Esther 3:1-15
3:1-3 King Ahasuerus promoted a man named Haman as his second in command. Everyone within the kingdom, no matter how high their station, bowed to Haman. Everyone bowed to Haman except for Mordecai. Mordecai had made a life commitment to bow to God alone and despite the tumult that would create in his life, he remained faithful to it.
3:4 The quality and depth of our life is determined by the steadfastness of our faith. Mordecai recognized God's authority over his life; he respected the government of the land he lived in, but refused to bow to it. As more people noticed Mordecai's consistent refusal to bow to Haman, Mordecai's life became more difficult. Temporarily.
Faithful children of God are placed by Him into circumstances which generate unlikely, and yet inevitable results.
3:5-6 Haman was infuriated with Mordecai's refusal; Haman was an arrogant man, greedy for power and praise he did not deserve. In an act of wounded pride and cruelty, Haman sought to punish Mordecai by punishing all of God's children within the provinces.
These were likely not the results Mordecai foresaw. Through so many accounts of people in the Bible, we learn that our journey with God sometimes seems murky and difficult. In those times we must remember that from God's perspective, the journey is clear and easy for Him to accomplish through our faithful life.
Mordecai would have had to ask himself: will my steadfast faith in God result in the slaughter of the rest of his people? He would then have had to remembered that faith in God never yields negative results. We should recognize adversity as the materials with which God builds something grand. Ultimately, Mordecai must have recognized his situation in such a way because he remained obedient to God. The threats and ominous outlook did not diminish his faith.
3:7 The men against Mordecai cast lots (threw dice) to determine when to attack the people of Israel. Yet for months the lot fell in Israel's favor; God was busy organizing the details of Israel triumph over the malicious attack. This is a perfect example of how random and senseless life is without commitment to our righteous God. These corrupt men cast lots to murder innocent people.
3:8 Haman then approached the king with an embellishment against the people of Israel. He did not name the people, but he told the king that there was a large group of people dispersed within his kingdom who disobeyed the kings laws. Haman did not mention that his anger was personal. He did not mention that it was actual to Haman that Mordecai would not bow; the issue was unrelated to the king.
Haman is the type of person the book of Proverbs often speaks of. Proverbs 22:12 explains that malicious lies are an abomination to God, and that God delights in the trustworthy, the truthful. As a truthful, righteous man, Mordecai was protected by God against Haman's deceit.
3:9-11 Haman asked the king for permission to destroy the group of people who were supposedly disobeying the king and was granted permission by him. But Mordecai trusted the King of kings to protect him and his people and no plotting can stand against the almighty power of God.
3:12-15 A decree was sent to every province: to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate... both young and old, little children, and women. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the people of Israel were to be killed. Sometimes God waits until the last minute; Esther 3 is our perfect example to never lose hope, no matter how far or deep we are in tribulation. For God had a plan and was able to perfectly execute it; that terrifying decree had no power but it likely did not feel that way when it was issued.
