Happy Sabbath class!
What a wonderful blessing it is to come together and study, and fellowship. I am so thankful for this group of friends!
Question of the day: What would be your dream vacation? (No limits on funds or time.)
Today we are looking at the last few verses in chapter 2 and first few verses in chapter 3. As we read this, I want us to be careful not to read into the story more than is written. Not to apply motive, or conviction that isn't being spoken of.
Let's read together.
Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy
19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.
21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana[b]and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.
Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews
3 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?”4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
So this passage starts with Mordecai hearing about a plot made against the King. At great risk to himself, he tells Esther who intern tells the King and ultimately saves his life.
What then happens to Mordecai? (Not reading ahead.)
It clearly says that Esther gave him credit, and it was written down in front of the King and yet NOTHING happened. No thank you. No honor. No elevated position. Nothing!
Have you ever worked hard on a project at work or volunteering, or even at home, only to have no one notice?
I know we never do anything to get recognition, right?
How does it feel?
Then what do we see next in the story?
It is interesting that we are not told why Haman is getting recognition or why he is being honored.
So Mordecai saves the Kings life at great risk to his own life and gets not even a word of recognition or thanks, and then the King orders everyone to bow to Haman. Being recognized immediately was the custom for such a gesture and none was made. We see this story in its entirety but think about it from Mordecai's point of view. He doesn't see how the delay in recognizing him, has a huge role in helping to save the Jews.
Now Mordecai doesn't bow. There are lots of scholars who put a religious implication on the fact that Mordecai doesn't bow, suggesting that because of his religious convictions he wouldn't bow. However, it is important to note that this was not a bowing similar to bowing before an idol, it was simply an act of respect, similar to bowing or curtsying before the queen of England, or in Asia bowing to the elders. It was simply a sign or respect not unlike a handshake.
So why then did Mordecai refuse to bow?
This is one of those times when what has been omitted by the author is important. He doesn't tell us it was because of a religious conviction. His reason could have been as simple and as human as being upset that this less than honorable man was getting the honor that Mordecai deserved.
We like to think that if we do what is right, if we do good and honorable things, live an honorable life, that good things will come our way. Yet often out of our control terrible things happen even when we are doing everything right. Sometimes the good deeds we do go unnoticed and those around us who are being less then honorable get recognition and honor.
A friend who was struggling to have children, may have a hard time thinking about all the drug addicted mothers who seem to be unable to stop having babies.
A person who exercises and eats right and still can't seem to have the same outward results as another person who seems to eat whatever they want and still always looks great.
I was always irritated by the fact that my brother aced every test no matter how little he studied and no matter how hard I studied, I never achieved the same results.
These unfair realities are not easy to take.
Yet here in this story, because we see the beginning, the middle, and the end, we can see how God was working through it all. That is happening in your life too!
No matter how unjust things may be in your life, no matter how invisible you may feel, God is working out His providence. He has promised that "all things work together for good," even though we may not see or feel it.
Whether or not Mordecai was refusing to bow because of "honorable" reasons, or "less than honorable" reasons it doesn't really matter.
God was working out his plan.
I can't help but think of the song Sovereign Over Us. In the song the bridge says, "Even what the enemy means for evil, You turn it for our good, you turn it for our good and for your glory. Even in the valley you are faithful, your working for our good, your working for our good and for your glory."
This song should be the anthem for the book of Esther.
Throughout this book and certainly in these few chapters we see the enemy means for evil, but God takes it all and works out His will. We can't look at this book and say because of the stellar character of anyone. It isn't what they did but what He did.
Here is the beautiful thing about the sovereignty of God, and perhaps the thing that often we miss understand. God doesn't need to make you wait to find a job so that you will learn a lesson, but in the waiting he will teach you a lesson if you are willing to hear. If a loved one dies, and from that death you come to know God it isn't that God killed your loved one, but that he is making, "all things work together for good."
We see this in the ultimate story. The story of redemption. When Jesus was beaten, spat upon, and then hung on a cross, (what the enemy meant for evil) He turned that into the most beautiful of all redemption stories -- "turned it for our good."
The beauty about this story for me today, is this....
I don't need to know the end of the story. I don't need to know when we will find a job. I KNOW because of His promises, that He will take the worst that we could imagine and turn it for our good. Even if I never see it here on this earth.
I don't know what is happening in your life, but I do know for sure that the devil is doing whatever he can to try to destroy you. I know that he is doing his best to put burdens on you, to get you in his clasp, but what he does to destroy, God can and will use to bring Him glory.
"Even what the enemy means or evil, You turn it for our good, You turn it for our good and for Your glory. Even in the valley you are faithful, Your working for our good. Your working for our good and for Your glory.
Your plans are still to prosper, you have not forgotten us, Your sovereign over us."
So how does this knowledge change how we live today?
Because we know that He is sovereign over us, turning it for our good, working for our good, for His glory, how can and should we live?
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