Listening Through Restlessness
"That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of chronicles and they read before the king. And it was found written that Mordecai had told of the Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 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.”
So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman who 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. The king’s servants said to him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” and the king said, “let him come in.”
So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?”
And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square and proclaim before him: “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”
Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai, the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.”
So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”'
When we’re too preoccupied to hear God’s voice, He will often get our attention by giving us a restless spirit. The book of Esther gives us a wonderful example of this. In the sixth chapter, we see that King Ahasuerus “could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king” (v. 1). As a result, the king became aware of an assassination plot against him that had been foiled by a man named Mordecai. Filled with gratitude for this act of service and loyalty, the ruler made plans to honor him.
What the king could not have known, though, is that Haman, one of his royal advisors, had targeted the hero Ahasuerus wanted to celebrate. Not only had Haman plotted to hang Mordecai the Jew (5:14); he was also planning to exterminate the entire Jewish population. As a result of Esther’s request, the king intervened, and Mordecai and all the other Jews were saved.
Now, what started this process? It was a restless night. The king did not know why he couldn’t sleep, but we know—he had insomnia because God was trying to get his attention. The Lord had something important to say to Ahasuerus, and His way of getting through to him was an unpleasant night of sleeplessness.
How often has this happened to you? You go about your career and activities, but restlessness seems to hang over you, often causing sleepless nights. In such moments, dare to bow and pray, “Lord, what is it that You want to tell me?” You’ll discover that God can and will speak in your unrest.
God always has a way of getting our attention. One of them is in the life of King Ahasuerus who had a sleepless night and out of that Mordecai received the honor that he deserved, saving the king from the people who sought to slay him. Haman who had every intention of killing Mordecai and all the Jews, ended up as the man sent by the king to give honor to Mordecai. God can thwart the evil intentions of evil men and turn it into one that brings honor to one who is deserving.
We all have had sleepless nights, tossing and turning and hoping daylight would come so the misery can end. Do we take these moments as an undue aggravation, or do we ask God what He wants us to know? Let us not waste anymore of these sleepless nights hoping for daylight, but instead go to His word..He has a message for us.
Bible in One Year: Matthew 25-26
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