The Counter Decree

The Counter Decree

Have you ever faced a hard decision that was risky, costly, and inconvenient but of great importance? Queen Esther faced such a decision when Modecai, a God fearing man who worked in the king’s palace, told her about the imminent destruction of the people of God (Esther 3:12-15; 4:14). Even as queen, she could not approach the king unless he summoned her. If she did this and he did not wave his golden scepter, she would be put to death. Yet the stakes could not have been higher for her. Not only had the king issued an irreversible decree to destroy the people of God, Haman the champion of the entire plot had built gallows on which to hang Modecai. Despite the dangers, through prayer, Modecai’s encouragement and desperate faith, Esther went into the inner court to face the king. Courageously, she said, ‘If I perish, I perish.’

Because of Esther's courage, she found favor with the king and a dramatic last minute reversal happened. Modecai was lifted from the king’s gate, were he sat in sackcloth and ashes, to being paraded in royal robes. As for Haman, in the way he had prescribed for himself - Modecai was honored and on the gallows he had made for Modecai, he himself was hung (Proverbs 26:27). Of note is that the king's decree to destroy the people of God was valid even after Haman's death. The king however made a counter decree by which they would defend themselves (Esther 8:9-14). Further, he gave Esther and Modecai his signet ring that held authority to overpower the earlier decree and render it powerless (Esther 8:8). Similarly, against the law of sin and death that threatens a believer’s life Christ issued a superior law of the Spirit and life (Romans 8:1-3).

At the cross, Christ granted a counter decree for your life and neutralized the decree of death that was over you. You have received authority to defend yourself by God’s word, the blood of the Lamb, the power of prayer, Jesus’ name and faith in God. Always remember that when you are down it is not yet over. God moves right in time to pull together a glorious ending. God is working in your life often when you do not see and in ways, you do not expect. In the end through your faith and courage, the deeper the valley you go to the higher the honor. The thicker the enemy’s plot against you, the more marvelous the escape. The darker the clouds over you, the better the rains they pour. The longer the night you endure the brighter the day you will enjoy. The harder the battle the sweeter your victory will be.