What your Opps Meant for Evil, God will Turn it Around for Good
Podcast Episode 12 (Condensed)
A few months ago, I read the entire book of Esther. Although I’ve read it several times before, the story of Esther really moved me again. I thank God for the revelation that the Holy Spirit blessed me with during my quiet time while reading it. I believe it will bless you as well. The story of Esther is the perfect example of God turning around what the enemy meant for bad for good.
In Esther 3, Haman plots to kill all the Jews. In 2024, Millennials and Gen-Z would refer to Haman as an opp. This means that he was an enemy or in opposition of the Jews. Although you won’t find the term “opp” in Merriam Webster’s dictionary this way, it is a modern slang term that is equivalent to using the term “enemy”.
As a true and faithful believer of Christ, you have opps too. Whether the opps make it known or not, you have them. If you’re set apart from the world and striving to live for Jesus, believe me that you do have opps.
Some people have opps that sit back and monitor their lives on jobs, from afar, and even social media as monitoring spirits. Others have direct opps that goes to extreme levels to destroy them, plot against them, chant evil words against them, and more.
As for Haman, he was a direct opp to Mordecai and the entire Jews community. He made it known. Haman’s beef was deeply rooted for Mordecai who refused to bow down and worship him (Esther 3:2). Have you ever met someone in higher authority or someone who wanted to be in higher authority that was offended because you didn’t bow to them? Well, the story of Esther goes deep into that.
Mordecai was a man who refused to worship a wicked person like Haman (Esther 3:3-4). Sadly, in this generation, people will abuse their authority. Even worse, when they discover someone who refuses to fear or praise them, they may begin to demand honor in hostile ways. This can be done through assertion of power or even retaliation.
In Esther 3, Haman attempted to assert his power over all the Jews (especially Mordecai) and retaliate to “prove” how powerful he was. In other words, Haman insinuated “my way or the highway”. It states in Esther 3:5-6 NLT, “When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes.”
There is so much to unpack from these scriptures. Now, we see why Mordecai wouldn’t give honor to Haman. People commonly say, “Give honor, where honor is due.” Unfortunately, Haman was not a man of true honor. Haman was strategic in a wicked way. The scripture proves in Esther 3:5 how calculated he was. Not only did he try to assert his power over Haman, but even towards the entire Jews community. Haman strategically plotted a way to retaliate against Mordecai and the Jews.
The scripture goes on to describe the plan Haman and his people set forth to destroy all the Jews. When the Jews discovered it, they wept, fasted and prayed (Esther 4:3, Esther 4:15-16). They could have chosen to sit around and simply feel pity for themselves. But no, the prayer warriors got together and fasted.
If you are in a situation similar to Mordecai and feel as though there are opps (aka enemies) plotting against your life, your family, or even your destiny, take it God. Call on God to vindicate you. Not only that, who do you have in your corner? Do you have prayer warriors in your life? Do you have spiritual leaders, Godly friends, or intercessors in your life? If so, call on them to join you in prayer and fasting. The people in your life should be there for you when you need to go to war in the spirit (and vice versa). Esther had a team of prayer warriors ready in Esther 4:15-16.
The bible says in Ephesians 6:12 NLT, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
I sometimes have to remind myself of that. Therefore, it wasn’t simply Haman that was so wicked, but the spirit operating behind Haman that was evil. Therefore, Esther knew just what to do as she instructed Mordecai on fasting in Esther 4:15-16.
Sometimes, you have to push your plate back. Sometimes you have to say “no” to your favorite snacks and treats and go on a fast. I believe that certain levels of warfare require fasting. Matthew 17:21 NKJV says, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting”. This is what Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews understood.
As the story goes on in Esther 5, Haman is still after Mordecai and the Jews. His plot thickens as his wife gives him a specific way to kill Mordecai by setting up a sharpened pole to impale him on it (Esther 5:14). See, the enemy will plan a way to destroy you. But thank God, for intercepting the plans of the enemy. The Lord will always fight for His people.
I love reading Esther 6 because it proves how God uses what the enemy meant for bad to turn it around for good. Haman was so determined for his evil plan to work, that He didn’t realize that God would do a divine reversal on His people’s behalf.
There was a good deed that Mordecai did that seemed to have gone unnoticed. But God brought it to light in Esther 6:2-10. I encourage you to read it. The honor Haman so desperately wanted Mordecai to give him, God made Haman give it to Mordecai. Isn’t that just like God? What a perfect example of divine reversal. So, Haman wanted Mordecai to honor him, but God turned it around to show Haman that He was going to honor Mordecai (Esther 6:11). That is why it is so dangerous to touch God’s people. God will not let the enemy defeat His people. The situation between Mordecai and Haman proves just that. Even Haman’s own wife admitted that opposing Mordecai would lead to death (Esther 6:13). In other words, Haman’s wife instructed him to stop pursing Mordecai and the Jews.
