After these things did king Ahasuerus
promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his
seat above all the princes that were
with him. 2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and
reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai
bowed not, nor did him
reverence. 3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto
Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? 4 Now
it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto
them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for
he had told them that he was a
Jew. Esther 3:1-4
The tide is changing, sometimes the tide turns slowly and
takes many hours, however if you travel to the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia the
tide quickly changes. Such is the “tide” of this chapter.
Mordecai was sitting at the gate and hears the news.
Haman is promoted and he “is above all the others”. As soon as Haman appears
all the servants bow and give him reverence. One of the meanings of reverence
is “to worship.”
Mordecai “stood out” among the others because he would
not bow or give reverence to Haman. Everyone was watching this display of
noncompliance and questioned Mordecai. “Why are you not bowing down to show
“respect” to Haman?” After much prodding Mordecai told the others he was Jewish.
It appears that this is all he had to say. People around him obviously knew
that Jews do not bow down and worship anyone but God.
The servants went to Haman to tell him what they had
discovered. They were wondering if this would matter to Haman. Join me the next
time to discover Haman’s reaction.
Lessons learned:
He was willing to
stand alone.
Watch ye, stand
fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
I Corinthians 16:13
Stand fast
therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not
entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
Put on the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians
6:11
Mordecai did not follow
the crowd.
Thou shalt not follow
a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after
many to wrest judgment: Exodus 23:2
Let us therefore follow
after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify
another. Romans 14:9
Mordecai
remembered God’s word.
I will delight
myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psalm 119:16
He knew Who to
obey
… We ought to obey
God rather than men. Acts 5:29
Know ye not, that
to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye
obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16
He knew Who to
worship
Give unto the LORD
the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Psalm
29:2
For thou shalt
worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Exodus
34:14
O come, let us worship
and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. Psalm 95:6
There may be a time when we are called to “stand alone”
for Jesus. Will we be strong and follow Jesus or hide in the shadows? Christ
will give us the ability to do right, but we need to start now!
Do others know what you believe by how you live?
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,
whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which
they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
I Peter 2:12
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be
ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. I Peter 4:16
Donna
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