Over the next few posts we will follow the steps in Esther 3:7-15 that Haman took as he executed his plan to destroy the Jewish people:
First He Selected the day, Esther 3:7 “In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.”
Many of the people in that day consulted the stars and their gods before making decisions for their lives. So here is Haman, in the first month of Nisan casting lots to dictate the date of his attack against the Jews. It is interesting that Haman began this procedure in the month of Nisan (April- May), the very month in which the Jews celebrated their deliverance from Egypt.
The month chosen by the lot was the 12th month (February-March) – almost a year later. Haman used a pur, a Babylonian word for the lot to decide when the Jews should be killed. Later we will see that pur is used in the feast of Purim to celebrate the victory over Haman.
Little did Haman know that the true and living God was in control of the situation. My friend, God was moving behind the scenes to defeat the wicked plot of Haman, as God created and controlled the universe he was in control of the lot casting. In causing the lot to fall on the twelfth month, the Lord was giving the Jews and Esther a whole year to get ready for the attack, a year in which events would bring about the deliverance of the Jews and the death of their arch-enemy Haman.
Remember my friend, others may plot against us, but God is always with us through the good times and the tough times