There are times when life looks and feels completely wrong. The wicked triumph while the righteous cry out in pain. The book of Esther graphically captures this experience by describing Haman's promotion with words borrowed from the story of Joseph's success.

“Then the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman” (Esth 3:10).

“Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand” (Gen 41:42).

To dramatically deepen our shock over this tragic reversal, the author then describes Mordecai's bitter weeping over the fate of his people with words borrowed from the story of Esau's bitter weeping over the loss of his blessing. “When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry” (Esth 4:1). “When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, ‘Bless me, even me also, O my father!'” (Gen 27:34). I'm thankful the Bible doesn't deceive us into thinking that our lives will always be a bed of roses. But don't despair. The Bible gives us hope, incredible hope, to get us through the most difficult of days, by assuring us that one day the good guys will indeed triumph since the promises of God can never fail! One day, this world will be put right, and all will be exactly as it is supposed to be.

“The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman” (Esth 8:2).

he Bible gives us hope, incredible hope, to get us through the most difficult of days, by assuring us that one day the good guys will indeed triumph since the promises of God can never fail!