Our Old Testament lessons this morning show us two leaders who were terrified. Esther, Queen of the Babylonians, wife of King Ahasuerus, had just thrown a second feast for the king and his right- hand man, Haman. She had invited the two men to a feast the night before, but could not find the courage to ask the king to spare her people. It’s a long story. Esther was a Jew who was living in exile in Babylon.

Her Uncle Mordecai was a prominent official in the palace. Haman, however, was a more powerful official in the palace. Haman insisted that people bowed before him, as before the king. Mordecai would not do that; as a pious Jew, bowing before anything other than God almighty would be idolatrous. Mordecai’s defiance earned Haman’s wrath. Haman convinced the king to send a message throughout…