I mentioned last week that Mordecai had a similar story to Daniel for he was in exile from his homeland, a captive forced to leave his native land and live in Persia (probably modern Iran). This was not the only similarity, unfortunately, for just as Daniel was hated and resented in Babylon, so was Mordecai treated in Susa. We read,
After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes (Esther 3:1-6).
When Daniel faced his plot that led to the lions' den, he prayed. When Mordecai faced his crisis, he did the same:
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes (Esther 4:1-3).
It was then that Mordecai uttered his oft-quoted advice to Esther in his appeal to her for help:
When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:12-14).
COURAGE AND ACTION
Mordecai, like Daniel, showed great courage in a time of crisis. He knew his help came from the Lord, so he directly appealed to Him for help as his first order of business. This reminds me of what Moses said to Joshua: "Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, 'Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance'" (Deuteronomy 31:7).
David gave his son Solomon this admonition in 1 Chronicles 28:20: David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished" and Psalm 31:24 exhorts us to "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."
I have learned in my lifetime that courage is not the absence of fear; it is learning to act in the midst of or despite fear. When people ask me if I am afraid to travel, I respond, "Yes, but I have learned to manage my fear (most of the time)." When I try a new project or write a book, the fear is there, but I work through it to act on my ideas.
We all need courage, but men are more prone to the effects of fear because we cannot admit we are afraid in order to maintain our facade of control and manliness. It was the women who were the first ones to Jesus' tombs while the men cowered in fear in the Upper Room. Men, what is your purpose? Do you know? If you know, are you fulfilling it? If not, what are you afraid of? Poverty? Shame? Ridicule?
The Church needs you, the Lord needs you, the sisters need you not to be Superman but to be yourself. God has more for you than staying out of trouble and attending church services. He has more for you than serving as an usher in your church for the next 20 years, telling the same people who sit in the same place every week what they can or cannot do (they already know). The world is waiting for you, but are afraid to meet the world head on? It's time for you to take the missions trip, write the book, start the business, or do whatever else has resided in your heart and mind, probably for many years.
I implore you to face the reality of your fear (I am sure Mordecai was afraid; otherwise, why would he have acted so swiftly to intercede for his people?) and take action, for faith without works or deeds is useless. God needs His men to listen to David and Moses and take heart and courage to make a stand in their generation for Him and do more than pray. We cannot allow the women to act alone. We must act as a team, seasoned by courage and motivated by love to be men and women of purpose and serve others. Have a blessed week!
Comments