Esther 10
- Summary
This short chapter of 3 verses tells us firstly about King Ahasuerus taxing his kingdom and his power and might.
Secondly, it records Mordecai's greatness, the prominence which the king gave him, and how he was able to use his position for the benefit of his own people.
- Thoughts
In verse 2 we read, 'the greatness of Mordecai'.
As I thought about this I remembered 2 Samuel 7 when David wanted to build God a temple.
I was once reading this book at a time when I was pleasantly and totally surprised by something unexpected that had been out of my control. As I read 2 Samuel 7 it really stood out to me that as God had done great things for David so he had performed this thing for me. It emphasised to me how God is in control of our lives. We read in that chapter concerning David:
- verse 1 - the LORD had given him rest
- verse 8 - I (God) took thee from the sheepcote...to be ruler...
- verse 9 - I (God) was with thee...and have cut off thine enemies...and have made thee great
- verse 10 - I (God) will appoint a place for my people Israel
- verse 12 - I (God) will set up thy seed after thee...I (God) will establish his kingdom
- verse 14 - I (God) will be his father...
David, like Mordecai was taken from a position of no significance and by God ordained events placed in a position of power and greatness.
How humbling this is, and how we should remember this when we are elevated to positions of greatness or power.
These great things that occur in our lives - how we need to be kept from self-pride and exultation in what we have achieved.
We may achieve great things through hard work and use of our talents, but who gave us our health and talents? Who blessed our work?
Do you recall how king Nebuchadnezzar failed to give God the glory for his greatness and what happened to him?
We read in Daniel 4: 30, 'The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?'
He had hardly spoken the words and God took his kingdom away from him, and he experienced the humiliation of becoming like an animal for 7 years until he was able to bless, praise, give God the glory and recognise that 'the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will' (Daniel 5: 21).
So firstly, we have a reminder that our success comes from the Lord.
Secondly, notice how Mordecai used his greatness - he doesn't appear to have become proud and tyrannical.
Do you remember that this is the man who lovingly took his orphaned cousin, Esther, to be as his own daughter; the man who when Esther was taken to the king's harem came every day to see how she was and what would become of her; the man who despite being in exile thought of the good of the king and let him know when there was a plot to kill him?
And now we see his kindness used in 'seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed' (verse 10). Here was a man who used his position to think of others.
Like we read in Exodus 31: 3 of those men whom God tells Moses he has 'filled with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship', so here we have a Mordecai, a man prepared of God who would seek the welfare of others.
This makes me think of two things -
i) employers, who have been placed by God's providence and sovereignty in a position of 'greatness' and who the Lord says should, 'give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven' (Colossians 4:1);
ii) and our Lord Jesus. Our great God, who used his greatness in the ultimate sacrificial humility for the welfare of others, as we read in Philippians 2: 5-8:
'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross'.
So, in closing, let us be reminded that any greatness in this life is given by God, and to be used to serve God and others.
May we be as Jesus, who in washing the disciples' feet gave us an example to follow of having love and humility to each other, 'If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you' (John 13: 14, 15).
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