had been carried out, all of God’s chosen people could have been exterminated, and God’s plan to send his Son to earth as a Jew could have been ruined. But God’s plans cannot be stopped. Haman was doomed to fail).

A decree was sent out to destroy the Jews…the couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered. v. 15.

Remember, the king doesn’t know Esther, his wife and queen, is a Jew. Mordecai saved his life once. Both will die.

What a mad world we live in when people plot to destroy a people, any people. We see it today. People are living that reality today. Ukrainians, Jews, Palestinians, children in schools, worshippers in churches, mosques, synagogues, people at neighborhood parades, people shopping in stores. When will the madness end? When people’s hearts are changed. The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve. Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT.

Instead…speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. One day. That is our hope, hearts changed and sins removed far from us so that we can learn together about our Holy Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. I don’t understand the madness in the world today but I find rest in my Creator God. He has us. We are loved. One day, we too will love. That is God’s plan.