Unfortunately, it was quite too late for Haman. We all must reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). As for Haman, his day of reaping came. Because he tried to “prove” a point to Mordecai by asserting his power, being calculated for wickedness, and retaliating, God reversed the curses back to him. Esther 7 is another example of divine reversal.
It states in Esther 7:9-10 NLT, “Then Harbona, one of the king’s enuchs said, “Haman has set up a sharpened pole that stands seventy-five feet tall in his own courtyard. He intended to use it to impale Mordecai, the man who saved the king from assassination.”
“Then impale Haman on it!” the king ordered. So, they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.”
See, when a person speaks evil, plots evil, and plans evil against God’s people, He hears it all. God may not respond as soon as we’d like Him too. God may not even respond the way we’d like Him too, but God will always turn around what the enemy meant for bad for our good. Haman was an opp, an evil opponent against Mordecai. Therefore, when Haman came up against Mordecai (and the entire Jews community), God divinely reversed the curses back to Haman.
If you are a man or woman of God and you’re being sought after, don’t be dismayed. Pray, fast, and stand on the word of God. Don’t gloat over the person’s downfall when their day of reaping comes because God wouldn’t want us to laugh or rejoice. But thank God for vindicating you, keeping you, protecting you, and fighting the battle for you.
The warfare that Mordecai, Esther, and the Jews experienced, led to a great victory in Esther, chapters 8-9. Haman and his people thought they would destroy the Jews, but divine reversal even happened for the entire Jews community.
Esther 8:5 NLT says, “Esther said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right, and if I am pleasing to him, let there be a decree that reverses the orders of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, who ordered the Jews throughout all the king’s provinces should be destroyed.”
There God is again in the midst of Esther and the king to turn things around for the Jews community. The king honored Esther’s request. Furthermore, Esther 9:1 NLT says, “So on March 7 the decrees of the king were put into effect. On that day, the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but quite the opposite happened. It was the Jews who overpowered their enemies.”
Look at God. What a victory. What a relief. It gets even better for Mordecai in Esther, chapters 9-10. Not only were the plans of the enemy dismantled, but God promoted Mordecai in the process. Esther 9:4 NLT says, “For Mordecai had been promoted in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces as he became more and more powerful.” When we fight through the warfare with the word of God, prayer, and fasting, God will always show up on our behalf. Haman thought that he would destroy Mordecai (and all the Jews), but God turned things around and promoted Mordecai instead (Esther 10:1-3).
Sometimes, an evil spirit can be upon a person or body of people so bad that they will literally believe that their plots will work. The enemy sent the trouble to Mordecai and the Jews, but God used the evil plots to promote Mordecai. When you know the Word of God, when there is favor on your life, and when you’re chosen by God, He will turn it around for your good. What an amazing story of divine reversal and promotion for Mordecai in Esther 10:1-3.
Don’t fret when enemies rise against you, believe God for victory. Believe God for divine reversal. Believe God for your breakthrough. Not only did Esther and Mordecai get a breakthrough, but the entire Jewish community did too (Esther 9).
If you can relate to being attacked, sought after, and plotted against, say this prayer below:
Dear Lord,
I come to you for protection. Cover me in your precious blood. Dispatch your angels all around me. Give me the strength to overcome the warfare in my life. Make all my enemies my footstool. I decree Psalm 23 over my life. God, open my ears so that I can hear you clearly. Open my eyes to see what it is you’d like for me to see. Lord, be my mouthpiece. Guard my lips when I am tempted to speak outside of Your Will. Give me the courage to speak up when you say to do so. Everything the enemy meant for my bad, turn it around for my good. Lord, I ask for divine reversal in my life. Reverse every curse that the enemy has spoken over my life.
Deliver my enemies. Save my enemies. Draw my enemies to repentance. Help me to love my enemies despite them plotting against me, attacking me, attempting to assassinate my character, and attempting to ruin my destiny.
I thank you for victory in advance. I thank you for promotion in advance. I thank you for your mercy and grace over my life. Teach me and guide me on the path you want me to take. Use me as a vessel for the kingdom of God. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness. Purify my heart. Keep me near the cross.
I bind up any chants, evil words, divination, sorcery, and wickedness that the enemy has spoken or attempted to put over my life. I decree victory in the name of Jesus. I declare that this prayer is sealed in the precious blood of Jesus.
Amen.
I hope this blog blessed you. Share this with a friend, family, or loved one that could use this encouragement. For a more in-depth discussion, listen to my latest podcast episode here. Until next time, with Wytinsea Writes!
