In this thirteenth message from Esther, the Jews' -D-day- had arrived. Designated by Haman many months ago for the destruction of all Jews -Esther 3-, God reversed the outcome through Esther and Mordecai - RETALIATION was made legal for all Jews to defend themselves. Mordecai's authority was greatly feared and the Jewish people were able to fight and kill their enemies. The next day the king showed favor to Esther, allowing the Jews to fight one more day in Susa, and REVENGE was accomplished against the family of Haman as his dead sons were publicly impaled. The Jews finished that second day by killing another 300 men. REST came to the Jews because 75,000 were killed in the provinces - their dead enemies brought freedom and feasting for Jews throughout the empire

In this twelfth message from Esther the tide turns - Mordecai reaped what he had sown. COMPENSATION was returned to Esther, and in turn to Mordecai for what Haman had done. Esther received the acquisition of Haman's estate and in turn, Mordecai received authority to act in the king's name. A major CHANGE took place as Esther pled with the king for the Jews. She was granted permission to act, and Mordecai was commanded to write a second decree that would counteract the first. He recorded the new law, proclaimed it to all peoples, granted permission for the Jews to defend themselves and told the Jews to get ready. Once the news was out there, there was great CELEBRATION. The capital of Susa cried out with great pleasure, and all the Jews were relieved. Throughout the country the Jews partied with a feast and a holiday - while many of thre Gentiles showed great concern, wisely declaring themselves -Jews- out of fear and trembling.

In this eleventh message from Esther we once again find the king and Haman at Esther's party. She is making an IMPASSIONED plea for her own life and the lives of her people. At first Esther speaks in generalities, causing great agitation, but finally, wicked Haman is IMPLICATED before the king with a very specific accusation that reveals Haman's hate, harm and horror. The king reacts in anger, taking a few moments to let the facts settle in, but when the king finds Haman hanging on the queen, they restrain him. After receiving a more detailed explanation, the king recompenses Haman by IMPALING him on his own gallows - he reaped what he had sown.

In this tenth message from Esther we find King Ahasuerus dealing with RESTLESSNESS. Since he could not sleep, he ordered a -sleeping pill- - the book of records to be read to him. The account opened was about Mordecai, how he had protected the king from attempted assassination. The king, now more awake, asked what prize had been given to Mordecai to honor and dignify him. Finding out that nothing had been done, he sought out appropriate RECOGNITION for such a loyal feat. His question went to Haman, who was standing in the court - -What is to be done-- The answer came back from Haman, who thought the king wanted to honor him - bring a royal robe and horse, and proclaim his greatness around the city. The commands were to be carried out exactly, but by Haman, for Mordecai---. The RESULTS were stark, as God had brought great division - Haman was mortified, running back to his house in mourning- whereas Mordecai was lifted up, going back to his work greatly exalted. Haman's wife and friends realized he was doomed, facing great disaster. Then Haman was whisked off to Esther's banquet.

In this ninth message from Esther we see the REJECTION of Haman by Mordecai. At first Haman is extremely excited about his unique invitation to Esther's banquet, but upon once again seeing Mordecai's stubborn rebellion at the king's gate, he was exasperated, being filled with hateful anger toward him. Haman restrained his REACTION, showing great discipline, but going home to commiserate with his wife and friends. He pointed out to them how deserving he was, directing their attention to his prosperity, his posterity and his exalted position. But he was greatly dissatisfied - although the queen had validated his position, he felt valueless every time he saw Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. His wife and friends boldly encouraged him to get REVENGE. Their cold-blooded advice was to have a gallows built and in the morning tell the king to let Mordecai be hanged on it. Haman loved their idea and acted on it.

