The Tables Turn: How God Reversed the Story (Esther 6:1-7:10)
Have you ever seen a situation turn around so suddenly that you couldn’t believe it? That’s exactly what happens in Esther chapters 6 and 7. Just when things seemed hopeless, God moved behind the scenes and flipped the entire story.
Even though God’s name is never mentioned in the book of Esther, His hand is clearly at work. These chapters remind us that even when we can’t see Him, God is always working—especially in the moments we least expect.
A Sleepless Night (Esther 6:1–3)
It all starts with a sleepless king. One night, King Xerxes (also called Ahasuerus) couldn’t sleep. Instead of counting sheep, he asked for the royal records to be read to him—kind of like reading a history book to fall asleep.
But what he heard kept him wide awake. The record just “happened” to include the time Mordecai saved the king’s life by stopping a plot to kill him. The king was shocked that nothing had been done to reward Mordecai.
This was no coincidence. It was God’s perfect timing.
Haman’s Pride Backfires (Esther 6:4–11)
While the king is thinking about how to honor Mordecai, guess who walks in? Haman—the man who hates Mordecai and is planning to hang him that very day!
Before Haman can say anything, the king asks, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Haman, full of pride, thinks the king is talking about him. So he gives an over-the-top answer: dress the man in royal robes, put him on the king’s horse, and have someone parade him through the streets, shouting his praise.
Then comes the shock:
“Go at once… Do all of this for Mordecai the Jew.”
Haman has no choice but to honor the man he hates. He has to lead the parade himself. Talk about a plot twist!
Haman’s Fall Begins (Esther 6:12–14)
After this humiliating moment, Haman runs home in shame. His wife and friends don’t comfort him—they tell him this may be the beginning of the end. They’re right.
Before Haman can catch his breath, royal messengers arrive to take him to Queen Esther’s second banquet.
Esther Speaks Out (Esther 7:1–6)
At the banquet, the king again asks Esther what she wants. “I’ll give you anything—even half the kingdom,” he says.
Esther finally reveals her request:
“Spare my life—and the lives of my people.”
Then she names the villain: “The enemy is Haman.”
The king is stunned. Haman is terrified.
Justice is Served (Esther 7:7–10)
The king storms out, angry and confused. Haman stays behind to beg Esther for mercy. But in doing so, he makes things worse—falling on her couch in a way that looks suspicious when the king returns.
The king orders Haman to be executed. And here’s the final twist: Haman is hanged on the very gallows he built for Mordecai.
God had turned the story upside down.
What We Can Learn
This story shows us that:
-
God is always working, even when we can’t see it. A sleepless night led to a miracle.
-
Pride leads to destruction. Haman’s pride blinded him—and brought him down.
-
God’s timing is perfect. He’s never late, even if He seems silent.
-
Courage matters. Esther waited for the right moment, and her bravery saved a nation.
Final Thoughts
When life feels unfair or dark, remember this: God sees it all. He knows what’s happening behind the scenes. You may not understand how or when, but He can flip the story in a moment—just like He did for Esther and Mordecai.
So if you’re waiting for a breakthrough, don’t give up.
The same God who turned Haman’s plan upside down can do the same in your life.
God is always at work. Trust Him to turn the tables.
Esther 6:1-7:10 (WEB)
6:1 On that night, the king couldn’t sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king. 2 It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus. 3 The king said, “What honor and dignity has been given to Mordecai for this?”Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had come into the outer court of the king’s house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.5 The king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman stands in the court.”The king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in. The king said to him, “What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?”Now Haman said in his heart, “Who would the king delight to honor more than myself?” 7 Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a royal crown is set. 9 Let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delights to honor with them, and have him ride on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’ ”10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.”11 Then Haman took the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and had him ride through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”12 Mordecai came back to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered. 13 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before him.” 14 While they were yet talking with him, the king’s eunuchs came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.7:1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, queen Esther? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”3 Then Esther the queen answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. 4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for male and female slaves, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s loss.”5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, “Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?”6 Esther said, “An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!”Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. 7 The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen, for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman had fallen on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in front of me in the house?” As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were with the king, said, “Behold, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, is standing at Haman’s house.”The king said, “Hang him on it!”10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified.