For Such A Time As This – The Story of Esther & Mordecai

Part IV – A Tale of Two Choices

Everything we read about Haman reveals a wicked and diabolical man who has taken the path of evil which (as we will see) will further result in a life of pride and arrogance leading to his eventual demise. This is precisely what taking the path of evil looks like and pride is what led to the downfall of Satan and the very path (“the wide road that leads to destruction” – Matthew 7:13-14) he is attempting to cause the whole of mankind to also follow.

Mordecai and Esther have taken the path of good which (as we will see) will further result in a life of humility which will lead to their success in saving their people from extinction. Despite the evil intentions of Haman, Esther will take a bold step (being led by God) by reaching out to the King which will create an opportunity for her to plead to the king for not just her life but the lives of her people the Jews. God will use the good intentions of Esther to successfully circumvent the evil intentions of Haman.

Before this meeting with the King takes place, Haman’s pride gets the best of him, and he will have the gallows built intending to use them to put Mordecai (in full display) to death. Hatred and bitterness (a product of pride) seemed to control Haman so much that it worked against him and the gallows that he built to have Mordecai killed would be used on himself.

C.S. Lewis wrote, “The essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastely anger, greed, drunkenness and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison; it was through pride that the devil became the devil; Pride leads to every other vice; it is the complete anti-God state of mind…..as long as you are proud you cannot know God at all. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”

It is only by the grace of God and his providential leading that King Xerxes has a restless night and will be stirred to examine the Persian records regarding the incident in which Mordecai previously uncovered a plot to have the King assassinated. It was Mordecai’s humility that allowed him to forgo any previous recognition but will now change not just his circumstances but also that of Haman’s. This, along with some additional findings by the King will bring judgment on Haman and blessings on Mordecai and Esther. They (Mordecai, Esther and all Jews in the Persian Kingdom) still have to face the previous edict/law requiring they be put to death – but that outcome will be found in our final lesson for next week.