2020-12-15

Esther 3:1-15; 4:1-17

People in exile and the decisions they made Book of Esther records the life of Israelites subjugated by foreign rulers.  After years of low profile, submissive and diligent work, Israelites might be socially and economically fluent, but still could not ignore the fact that they are scattered, lack of freedom and security, and many times prejudiced against with. One of the infamous slanders about the ‘Jews’ could be found in Esther 3:8 –

A certain people –

1)      They are everywhere – scattered among the people in all the provinces
2)      They are different – customs are different from those with all other people
3)      They are disobedient – don’t obey the king’s laws

Therefore, an evil plot was designed and subsequently approved by the king to wipe out this ethnic group and redistribute their wealth.

In chapter 3 and 4, we see two decisions made by Mordecai and Esther respectively; Mordecai made a decision of not bowing to a mortal due to the reverence of God, not ashamed of being a Jew in a foreign land. Esther made a decision of possible capital punishment for approaching the king without being summoned in order to plead for the lives of her people.

What if they were not making such decisions?

For Mordecai: What if he did follow his colleagues’ advice and go with the flow to pay honor to Haman? Could the evil plot be avoided then?

If Mordecai were to concede, there might be some temporary peace for his and his people’s lives because he would become ‘no different from other people’; however, his loss, and ours too, is one less life testimony of a revered person, and one more fellow overcome by human weaknesses upon exhibiting the unbelief in God. Mordecai’s blatant disrespect could be an obvious reason that prompted Haman’s conspiracy, or, simply the means to the end, since Haman is the enemy of the Jews (Esther 3:10). Prejudice and hostility against God’s people are much deeper, worse, and more malicious than what we could think of.

For Esther: What if she were to keep quiet and refuse Mordecai’s urge to go into the king’s presence? She might risk of putting her own life in danger, exposing her secret of being a Jew, giving up pretty much everything she has, in exchange of a non-reversible decision that Israelites are still doomed for destruction.

The matter is complicated and dangerous. With a short-temper husband (and he happened to be the king), she had to calculate every step she could take. She started as somewhat passive, non-confrontational, but ‘rational’ – It’s a fact that her access to her husband has been limited for a while and the price to offend a king is ultimate. Her attempt against the law would be in vain and she would die before her Jewish countrymen would. Mordecai reminded her of the promise of deliverance and her possible duty and calling. “And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16b) She made a decision to see the king.  At this time of crisis, a serious searching to God and pleading for a holy intervention was so much needed.  Fasting, being solemnly praying for strength, courage, and wisdom, was instructed as the step before she approached the king.

What decisions are we making today? Are they revering God? Are they a product of our own desire or a result of pursuing God?

Our Lord Jesus gave us a perfect example of being a human making decisions in this world.  In Matthew 4, the last part of the temptation was the power and splendor of the world, in exchange of Jesus bowing down and worshiping the tempter. The decision Jesus made was a strict refusal armed with scriptures.  In Matthew 26, the prayers in Gethsemane for removing the cup showed us how suffering and perplexing the situation was. The decision Jesus made was obedience, to the extent of death, for the will of the Father.

Lord, we adore you for your loving kindness and your mighty power – power to restore and save.  Thank you for giving us the word and giving us Jesus. Please help us to make every decision and may our lives be pleasing to you and may our life testimony point to our Savior and His glory.
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.         —- Ivy Lin