God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. And in our story today, God opposes the plans of proud Haman to destroy the Jewish people, and he uses humble Queen Esther to intervene. Esther carefully prepares the king by hosting not one, but two banquets before asking for the king's help. And God also prepares the king by triggering a sleepless night, such that he re-reads his recent history, and remembers his debt to Mordecai. As a result, Haman is first humiliated in being forced to provide to Mordecai the honour from the king most appealing to himself. And then, Haman's treachery towards Esther's people is made known, and in the most satisfying of conclusions, Haman is hoisted with his own petard.
God opposes the plans of ALL of the prideful enemies of his people. And that especially includes our prideful COMMON enemy, Satan. Satan's plan was to lead humanity in a rebellion against God, starting in the garden of Eden, with the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and ending with God's wrath. But God used his humble son Jesus to intervene on the cross, and reconcile his people to himself, so that instead of dreading a chosen day of destruction, we are awaiting the day of resurrection, and our life with God face-to-face. The wrath of God that Satan had planned for us, will be inflicted on himself - a most satisfying conclusion.
Gracious God, help us to be grateful for all of your many blessings, especially the blessing of salvation through your son Jesus. Deliver us from every evil, in Jesus' name....