As the Jews prepared to
defend themselves against anyone who would obey the edict sent out
formerly by King Ahasuerus to destroy them, rulers, lieutenants,
deputies, and officers throughout the kingdom were not only helping
them, but were afraid of the Jews and Mordecai as well. In chapter
nine and verse four, we continue to see how Mordecai became even
greater among them. We read:
For Mordecai was
great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the
provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.
The
verse begins, “For Mordecai was great in
the king's house,...” We may
wonder, why were the people of the Persian empire fearful of
Mordecai? The first answer is that he “was great in the
king's house.” Word spread all
over the kingdom about Mordecai's story and his relationship to Queen
Esther. Also we will remember that Mordecai was paraded through the
streets of Shushan and announced by Haman, “Thus shall it
be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.” No doubt
confabulation concerning Mordecai's new position of power and him
being a Jew spread everywhere.
The verse goes on to tell us
the second reason people feared him. It says, “and his fame went
out throughout all the provinces:” Notoriety
for his elevation of position within the kingdom made people in the
Persian empire aware of this man Mordecai. Surely the story of Queen
Esther revealing that she was a Jew and her cousin Mordecai was
responsible for not only her care but her inspiring her to solicit a
law for the Jews to protect themselves against destruction became
widely known. Because Mordecai dictated the verbiage of the law to
defend, no doubt people knew who he was.
Finally,
the third reason people feared Mordecai was written - “for
this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.”
The idea portrayed in this portion of the verse is that Mordecai
became more and more prominent and powerful. What started out as
exile from his homeland to sitting in ashes at the palace gate,
culminated in Mordecai becoming one of the most powerful men in the
Persian empire. Because of his faithfulness in little things, there
was much added to him and the knowledge of him was spread everywhere.
As
we consider these words today, we are reminded of what Jesus said
about one man who was found faithful in the gospel of Luke in chapter
nineteen and verse seventeen where we read:
And he said unto him,
Well, you good servant: because you have been faithful in a very
little, have authority over ten cities.
We may
wonder how advancement such as Mordecai's comes into our own lives,
and we may be curious as to whether God would give us such
opportunity as Mordecai. This we may know, as Mordecai was faithful
in the little things, God promoted him over and over again. His
promotion was so great that people all over the lands of Persia knew
and feared him. May we ever be so faithful in the little things to
our King of Kings Jesus so that He too will promote us according to
His perfect plan and His perfect will.
Next
time we shall see what the Jews did to those who were their enemies,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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