People in Exile - Falling or Rising

Falling or Rising
Text: Esther 5:9-6:14

Proverbs 18:12 reads, “Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” This truth is clearly portrayed in the story of Esther through the characters of Haman and Mordecai.

Too often pride trips us up and we do not even realize it is happening. We become more and more proud of our accomplishments in life or our position or our talents. As we elevate ourselves, we often do not care who we hurt on the way up or acknowledge those who have enabled our success. Sometimes we find ourselves in a powerful position through no work of our own and claim absolute credit. Then we gather people around us who can sing our praises and lift us higher.

This is exactly what happens to Haman in the story of Esther. The narrator does not tell us why the king chose to give Haman a place of authority, but at some point King Xerxes chose to make him a very powerful man. Instead of using this place of authority to benefit others, Haman creates destructive policies and uses his power to destroy others or force others to do his will. This destructive character shows itself through a number of choices in Haman’s life:

1.       In chapter 3, he feels entitled, yes through a command of the king, to have people bow down to him. When Mordecai refuses, Haman decides that all Jews must be killed.

2.       In chapter 5, he is filled with rage because Mordecai does not bow down to him.

3.       Also in chapter 5, we find that Haman boasts about his wealth, his many sons, and all the honor the king has bestowed upon him. The reason he boasts regarding his many sons is because in the Ancient Near East, having many sons was a sign of blessing and power.

4.       He is also arrogant when he proclaims himself as the only one whom Queen Esther invited to a banquet with the king.

5.       Then, in chapter 6, he automatically assumes that the man whom the king wishes to honor is none other than Haman himself.

Contrast this with the character of Mordecai. Back in 2:19-23, Mordecai discovers a conspiracy against the king. When discovering this conspiracy he reveals it to the king with no expectation for reward. He just returns to serving by the king’s gate, where he most likely served as a lawmaker, judge, or other legal functionary. Then, when in chapter 6, King Xerxes chooses to honor Mordecai for the act of saving the king’s life, Mordecai accepts the honor and then returns again to his duties at the king’s gate. He willingly accepts the adulation, but does not allow it to puff him up. Instead, he humbly returns to his place of service within the king’s court.

It is easy to look at these two men and discern whose example we should follow. Obviously, Mordecai, who is painted as the secondary hero within the text, should receive our respect and imitation. We should have his attitude in life. We should be humble. We should accept praise, but not expect praise. We should willingly return to our place of service, knowing that through this position we can bless people. We should not behave as Haman, puffing ourselves up in front of our admirers and seeking to destroy those who fail to honor us as we feel we deserve.

Why then do we often destroy others in the rat race to get to the top? Why do we too often fail to serve others, instead serving our own self-interests? We do so because we are a self-centered people. Instead, we need to be God-centered. We need to humbly bow before our Lord, allowing God to direct our paths and our attitudes toward other people. This appears to be the very thing that Mordecai does. This is the very thing that Christ does according to Philippians 2:5-11. Let us humble ourselves, bow towards our Lord alone and seek to serve our neighbors!

Prayer: Holy God, I bow before you in repentance for the times when I have lifted myself up and in the process put others down. Lord, I ask that you would empower me to serve others with the heart of your son, Jesus Christ. Might I love as he loves: sacrificially, completely, and humbly. Turn my heart toward knowing you more deeply and following you more closely. In Jesus Christ name, Amen!