23.019 | A Strong Conviction | Esther 3:1-6 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Esther 3:1-6 ESV

After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. 3 Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king's command?” 4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai's words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

A STRONG CONVICTION

It happened that King Ahasuerus had promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha. He advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. All the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him.

This promotion had fuelled Haman’s pride. His authority was overhelming for him that it made him haughty or arrogant. He loved the praise of man. As Solomon said, “It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.”[Prov 25:27] And, he was wicked ruler too. Solomon had warned, “when the wicked rule, the people groan.”[Prov 29:2b]

All the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. The king’s servants took notice and confronted him saying, “Why do you transgress the king's command?” Mordecai did not bother but they were persistent.

Mordecai told them that it’s because he is a Jew. He stood to what a faithful Jew fears and believes, that is, Yahweh. As Moses said,

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”[Ex 20:2-6]

The servants told Haman. Haman was filled with fury. This caused him to hate the Jews. He then, harbored a personal vendetta to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus. Did Mordecai know the cost for standing strong on his convictions? Perhaps. But one thing for sure, Mordecai sought to follow his convictions not conveniences or comfort. Otherwise, he could have folloed the crowd.

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