Sovereign Redemption

Those who believe the LORD is sovereign over all do not believe in coincidences that fall outside God's knowledge or power.  Everything that seems incidental can be employed for God's good purposes.  He can use things that seem even pointless and annoying--like being tired and being unable to sleep--to humble the proud and exalt the lowly.

Haman the Agagite was a proud, arrogant fellow who held a privileged position of wealth and influence as a nobleman in Persia.  Other nobles and common people bowed before him--with the exception of Mordecai the Jew.  This greatly annoyed Haman, to the point he schemed to exterminate all the Jews because of honour Mordecai denied him.  Over the course of time, Mordecai foiled two eunuchs who plotted against the king, and the king's life was spared.  Mordecai honoured the God of the Israel and the king of Persia, but declined to honour a descendant of Amalek who hated the Jews and sought their destruction.

After a banquet of wine, Haman's happiness quickly evaporated when he saw Mordecai ignore him.  He complained to his family who suggested he build a tall gallows to hang Mordecai and ask the king for permission to hang him.  Esther 6:1-4 says, "That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. ² And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. ³ Then the king said, "What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" And the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him." ⁴ So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him."

It just so happened that night the king could not sleep, and it just so happened they read through the chronicles (reading that can put one to sleep), and just so happened to read of Mordecai the Jew who helped the king.  The king perked up at this point, wondering what honour had been bestowed upon the one who saved his life--and nothing had been done.  Just then, Haman entered the court to suggest Haman kill Mordecai the king desired to honour.  This was the beginning of the end for Haman, and it was the beginning of the exaltation of Mordecai who ultimately assumed Haman's privileged role.  We can see with eyes of faith the sleepless night of Ahasuerus and the choice of reading material was no accident.  This is encouraging to us that when we struggle with insomnia, God does not struggle to enact His redemptive purposes.

We may not see a connection between our sleepless night and salvation of others from death; we do not often recognise God's impeccable timing between us reading a Bible passage and others receiving honour, yet God is able to do all this and much more.  Knowing God is sovereign does not mean we can avoid sleeplessness but enables us to find rest for our souls--even if we toss and turn.  The king's sleeplessness resulted not only in Mordecai saving his neck but helped lead to the salvation of the Jews from Haman's wicked scheme.  Isn't it awesome what God does and the remarkable way He employs to do it?  When we can't even fall asleep, He is able to save.