By Mike Chaffin
For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen. Esther 10:3
Do you know someone who went from rags to riches, not by winning the lottery, but by steadfastness, quality of character, and wisdom? Mordecai was one such individual. He epitomizes bulldog determination, courage, and faith.
Mordecai started out as a servant to the King, not directly serving the king, more of a servant in and around the palace. The book doesn’t say what his job was, but it seemed to involve being in the right place at the right time. Coincidences or God ordained appointments?
First, he was a cousin of Esther, who, when her parents died, took her in and raised her as his own daughter. That’s only right don’t you think? Then, she was plucked up by the virgin police to be part of the King’s harem of prospective brides. That made Mordecai nervous, so he hung around her new home to keep tabs on her.
But God had a plan for Esther and Mordecai. Esther was selected out of all the virgin girls to be Queen. Looking at the last words on Mordecai’s successes, one would imagine Esther got Mordecai the job. But not so fast. There’s more to the story.
Mordecai’s hanging around pays off. He hears two eunuchs plotting to kill the King. He tells Queen Esther who tells the king what Mordecai heard. That would be enough to get Mordecai the job don’t you think? No, the king hangs the eunuchs, but forgets about Mordecai’s loyalty.
Then one day while Mordecai is hanging around, the second in command, a man named Haman, tells Mordecai to bow and Mordecai says no! Haman finds out Mordecai is a Jew and that is the reason he won’t bow down. Haman gets so mad he has gallows built for Mordecai and talks the king into genocide. He sets a date to exterminate all Jews in the kingdom.
However, God has a plan. One night the king can’t sleep so he asks a secretary to bring in a history book and read it to him, figuring that would put him to sleep. The secretary reads him the recent history of Mordecai and how his report of the eunuchs uprising saved his life. The king decides to do something to repay Mordecai and asks Haman to do the honors.
Haman is humiliated to honor a guy he is planning to kill. Esther in the meantime is fasting and praying for God’s timing to tell the king this genocidal plan of Haman’s is wrong and will result in her death and Mordecai’s death. At the right time she tells the king. Haman is there as well and when the king hears how he has been tricked into killing his wife along with all the other Jews he is furious. While asking Esther’s forgiveness he falls on her and the king thinks he is trying to kill her right there. Haman is hanged on his own gallows.
So, now the king had to figure out how to undo a law of the Medes and Persians that couldn’t be undone. Their laws had no repeals. With Mordecai’s help they devise a plan to keep the Jews alive. Very few were killed and in appreciation for Mordecai standing up to evil, for his loyalty to the king, and his wisdom in defusing a terrible decision, he was promoted from a lowly servant to second in command.
The last word shows it doesn’t matter your station in life, be steadfast, honest, faithful, and wise, because God honors, lifts up and saves.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that you love your people so much that you orchestrate our steps to further your kingdom and to stop evil in its tracks. Help me be faithful and courageous, never bowing to peer pressure, the world, or anyone other than you. In Jesus Name, amen.
