Scripture: Esther 3:1–15 Speaker: Pastor Rocky Stevenson Series: The Book of Esther | Sermon Five Esther 3:1–15 records a critical escalation in the biblical narrative as Haman the Agagite is elevated over the Persian court. This exposition traces the lineage of Haman back to Agag, king of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15), exposing the historical and covenantal spiritual warfare behind his plot. When Mordecai the Benjamite refuses to bow to a sworn enemy of Yahweh (Exodus 17:16, Deuteronomy 25:17–19), Haman's wrath targets the entire Jewish population across all 127 provinces of King Ahasuerus's empire. The sermon outlines seven key movements within the text: the elevation of Haman before Mordecai's reward, the refusal of covenant betrayal, the escalation from personal offense to genocide, the divine governance over the casting of the lot (Pur), the manipulation of the king with 10,000 talents of silver, the tragic carelessness of imperial decrees, and the unseen hand of Yahweh preserving the messianic line. Though chapter three closes with two rulers drinking wine while the city of Susa is thrown into confusion, the text demonstrates that God's ancient covenant word (Genesis 12:3, Numbers 23:19–20) remains unshakable even in the darkest hours of history.