The Book of Esther
Mordecai’s lineage
was mentioned, up to his great grandfather. Esther 2:5-6 (TLB) – “Now there was a certain Jew at the palace named Mordecai (son of
Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite). He had been captured when
Jerusalem was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar and had been exiled to Babylon
along with King Jeconiah of Judah and many others”.
He had been taken
into exile by the Babylonian king.
The Man
Mordecai
· Mordecai
was passionate about the laws of the
God of Israel. Esther 3:2 (TLB) – “Now all the king’s officials bowed before
him in deep reverence whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But
Mordecai refused to bow”.
In his devotion, he
would not bow to any other, but the God of Israel, not even Haman.
· He
was a “travailer”, he cried out when
the decree to kill and destroy his people was made. He was already on exile is
Susa which would not have been a pleasant experience for him. So he would have
been seeking/crying to God for deliverance and maybe return to Israel.
· He
was diligent in bringing up Esther
as his own daughter. He brought her up such that she obeyed all that he
instructed her. Her character won the favour of Hegai (the eunuch who prepared
the maidens) and eventually she became queen (2:9).
“Hegai, who was responsible for the harem, was
very much impressed with her and did his best to make her happy; he ordered a
special menu for her, favored her for the beauty treatments, gave her seven
girls from the palace as her maids, and gave her the most luxurious apartment
in the harem”. Also in 2:15, she harkened to Hegai.
She also obeyed
Mordecai by not revealing her identity as a Jew. In Chapter 2:10 – “Esther hadn’t told anyone that she was a
Jewess, for Mordecai had said not to”. He was involved in her
life, his oversight was never abandoned.
He was also diligent even at his duty post (the king’s
gate); so much that he uncovered a plot against the king. 2:21-23.
· He
was humble, and trusted in God’s own
reward and not man. After the plot to kill the king was confirmed, he did not
go seeking for rewards from the king after the conspirators had been killed; he
continued his usual work at the king’s gate. He also obeyed Esther’s
instruction to him to fast and pray along with her; he was not proud. 6:1-3; after the book or remembrance
was opened and Mordecai rewarded for his past deeds to the king (he was
publicly rewarded) – 6:11 – 12a (TLB)
– "So Haman took
the robes and put them on Mordecai, and mounted him on the king’s own steed,
and led him through the streets of the city, shouting, “This is the way the
king honors those he delights in.” Afterwards Mordecai
returned to his job…”
After all the
commendations, he went back to his duty post. Compare Matthew 6 (giving, praying and fasting – doing for man’s praises
and doing for God’s rewards).
· He
was yielded to be used by God – he
got a copy of the decree of Haman which he showed Esther. Then he asked her to
make an appeal to the king. He further pressed Esther in 4:13-14 (TLB) – “This was Mordecai’s reply to Esther: “Do you
think you will escape there in the palace when all other Jews are killed? If
you keep quiet at a time like this, God will deliver the Jews from some other
source, but you and your relatives will die; what’s more, who can say but that
God has brought you into the palace for just such a time as this?”
In 9:20-25
(TLB) – “Mordecai wrote a history of all these events and sent
letters to the Jews near and far, throughout all the king’s provinces,
encouraging them to declare an annual holiday on the last two days of the
month, to celebrate with feasting, gladness, and the giving of gifts these
historic days when the Jews were saved from their enemies, when their sorrow
was turned to gladness and their mourning into happiness”. So the Jews adopted Mordecai’s suggestion and began this annual
custom.”
Mordecai and Esther made it a decree that the
Israelites should always remember this time of great relief from their enemies.
9:32 (TLB) – “So the commandment of Esther confirmed these dates,
and it was recorded as law.”
Prayers
Ø
Thank
You Father for Your men of courage. Thank You for Your persistent help in their
lives, that is equipping them for the labour for souls. Thank You for the Holy
Spirit that is present to help them in all their ways.
Ø
Lord,
please continue to give Your men of courage insights and strategies as they
deploy to nations with the message of Jesus Christ. Give them insights, access,
just like Mordecai. Make them sensitive, attentive to Your specific leading.
And let them make haste in obedience to Your instructions.
Ø
Lord,
they are Your men of courage – please give them courage to press in the labour
at hand, let faith in You not fail.
Ø
Lord,
help Your men to make disciples as they go along, according to Your own pattern.
1 Chronicles 28:19 (MSG) - “Here are the blueprints for
the whole project as God gave me to understand it,”
David said.”
Ø Matthew 7:20 – 21 (TLB) – “Yes, the way to
identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit produced. “Not all who sound religious are really
godly people. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but still won’t get to heaven.
For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven.” A tree and its fruit. Esther manifested
what was inside of her; what she was “feed on”, Mordecai therefore produced in
Esther, what was in him. He discipled her. John
15:2 (KJV) – “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he
taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may
bring forth more fruit.” The good fruit in Esther’s life further
brought much fruit – the salvation of all the Jews from destruction and plunder!
Lord, help Your men even as they go in obedience to make disciples, fill then
up completely with the life of Jesus.
Ø
Lord,
keep Your men humble even as You do great things in and through them. Father,
help them not to be carried away, let them not forget that it is You that is at
work in them and deserves the glory. Protect them from the error of satan,
pride!
Ø
Lord,
all that represents “Haman” (laws, persecution, distractions, gifts, hardships,
illness, etc, this is not physical but spiritual) in the way and life of Your
men of courage, Father, cause ALL such to be hanged quickly in the mighty name
of Jesus.
Ø
Lord,
help Your men of courage to continue in obedience to You as they go along.
Mordecai maintained his stand to obey You by not bowing to Haman. Mordecai’s
life of obedience was not sudden, it was a lifestyle that eventually produced
an “Esther” that prevented the total destruction of God’s people. Lord, help
Your men of courage!
