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Esther 4:1-7:10; I Corinthians 12:1-26; Psalm 36:1-12; Proverbs 21:21-22
We have four key players in the book of Esther: Mordecai, Haman, Esther and King Ahasuerus. To summarize, Chapters 3-5 are about a dispute that begins between players one and two, Mordecai and Haman. Mordecai is a devout Jew who does not bow to anyone but the Lord. Haman, in an elevated position, was to be honored and bowed before, per the king’s command.
One day some messy people approached Haman to inform him that Mordecai was not bowing to him. Don’t you just hate it when folks don’t have anything better to do than tend to your business. Some people just have to be in the midst of chaos. If there is nothing going on they feel obligated to create it, which is what these people did. Some people just do too much!
From that time forward Haman noticed that Mordecai was not revering him, and it made Haman beyond angry. On top of that, he learned that Mordecai was Jewish. He was apparently racist and used his issue with Mordecai to set up destruction for all the Jewish people. How tragic to be so full of yourself and have such a dislike for another ethnic group that you would consider wiping out an entire population. Let me just say that people are people no matter what color or socio-economic status they are. You have good and bad in every group of people. If we find we have a prejudice within ourselves, we need to ask God to help us overcome it. All people are made in the image and likeness of God and designed by Him for a special purpose. We must respect all God’s creations. I understand there are cultural differences that we may not understand or that may irritate us, but we must extend grace. What if someone wanted to wipe us out just because of our appearance, religion or ethnicity? Scary, huh.
Haman’s pride and prejudice caused him to bring this issue before the king. He proposed that the Jews were troublemakers and should be eradicated. The king gave him the power to issue a decree that the Jewish people would be killed on a certain day. Now I feel like the king could have been less passive concerning giving a man the ability and power to commit genocide. We must always look at all areas of a situation before we jump into agreement with someone. Had the king backed up a little he could have looked into Haman’s claims or motives a little more or sought more counsel. I mean we’re talking about killing people here. Once it’s done, there’s no bringing them back. Lord help us to respect life and not to jump on a bandwagon or leap before we look.
Esther, being a Jewish woman, was mortified when she learned of the plot. I’m unsure as to whether she was going to do anything to prevent this tragedy. She was really afraid as most of us would be. Maybe she thought that since her background wasn’t known, this horrible event would bypass her. Don’t we get that mentality sometimes? “Aw man, I sure feel bad for them, but thank God it’s not me. Hope I don’t get caught. Think I’ll just stand over here and hold my breath till it’s over.” Her uncle Mordecai sent word for her to approach the king and plead for her people. Esther said, “But I could die if I come near the king without being summoned!” She didn’t feel the fire till Mordecai told her this, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:13-14)
Esther’s steps were ordered of the Lord, as are all of His children. Don’t run from conflict and hardships. Perhaps like Esther, God has allowed you to be in the midst of the conflict in an elevated position in order for you to protect or expand His kingdom. Maybe it’s not conflict in your situation. Maybe you have the ability to employ, encourage or elevate another person in the Body of Christ that needs a break. Use what God has given you for His glory, it’s the only reason why you are where you are. If you misuse your gifts or blessings, you may find yourself on the other end of need one day.
PRAYER:
Lord, I give You praise and glory that we can count on You for deliverance in our greatest hour of need. I thank You that You are so brilliant so as to put Your people in key positions to help one another and to perpetuate Your kingdom. Truly You are Lord of all. Forgive me for ever being messy, cowardly or for allowing myself to be persuaded wrongly. I ask You to help me think things through before I get enmeshed in something I may regret. I love You Lord Jesus and ask You to continually lead and guide me. It’s in Your name that I pray, Amen.
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