#633 Customs Attendant

On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 4 When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. 5 And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows,[a] because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. 8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.”

9 The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud, 11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods, 12 on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. 14 So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown[b] and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them. Esther 8 ESV

How do the wicked prosper? We ask that, but notice some things about Mordecai, before you think you see yourself as him in your own story. He becomes a father to the fatherless, he still guides her to do well and be successful, not just as a queen, but before the God who is over all and ruler of eternity. He has saved the kings life before, and was recognized for this in God's time, not by his own self promoting, but by what was written down. He has not even made it known that he is related to the Queen, and I doubt I know a man who would not drop such information if he thought it to his favor. Look, I am untouchable, I am related to the powerful. Surely it is a temptation, but again, even after he was paraded through the city, he returned to his post, he found his usefulness in doing his work and standing for what is right. He stood against the powerful on behalf of the weak. This is the purest resume the king has ever seen, a man whose works are above reproach, and who better to bear my ring, carry my seal? The honor that Haman aimed at, worked for, politicked and flattered for, all that power which he would use to ill gain and abuse, turned over to Esther, who gave it to Mordecai. 

Now, you have arrived, what more is there for you to do? She falls at the king's feet weeping, she sorrows over the travail of her people. Persian law is still in place and as foolish as it is for men to play at God, Who can't be wrong, their law pretends at as much that the king's edict cannot be changed. God has that right and look hard at this shadow from that direction as well, what God has deemed sin is still. What He, in His righteousness, has pronounced the sentence of death against, for that men will die, the earth will need to be remade, and the New Jerusalem established. The joy here, is that while this is established, that sin cannot be with righteousness, that darkness melts before light, there is another decree. The first would flood the earth, but the second, while not holding back the rain, would instruct in the building of the ark. This is the good news, that the wicked have been brought down, and that the righteous have been given permission to prevail. Take the fastest horses and proclaim it in every corner of the land. 

Many became Jews for fear of them, and why, because they saw God for them, with them, entering the history of men and writing a script they could not deny. If God is for us, then who can be against us? Lord, let me not seek my own glory, not drop the name of other men, but live to your honor, and spread the good news of your grace. I do not ask You to change, but to change me, remove my heart of stone and make me into the likeness of Your Son. Praise the name of Jesus, for there is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved. 

15You know that everyone in the Province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains. 17Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me.…2 Timothy 1:15-17

Even more, Lord, bless those that remain in our suffering, that refresh those who are hated for your sake. Let us call You friend whether we dine or we die, Amen and Amen.