In this eighth message from Esther we see her courageously take the lead by giving INSTRUCTIONS to Mordecai. Her orders were for Mordecai to prepare all the Jews in Susa by gathering them for a three day fast. Once fasting, she would go in to the king to appeal for the deliverance of her people - if she died, then she died. Mordecai went away and carefully obeyed the commands of his queen. On the third day, Esther made preparations by putting on her royal robes and taking her stand in the inner court of the king - a very risky undertaking. Once seeing Esther, the king immediately held out his golden scepter, granting her permission to approach him. When the king probed into Esther's reason for a personal visit, her proposal was a special INVITATION to the king and Haman to come that day for a banquet. At the banquet the king made a promise to grant Esther's petition - to half of his kingdom. Her response was to once again extend an INVITATION to both the king and Haman to come to another banquet, the next day, where she would finally reveal her petition.

In this seventh message from Esther we observe serious CALAMITY, as the Jews faced extermination. Upon recognition of all that Haman was going to do, Mordecai entered into deep sorrow. But his covering of sackcloth and ashes restricted him from entering back into the king's gate to notify Esther. As news spread to the 127 provinces, all of the Jews reacted with great mourning, including fasting, weeping, wailing and laying on sackcloth and ashes. Extensive COMMUNICATION then began to take place. Esther's maidens and eunuchs informed Esther, and she writhed in great anguish. She then sent her eunuch to investigate the whole matter, seeking to discover the truth from Mordecai. Her eunuch reported back with specific details from Mordecai, about the planned destruction, as well as Mordecai's order for Esther to go in to the king and plead for her people. Esther revealed her insecurity about going to the king -when not summoned- and her fear of rejection and death. Finally, Mordecai's reply to Esther gave deep insight - first, she too would die with the rest of the Jews -although deliverance would come from another source-, and second, her rise to royalty may have been for such a time as this.

In this sixth message from Esther we find Haman, the king's second in command, totally infuriated at Mordecai for not kneeling down and prostrating himself before him. After seeking superstitious guidance for the right timing -by casting of the lot-, Haman presented his PROPOSAL to the king, to exterminate all the Jews. Their guilt was obvious since they were dispersed, depraved and defiant. Haman would enrich the king with a gift, if he was pleased with the plan. His PERMISSION was granted and Haman received authority to kill them. His actions included- writing the message, sending the couriers, making the edict into law and disclosing it to all the peoples. Coldheartedly, the king and Haman sat down to drink - Sadly, the city of Susa was in shock, being perplexed and bewildered at such a drastic decree.

In this fifth message from Esther we see the battle lines drawn. On the one hand, Mordecai, while sitting at the king's gate, demonstrated his loyalty when he discovered and revealed a PLOT against the king. Two of the king's officials, who guarded his door, were exasperated and sought to bring harm to the king. Mordecai exposed the plot through Esther, and the king was informed in Mordecai's name. The facts were carefully investigated, the officials were executed by being impaled on stakes, and the whole account was chronicled in the official record of the king. On the other hand, Haman was elevated over all the princes -wise men...who sat in the first place - 1-13-14-. This PROMOTION made him number two in the kingdom. All the king's servants were to bow down and pay homage to Haman, but Mordecai was the exception, refusing to worship him. Mordecai's fellow servants explored his refusal and tried to get him to change, but ultimately they turned him in to Haman to see what would happen. Haman was furious and sought not only the death of Mordecai, but the extermination of all the Jews in the whole kingdom.

In this fourth message in Esther we see the Medo-Persian kingdom using FORCE to deliver beautiful women to the divorced king. At the conclusion of their -beautification-, which required a full year of beauty treatments, the young ladies were under conscription to go in to the king, one by one, night by night, for his personal exploitation and evaluation. Esther was only one of many women, but when her turn came to go in to the king, she complied, taking only the requirements of the king's eunuch, yet she found FAVOR in the sight of all who feasted their eyes on her. She was carried off to be sexually confronted by the king. King Ahasuerus was so -love struck- by Esther that the -beauty contest- was stopped - he approved her above all the others, giving her the coronation as his new queen. The king celebrated with another FEAST -Esther's banquet-, giving the day off for his kingdom and giving away very generous gifts. Mordecai remained concerned, now sitting at the king's gate, but Esther remained obedient, refusing to reveal her kindred or her people.