The days of Purim were set,
and the Jews all over the Persian empire would set aside these two
days as a celebration and remembrance of the mighty delivering power
of God. What would be next in the kingdom, and how would this
wonderful story end? In chapter ten, our final chapter in the book of
Esther, we learn more about King Ahasuerus' reign where we read:
And the king Ahasuerus
laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.
The
verse begins, “And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the
land,...” At first glance we might see this act as a form of
taxation or exacting from the people, and it could have been.
However, the word “tribute” is the Hebrew word “mac”
and is pronounced like “mass”. It means a “gang
or body of forced laborers, task-workers, labor band or gang, forced
service, task-work, serfdom, tributary, tribute, levy, taskmasters,
discomfited”. In other words King Ahasuerus either taxed the people
or forced servants to be upon the land. We might remember that five
hundred of those serving in the palace of Shushan were destroyed by
the Jews when they defended themselves never mind those who were
killed all over the kingdom. Nonetheless, the king felt it necessary
to either tax the people or build a labor force throughout his
kingdom.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and
upon the isles of the sea.” The
land was not the only territory over which the king of Persia
reigned. He also reigned over the isles or islands of the seas. In
each of these areas he mandated these taxes or servants to be
arranged. There was nowhere throughout the kingdom where the king's
mighty hand was not felt.
Power
corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. One of the great
lessons within the book of Esther is the overriding presence of the
power that is involved. At one point, Haman thought himself powerful,
and he was able to convince the king to agree to a law destroying the
Jews. However, he underestimated the power of God who had a plan for
Queen Esther to not only demonstrate her power, but also show the
power of the Almighty. When King Ahasuerus laid this tribute upon the
land and isles of the seas of the Persian empire, he demonstrated his
power and enforced it. As we ponder this verse, perhaps our thoughts
will be directed toward those things in life over which we have been
given reign. Maybe it is a position of government, or it may be
within our family. It might be as an employer or boss over a few or
many people. Whatever that position may be, we would do well to
remember that all power and positions of power come from God
Almighty, and there is none who compares in power to Him.
Next
time we will discover where the acts of Ahasuerus were written, 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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