March 18, 2024

Passage Read: Esther 3-6
Meditation Verse: 6:3

Thought

Mordecai didn't care about reward for himself, for he hadn't reported the plotted assassination in his own name, but had reported it to Esther, who credited Mordecai. He probably thought to make Esther even more valuable in the King's eyes, but she gave credit where credit was due. Nothing came of it until this key moment, when Haman sought to kill Mordecai. God intervened to save his life, without anyone being aware or making petition. At the right time, Mordecai was honored, but Mordecai was more concerned about other things, that to him, surely, the honor seemed so out of place and unimportant, an interruption to what was really needed. He and his people were threatened with annihilation, and he was being paraded around town like a hero!

Application

In a time of great distress, God publicly exalts one of his servants, someone who could actually be blamed for the present tragedy. Perhaps Mordecai was beating himself up for being the trigger of this tragedy, for stubbornly following what he thought was right, which just antagonized a very powerful man and brought all his people to the brink of destruction. Of course he would be desperate to rescue his people, whether he saw himself as the cause or not, but in the midst of all this, God chooses to exalt him, not just to save his life, but to assure him that God doesn't condemn him, perhaps even to signal to him that everything will be alright. But Mordecai has only one concern: news from Esther's plea. Mordecai is tested and proves that he cares more for his people than for himself. He is worthy of the coming exaltation, because he is truly concerned for the welfare of his people, not for his own. God does work in strange ways; man is tested by the praise he receives. While it is encouraging to be recognized for my efforts, my desire must always be to seek the good of those I serve, especially their good before God.