With the the Almighty in her favor, when Esther approached the king of Persia without being summoned, by the grace of God she was extended the golden scepter.  She would live.

When the king asked her the petition that she came so boldly before him, she said first that she wanted to prepare a banquet for him and Haman, the man who had sentenced the Jews to death.  They had the banquet, and again, Esther asked for one more day and another banquet.  What she was doing wasn’t stalling, but rather building up the significance to the king of her request.

Haman was elated.  He was arrogant and pompous and boasted of his high rank, one that held a special feast especially just with him, the king and the queen.  But what galled him and enranged him was that Mordecai still wouldn’t bow or tremble in his presence.  He was furious.

He told his wife this and she and his friends suggested a gallows built 75 feet high.  This was more than sufficient to utterly kill anyone who was hung on it.

The timing was critical.  Zaresh, Haman’s wife, said he should hang Mordecai first thing in the morning, prior to the banquet.  But if that happened, then Mordecai, Esther’s uncle who had raised her, would be the first Jew killed.

It wasn’t working to plan.  Esther taking the few extra days to build up the significance of her request could backfire in a terrible way.

But God wasn’t finished yet.