Esther Chapter 3
When we read how Haman plotted to have all the Jews annihilated, we would generally attribute it to the great pride of Haman and how he could not take it when there is one who did not pay homage to him as all the rest of the people did.
While this is true, and one can almost see Haman strutting around like a peacock in the subsequent chapters, there is something else that may explain why this great wrath against not only Mordecai, but the whole nation of Jews.
In verse 1, we learn that Haman is a Agagite.
Agag. Is this name familiar?
When we were reading 1 Samuel, there was an incident where Saul was asked to destroy all the Amalekites and leave not one alive. But Saul left Agag, the king of the Amalekites, and the choice herd alive – wrongly thinking that this would please God. The prophet Samuel had to come and kill Agag (1 Sam 15:1-33) and showed Saul the error of his ways.
And the plot thickens! Now which tribe did Saul come from?
Yes! Benjamin.
And Mordecai?
Benjamin! (Esther 2:5)
The age-old conflict between the Amalekites and the Jews resurfaces here again some 500 years later.
For others who do not know of the shared history, they would have found it strange that just because Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, Haman came up with a plan to exterminate all the Jews!
The Bible says in Esther 3:15 that the “city of Shushan was perplexed.”
But should we be puzzled over this?
The war between God’s people and the devil has been re-enacted throughout human history.
Satan would always be finding ways to target God’s people. And as God’s chosen people, we must expect it and not be surprised.
This battle will rage until our Lord and Saviour come again. But until then, will we be like Mordecai, who’d knew that his actions will bring only bring more trouble upon himself, still chose to do what God wants rather than what man wants?
The story found in the book of Esther is about salvation. But it is also about obedience and faith in God.
May we all be like Mordecai when faced with the choice of obeying God or giving way to man.