Recently I've decided to do a study on what we know of the life of Mordecai from the Bible. Mordecai was an integral part of both saving the life of the King and the life of his people. The book of Esther ends by saying, "and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed." Today I was going through chapter 3 and the question that came to my mind was, Why did Mordecai tell the other guys at the gate that he was a Jew. In chapter one and two he told Esther not to reveal that she was a Jew. By him telling the other servants that he jeapordized not only his life, but the lives of all the other Jews in Sushan and surrounding areas. The answer to that I believe is that his loyalty toward God was stronger than his nationality. We can see in the last chapter that he sought peace for all his seed and most likely that was his desire throughout the story of Esther, but when it came to the option of not giving God the glory of saving his people. Giving the reverence to God was more important.
Another thought here is that he probably thought this will come out good because I have been a witness for Christ. Then a couple days later the news comes out that all the Jews will be killed. Imagine the pressure that he must have felt within himself knowing that it was because of his refusal to bow. You don't hear of any of the other Jews not bowing. When Haman came trapsing through town after the first meal with Esther Haman wanted to kill him on the spot because of his refusing to bow, you don't hear him seeing a group of people not bowing and wanting to kill them. Only of Mordecai. Ultimately God did work everything out for good and blessed him beyond anything he had probably ever have thought...
Whatever the situation, If there is a choice between putting God first or something else. Stand up for God.
John 10:32-33
"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."
BenH
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