When the King Couldn't Sleep...

When the King Couldn’t Sleep

Esther 6:1 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.

Have you ever heard the saying… Heavy is the head that wears the crown? Translated, it means that people with power, authority and responsibility have much to manage and they have a lot on their minds. Since the women’s movement of 1848 in New York City, women have increasingly entered into fields and areas of power. Becoming CEOs. CFO’s, Doctors, Lawyers and Principals and much more, women have much on their plates. Their crowns are often heavy and lead to insomnia when their sleep is interrupted with the cares of the world or their companies, staff, husbands, and homes.

Insomnia has been my friend on and off for many years. It has shown me that I shouldn’t take sleep for granted and that rest is so important. However, years ago, a friend told me that when you can’t sleep it’s a perfect time to talk to God or read the Bible. I now try to do both or write during those moments of insomnia.

King Xerxes, the Persian King (Esther 6), couldn’t sleep one night and decided to read the record book, which was the day to day journal of the events of the kingdom. He came across the story of Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, who raised her after her parents’ death. Mordecai foiled the plans of the royal eunuchs who were trying to kill the King.

Grateful for Mordecai, the king asked his servants what had been done to reward this great man. His servants replied, nothing. So this begins the plot twist! The king asked if there was anyone out in the court during this time and the servants replied, Haman. So he invited Haman in to inquire of him of what should be done to honor a great man. Ironically, Haman was in the court because he was about to ask the king to hang Mordecai because 1) Mordecai was a Jew 2) Haman hated Jews and 3) Mordecai refused to bow to him!

The king however asked Haman, what would be appropriate for a man he wanted to honor. Ego-driven and thinking it was him that the King wanted to honor, he replied, “bring out a fine robe, a crown, and ride this man around on a horse proclaiming his greatness.” The king said go do it, now! To his surprise, it was Mordecai. Can you imagine how Haman felt? You could have bought him for a penny! He was BIG mad after that and devised a plan to kill ALL the Jews. However, that’s when Mordecai encouraged Esther to get involved. Read the book of Esther.  

The theme of Esther can be summed up in a phrase my granddad used all the time… When you dig a ditch, dig two, because the first one you dig, will be for you. In this case, there wasn’t a ditch but a gallow. In Haman’s attempt to destroy the Jews, God’s chosen people, he was destroyed.

What I love about this Biblical account is the fact that the Jews were saved in essence because the King couldn’t sleep. There have been so many times that I have had sleepless nights and felt a great disdain for my friend insomnia, but sometimes the sleeplessness is because God is trying to lead me to a truth, or talk to me or open my eyes about a situation or circumstance that I’m going through.

I no longer despise sleepless nights. Like the King, I get busy, I start reading or writing or simply sit still to listen. There are NO coincidences in the Kingdom of God. The King HAD to have a sleepless night; he HAD to read the record book; Haman HAD to be walking through the court at that very moment to request the death of Mordecai. Esther HAD to be the chosen queen after Queen Vashti was cast out.

There is NOTHING in your life that has happened by coincidence – not your college choice, career, your job, your boo thang, your spouse, your children, your friends, your church, your home. NOTHING! God is a strategic God. He doesn’t throw out plans and assignments all “willy nilly”. Every event in your life has lined up for a purpose. If you don’t believe me, sit back and reflect on how you arrived at where you are today. You will see God’s hand all over it! I promise! Pinky Promise!

Hey! Remember to live in the RED – loved and forgiven!

#Loved

#Forgiven

#OKWithInsomnia J