Day 65 – Preparation

Esther 5:1 Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.

 2 Thus, it happened, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out the golden scepter in his hand to Esther. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.

 3 The king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It will be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”

 4 Then Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet I prepared for him.”

 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” Then the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.

 6 At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be granted to you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It will be done!”

 7 Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this: 8 “If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

 9 Then Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, indignation filled him against Mordecai.

 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. 12 Moreover, Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited only me to come in with the king to the banquet she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13 Yet this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

 14 Then his wife Zeresh and his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” The thing pleased Haman: so, he had the gallows made.

God’s names:

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Elohiym – Supreme God

Pater – Father

God’s character:

Patient

How patient are you? When you set up a special event, do you wait for the perfect timing, so everything comes together as you plan? Or do you hurry with your plans and hope everything turns out?

Esther fasted for three days before she went before the king. She took care to look her best so he would hold out the golden scepter to her. When he did, she invited Haman and him to her banquet. During the banquet of wine, the king asked her what her petition was, and told her he would give it to her up to half his kingdom. Her request was for Haman and him to return the next day to another banquet, and she would then give him her petition.

When you need to trap someone who intends to harm you, you plan every detail so the person will fall into your trap. As Christians, Satan lays traps for you every day. You need to be as subtle as he is so his trap will backfire on him.

How do you set a trap for Satan? As children of Yeshuwa, he sends people against you to provoke you to rash behavior. How do you beat Satan at his own game?

What do you know about Satan?

1. You know he can’t read your thoughts. He can inject his thoughts into you, but he cannot read your thoughts.
2. He can’t be in two places at one time.
3. He needs to send his demons in his place when he can’t be there himself.
4. He cannot do anything that hasn’t already been done.
5. He’s a counterfeiter, doing what Elohiym has already done to persuade you that he is the one you should trust.

How do you combat Satan?

1. You pray silently in the quietness of your mind between you and Yeshuwa alone.
2. You gather prayer warriors to pray with you.
3. You spend time in Bible study, reading Yeshuwa’s Word.
4. You entertain your enemy, throwing him off guard.
5. You dress for the occasion.

Esther did each of those things when Mordecai told her what Haman planned against her people. She fasted for three days with the women of her court, preparing her mind for the battle ahead. She dressed in her royal robes, looking her best so Ahasuerus would see her beauty and grant her whatever she desired. Then she entertained Haman and Ahasuerus.

You’ve heard it said that two people can play the same game. You can play Satan’s game without him knowing your plans. With subtlety he will play into your hand, and you will defeat him.

Yeshuwa did the same thing when His Pater sent Him to this earth to live among people who would love and hate him. He played into Satan’s hand so He could win the world and bring salvation when He died on the cross and rose three days later. Satan didn’t know His plans. He thought he won the battle with Yeshuwa’s death. Only to be thwarted in his plans three days later when Yeshuwa rose victoriously from the grave.

Haman rejoiced in his selection to attend Queen Esther’s banquet with the king. While his hatred against Mordecai grew, he built a gallows to hang him on and went to the banquet not realizing what was in store for him.

The only way you can defeat Satan is with careful preparation. Pray, read your Bible, spend time with other believers. No matter what Satan plans against you, it won’t succeed.

Satan seeks your destruction. Instead, your plans will destroy him.

Let’s pray: Father, help me stand against Satan by reading Your Word, praying, and spending time with other believers so I can destroy Satan’s plans against me. Remind me that no weapon formed against me will prosper when I stand in my armor ready for every arrow Satan will shoot against me. Remind me that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Give me patience so I can bring down every plan he devises against me and rise victorious because You are with me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 24 March 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux